Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Chicago, Illinois. It enrolls 3,982 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes4
Value79
Affordability83
Selectivity54
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 74.6%, Northeastern Illinois University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
74.6%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Northeastern Illinois University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Northeastern Illinois University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,109 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,109
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
56%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
19%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$12,383
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$22,726
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,390
Room & Board (off-campus)
$5,220
Books & Supplies
$1,920
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,767
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,767
Total Cost of Attendance
$26,960
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,709
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,824
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,077
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,464
Over $110,000
$25,001
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,67510%percentile
$4,75025%percentile
$14,600Medianpercentile
$19,74375%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,500
↓ $3,100
No Pell $12,500
↓ $2,100
Dependent students $9,989
↓ $4,611
Independent students $13,500
↓ $1,100
Female students $11,995
↓ $2,605
Male students $11,750
↓ $2,850
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,500, less than completers ($14,600), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
48% of full-time students who enrolled at Northeastern Illinois University graduate within six years, and 57% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
48%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
57%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $52,234 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$52,234
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,300, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Northeastern Illinois University is home to 3,982 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
3,982
Part-Time
36%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 52.3%2,084
White 15.8%627
Black 12.1%480
Asian 7.7%308
Other 2.4%97
International 1.3%50
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Northeastern Illinois University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityChicago, Illinois
Housing
Limited on-campus housing426 beds
Adult Learners
37%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Northeastern Illinois University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
62 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northeastern Illinois University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$17,317
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$14M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$84,271
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
240 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
55
23%
$106,820
Associate Professors
90
38%
$92,133
Assistant Professors
35
15%
$83,589
Instructors
56
23%
$52,461
No Rank
4
2%
$56,020
Pros & Cons of Northeastern Illinois University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northeastern Illinois University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Frequently Asked Questions about Northeastern Illinois University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northeastern Illinois University.
Is Northeastern Illinois University hard to get into?
Admissions at Northeastern Illinois University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 74.6%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Northeastern Illinois University?
Northeastern Illinois University has an acceptance rate of 74.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Northeastern Illinois University cost?
The average net price after aid at Northeastern Illinois University is $14,109 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northeastern Illinois University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,234 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,109 per year. That's roughly 3.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Northeastern Illinois University known for?
Northeastern Illinois University is best known for its programs in Computer Science, Social Work, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Northeastern Illinois University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Northeastern Illinois University are $52,234, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Northeastern Illinois University accredited?
Yes. Northeastern Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Northeastern Illinois University?
Northeastern Illinois University enrolls 3,982 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Northeastern Illinois University?
Northeastern Illinois University graduates 48% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Northeastern Illinois University a public or private college?
Northeastern Illinois University is a Public institution.
Where is Northeastern Illinois University located?
Northeastern Illinois University is located in Chicago, Illinois.
What programs does Northeastern Illinois University offer?
Northeastern Illinois University offers 62 distinct programs. The most popular include Computer Science, Social Work, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northeastern Illinois University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northeastern Illinois University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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