Covering Innovation & Inequality in Education
This year at Northern Illinois University, we project that on average students will pay $15,172, while the advertised price of attendance is $31,570. That’s a difference of $16,397.
| Year | Net in-state price at Northern Illinois University | In-state sticker price at Northern Illinois University | Out-of-state sticker price at Northern Illinois University |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26-27 | $15,172 | $31,570 | $29,979 |
| 25-26 | $15,042 | $31,299 | $30,500 |
| 24-25 | $14,913 | $31,030 | $31,030 |
| 23-24 | $14,243 | $29,636 | $29,636 |
| 22-23 | $13,533 | $27,822 | $27,822 |
| 21-22 | $13,884 | $27,218 | $27,218 |
| 20-21 | $13,265 | $27,402 | $27,402 |
| 19-20 | $14,397 | $28,980 | $28,980 |
| 18-19 | $18,346 | $29,117 | $29,117 |
| 17-18 | $22,686 | $28,848 | $38,314 |
| 16-17 | $19,379 | $28,964 | $38,430 |
| 15-16 | $19,782 | $29,065 | $38,531 |
| 14-15 | $19,205 | $28,223 | $37,502 |
| 13-14 | $18,533 | $28,342 | $37,438 |
How much a student actually pays usually depends, at least in part, on their family's household income. At Northern Illinois University this year, we project students with incomes over $110K will pay around $23,259, while students with incomes between $30K and $48K will pay around $10,497. That's a difference of $12,762.
| Income bracket | Projected net price at Northern Illinois University |
|---|---|
| <$30K | $10,787 |
| $30K-$48K | $10,497 |
| $48K-$75K | $13,632 |
| $75K-$110K | $18,761 |
| >$110K | $23,259 |
A school’s graduation rate can indicate how likely a student is to complete their degree. At Northern Illinois University, over the last five years 50% of students earned their bachelor’s degree within six years of enrolling.
Students from different demographic backgrounds often graduate at different rates, so it can be helpful to look beyond the overall graduation rate. This chart shows how students of different races and ethnicities fare earning their degrees at Northern Illinois University.
| Demographic category | Graduation rate at Northern Illinois University | National average |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 45% | 30% |
| Asian | 67% | 45% |
| Black | 31% | 34% |
| Hispanic | 45% | 41% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 75% | 28% |
| White | 62% | 49% |
| Multiple races | 47% | 37% |
| Unknown race | 73% | 37% |
Student retention, or how often students return to continue their degree after completing their first year, is another helpful indicator. Over the last five years, at Northern Illinois University, about 70% of full-time students returned the following fall to continue their degree.
The size and demographic makeup of a school’s student body can have a large impact on a student’s experience. Northern Illinois University has 17,359 students, which puts it in the {SIZE_PERCENTILE} percentile of public, 4-year schools.
About 54% of students are female.
And about 45% of students are white.