Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University prices accessibly across the income spectrum, reflecting its identity as an urban public institution serving a broad, cost-sensitive student population. Low-income families pay approximately $13,709 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $15,077, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $25,001.

Azimuth ranks Northeastern Illinois University #117 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's public-tuition structure and need-based aid programs keep net prices well below the published cost of attendance of $26,960 for most families, and the gap between sticker price and what students actually pay is a meaningful part of the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) that families should understand before comparing costs across institutions.

Need-based aid plays a central role in how Northeastern Illinois University serves its predominantly low- and middle-income student body. The university participates in federal Pell Grant, Direct Loan, and state grant programs, and its aid mix is oriented toward students who demonstrate financial need rather than merit-based scholarships.

Families applying through the FAFSA can expect aid packages that reduce out-of-pocket costs substantially, particularly at lower income levels. The relatively narrow spread between low-income and middle-income net prices reflects the institution's commitment to broad access, though families at higher income levels will find less institutional grant support available.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,600, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,578; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,607, median federal debt of $14,600 projects to a monthly payment of about $165 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn median earnings of $60,607 four years after enrollment, placing Northeastern Illinois University in the 45.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).

Graduates earn about $6,812 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 80.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to IL's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,990 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.

Business is the dominant program family at Northeastern Illinois University, accounting for 25% of degrees awarded, followed by Education at 12% and Social Sciences at 5%. Computer Science combines the largest cohort scale with competitive earnings, making it a central contributor to the institution's overall return profile.

Azimuth ranks Computer Science #128 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 111 graduates earning median earnings of $88,917. The Teacher Education program graduates 109 students with median earnings of $52,176, and Azimuth ranks General Studies #68 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 106 graduates earning median earnings of $55,569.