Northern Illinois University (NIU) vs University of Southern Mississippi (USM)
Northern Illinois University (NIU) and the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) are two distinct universities with unique offerings. NIU, located in DeKalb, Illinois, boasts a higher acceptance rate (79%) compared to USM's 73%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with NIU excelling in fields like business, engineering, and education, while USM shines in nursing, psychology, and marine science. NIU's student body is predominantly White (62%) and female (56%), while USM's student population is more diverse, with a higher percentage of African American (38%) and male (52%) students. In terms of graduation rates, NIU has a slightly higher four-year graduation rate (33%) compared to USM's 29%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more, allowing you to assess which university aligns
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![]() Northern Illinois University |
![]() University of Southern Mississippi |
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Overview |
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Location | Dekalb, Illinois | Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 67.0% | 70.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 70.4% | 95.8% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$60
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Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$60
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SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | 19 - 26 |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | 99.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 22,602 | 9,314 |
Total number of admissions given out | 15,922 | 8,922 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,285 | 1,587 |
Yield rate | 14.4% | 17.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $27,218 |
In state:
$25,100
Out of state:
$27,100
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Average net price | $13,265 | $13,651 |
Tuition | $9,606 |
In state:
$9,094
Out of state:
$11,094
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Room & board | $11,098 | $10,950 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
98.0%
Average amount $13,008 |
91.0%
Average amount $9,072 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
58.0%
Average amount $5,313 |
54.0%
Average amount $5,327 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $11,726 |
4.0%
Average amount $12,298 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
11,834
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
10,693
Men 35.3% Women 64.7% |
Graduate students |
4,400
Men 40.8% Women 59.2% |
3,453
Men 33.7% Women 66.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 25.7% |
International students | 4.6% | 2.8% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 4,500 | 3,592 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Mississippi Louisiana Alabama Florida Tennessee |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 50.8% | 51.8% |
Dropout rate | 46.9% | 46.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
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