Northern Illinois University
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Dekalb, Illinois
Net price / year
$13,391
after grants & scholarships
lower than 50% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
70%
Graduation rate
49%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 52% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$64,583
4 years after graduating
higher than 70% of public 4-year colleges
Northern Illinois University at a glance
- What is the tuition at Northern Illinois University?
- Undergraduate tuition and fees are $13,248 for the 2024-25 academic year, the same for in-state and out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at Northern Illinois University?
- The average cost of attendance is $28,851 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at Northern Illinois University?
- The average net price for in-state students is $13,391 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at Northern Illinois University?
- About 70% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- Is Northern Illinois University test optional?
- Test policy reported to the federal government: Tests neither required nor recommended.
- What is the graduation rate at Northern Illinois University?
- 49% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of Northern Illinois University earn?
- The median graduate earns $64,583 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.9 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $10,126 a year on average, versus $21,834 for families earning over $110,000.
- Graduates earn a median $64,583 four years after finishing, more than 70% of public 4-year colleges.
- Pell Grant recipients completed within 150% of normal time at a rate of 36%, compared with 49% for all students, a gap of 13 points.
- The school admits 70% of applicants, so most who apply are accepted.
Tuition and cost of attendance at Northern Illinois University
Average net price (in-state)
$13,391 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the Northern Illinois University net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$53,564
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $10,126
- $30–48k $9,854
- $48–75k $12,797
- $75–110k $17,612
- $110k+ $21,834
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $28,851
- Tuition & fees$13,248
- Books & supplies$1,200
- Room & board$14,160
- Other expenses$2,422
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $13,248
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $13,248
Northern Illinois University acceptance rate and admissions
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Tests neither required nor recommended
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from Northern Illinois University
Graduation rate
49%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
70%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$235
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
1.9 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.3×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 4.4%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 49%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $37,890 · median $57,808 · 75th percentile $83,290
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 7,588 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 8%
- Making progress 11%
- Not making progress 12%
- Delinquent 2%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 55%
- Deferment 11%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
7,588 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at Northern Illinois University ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 85 | $93,962 | 1 yr$74,4424 yrs$93,9625 yrs$86,449 | U.S. median $100,647 U.S. middle half $84.6K–$122.4K · Below the U.S. median | $22,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 176 | $93,438 | 1 yr$77,2574 yrs$93,4385 yrs$85,811 | U.S. median $107,009 U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Below the U.S. median | $21,004 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 198 | $86,999 | 1 yr$68,0694 yrs$86,9995 yrs$86,692 | U.S. median $92,135 U.S. middle half $77.7K–$109.1K · Below the U.S. median | $23,125 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 99 | $86,511 | 1 yr$54,8024 yrs$86,5115 yrs$79,501 | U.S. median $83,343 U.S. middle half $60.8K–$111.5K · Above the U.S. median | $15,250 |
| Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 213 | $83,573 | 1 yr$63,7434 yrs$83,5735 yrs$83,523 | U.S. median $76,194 U.S. middle half $56.2K–$97.2K · Above the U.S. median | $15,342 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $82,584 | 1 yr$72,1124 yrs$82,5845 yrs$88,954 | U.S. median $98,442 U.S. middle half $81.2K–$121.7K · Below the U.S. median | $23,750 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 134 | $81,554 | 1 yr$62,1174 yrs$81,5545 yrs$85,470 | U.S. median $80,526 U.S. middle half $62.4K–$99.2K · Above the U.S. median | $27,250 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 38 | $76,856 | 1 yr$70,6544 yrs$76,8565 yrs$69,250 | U.S. median $75,975 U.S. middle half $60.9K–$92.3K · Above the U.S. median | $18,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 209 | $76,373 | 1 yr$51,1374 yrs$76,3735 yrs$68,194 | U.S. median $69,303 U.S. middle half $49.7K–$93.2K · Above the U.S. median | $21,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 220 | $73,176 | 1 yr$52,7244 yrs$73,1765 yrs$76,392 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Above the U.S. median | $21,000 |
Show all 43 programs
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 109 | $71,040 | 1 yr$51,1284 yrs$71,0405 yrs$65,538 | U.S. median $86,176 U.S. middle half $61.8K–$114.7K · Below the U.S. median | $20,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 65 | $69,856 | 1 yr$44,8574 yrs$69,8565 yrs$73,553 | U.S. median $69,562 U.S. middle half $49.1K–$97.4K · Above the U.S. median | $23,068 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $68,636 | 4 yrs$68,6365 yrs$57,009 | U.S. median $57,640 U.S. middle half $40.6K–$75.9K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 53 | $66,760 | 1 yr$45,3864 yrs$66,7605 yrs$69,275 | U.S. median $82,686 U.S. middle half $58.2K–$116.3K · Below the U.S. median | $24,976 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 29 Small sample | $65,611 | 1 yr$43,0614 yrs$65,6115 yrs$62,503 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Above the U.S. median | $22,750 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 38 | $58,546 | 1 yr$32,3374 yrs$58,546 | U.S. median $56,726 U.S. middle half $41K–$73.8K · Above the U.S. median | $24,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 103 | $58,023 | 1 yr$35,1504 yrs$58,0235 yrs$49,637 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Above the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Bachelor's · Graduates: 87 | $57,697 | 1 yr$29,4264 yrs$57,6975 yrs$50,679 | U.S. median $53,072 U.S. middle half $35.8K–$73.3K · Above the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs Bachelor's · Graduates: 188 | $55,778 | 1 yr$31,8994 yrs$55,7785 yrs$54,266 | U.S. median $61,911 U.S. middle half $42.7K–$83.4K · Below the U.S. median | $22,500 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 126 | $55,586 | 1 yr$41,1394 yrs$55,5865 yrs$57,919 | U.S. median $52,119 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$68.6K · Above the U.S. median | $27,787 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 48 | $55,221 | 1 yr$29,9114 yrs$55,2215 yrs$52,265 | U.S. median $55,753 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$68.4K · Below the U.S. median | $22,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 260 | $55,109 | 1 yr$38,4904 yrs$55,1095 yrs$56,644 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Below the U.S. median | $23,812 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $54,890 | 4 yrs$54,8905 yrs$49,059 | U.S. median $46,676 U.S. middle half $32.1K–$63.9K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research Bachelor's · Graduates: 38 | $54,666 | 1 yr$36,4094 yrs$54,6665 yrs$48,605 | U.S. median $55,012 U.S. middle half $39.4K–$72.8K · Below the U.S. median | $22,250 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's · Graduates: 111 | $54,207 | 1 yr$32,1584 yrs$54,2075 yrs$51,319 | U.S. median $54,562 U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $25,294 |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 91 | $54,039 | 1 yr$32,2254 yrs$54,0395 yrs$60,494 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Below the U.S. median | $25,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's · Graduates: 32 | $53,672 | 1 yr$45,1844 yrs$53,6725 yrs$53,340 | U.S. median $51,389 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$63.1K · Above the U.S. median | $22,500 |
| Special Education and Teaching Bachelor's · Graduates: 50 | $53,148 | 1 yr$46,5784 yrs$53,1485 yrs$57,132 | U.S. median $50,499 U.S. middle half $41.4K–$60.1K · Above the U.S. median | $21,029 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 99 | $52,086 | 1 yr$38,1374 yrs$52,0865 yrs$63,964 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Below the U.S. median | $22,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $51,151 | 1 yr$40,5864 yrs$51,1515 yrs$53,528 | U.S. median $55,000 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$73.3K · Below the U.S. median | $20,923 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 38 | $50,658 | 1 yr$31,7534 yrs$50,6585 yrs$47,283 | U.S. median $56,278 U.S. middle half $40.6K–$73.9K · Below the U.S. median | $22,625 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 122 | $50,385 | 1 yr$44,2144 yrs$50,3855 yrs$48,018 | U.S. median $47,382 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$56.1K · Above the U.S. median | $24,545 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 213 | $49,669 | 1 yr$33,1504 yrs$49,6695 yrs$47,360 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Below the U.S. median | $21,375 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 51 | $49,653 | 1 yr$34,1364 yrs$49,6535 yrs$53,628 | U.S. median $58,928 U.S. middle half $45K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $16,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 38 | $49,514 | 1 yr$29,0624 yrs$49,5145 yrs$46,762 | U.S. median $48,597 U.S. middle half $35.2K–$62.7K · Above the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $49,198 | 4 yrs$49,1985 yrs$67,166 | U.S. median $60,997 U.S. middle half $46.5K–$78.1K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 167 | $49,147 | 1 yr$28,3424 yrs$49,1475 yrs$45,830 | U.S. median $48,568 U.S. middle half $35.1K–$62.7K · Above the U.S. median | $30,020 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 69 | $47,981 | 1 yr$34,1224 yrs$47,9815 yrs$44,293 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Below the U.S. median | $22,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $47,738 | 4 yrs$47,7385 yrs$59,972 | U.S. median $57,853 U.S. middle half $42.5K–$75.6K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 59 | $46,086 | 1 yr$33,2884 yrs$46,0865 yrs$53,605 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Below the U.S. median | $22,333 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 104 | $44,202 | 1 yr$26,7954 yrs$44,2025 yrs$41,109 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Above the U.S. median | $22,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $40,398 | 1 yr$42,8304 yrs$40,3985 yrs$31,511 | U.S. median $42,892 U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Below the U.S. median | $27,250 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $36,777 | 1 yr$23,5174 yrs$36,7775 yrs$38,201 | U.S. median $39,775 U.S. middle half $25.5K–$55.4K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 41.9%
- Black or African American 21%
- Hispanic or Latino 25.8%
- Asian 6.4%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
- Two or more races 1.6%
- U.S. nonresident 1.8%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 0.9%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 47%
- Women 53%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
10%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 11,301
- Part-time students
- 11%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 47%
- Receive federal loans
- 47%
- Students per faculty member
- 15 : 1
- Setting
- Suburb
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Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Northern Illinois University?
For the 2024-25 academic year, Northern Illinois University reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $13,248, the same for in-state and out-of-state students. This is the published price before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at Northern Illinois University?
The average cost of attendance at Northern Illinois University is $28,851 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $13,391 a year. That is around the middle of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at Northern Illinois University get?
47% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 47% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $10,126 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $21,834 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at Northern Illinois University?
Northern Illinois University admitted about 70% of applicants in fall 2024. That means most applicants are admitted.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at Northern Illinois University?
49% of first-time, full-time students at Northern Illinois University finish within 150% of normal time. 70% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do Northern Illinois University graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $64,583 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $45,902.
Is Northern Illinois University worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For Northern Illinois University, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.9 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $22,162, about 0.3 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 49% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
How much debt do Northern Illinois University graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed have a median federal-loan debt of $22,162, or about $235 a month on a 10-year plan.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things