1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. Northeastern Illinois University Research brief & institution hub Copy linkPrint brief # Northeastern Illinois University IL · Medium public institution · Overall rank #172 nationally Data snapshot September 27, 2026 · Updated October 21, 2026 Overview[Cost & aid](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/admissions/)[Majors](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/similar/) ## Azimuth places Northeastern Illinois University in the 88th percentile overall. ### Who it’s a good fit for Northeastern Illinois University is a public university in Chicago where the degree mix is led by Business and Education. Most graduates are estimated to go into jobs rather than on to further study. Graduates out-earn what the model predicts for students like them. The model attributes more of that to the factors it measures — field of study, enrollment and the local labor market — than to what it cannot explain. Affordability is among the highest we track, and access is among the highest we track. Pell recipients complete at a rate above the entering cohort as a whole, and mobility is well above average. The admission rate is below the median for comparable schools. A student drawn to Computer Science should know it is both the largest program and the best-paid one. The other large programs earn closer to the national median for their fields. ## Northeastern Illinois University at a glance ### Admissions and outcomes **Admission rate[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)** 74.6% **Six-year completion[\[2\]](#hub-data-note-completion)** 21.6% **Four-year earnings[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)** $60,607 ### Cost and family borrowing **Average annual net price · $48–75K family income[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)** $15,077 **Median student debt[\[4\]](#hub-data-note-student-debt)** $14,600 **Median Parent PLUS debt[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps)** $13,578 ## Northeastern Illinois University rankings: how Azimuth assesses value[\[5\]](#hub-data-note-rankings) Northeastern Illinois University is a public university in Chicago, Illinois, enrolling 3,982 undergraduates. Its composite standing sits in the top fifth of the Azimuth ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions (88th percentile). Its overall position coincides with a wide split between its strongest and weakest pillars. The university admits 74.6% of applicants, a rate that falls below the 85.9% median for comparable institutions of the same type and size. First-year retention stands at 52.3%, and the [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) is 21.6%. Both figures sit below peer medians of 73.7% and 49.1%. An estimated 57.3% of students enter as transfers or part-time students, so the first-time full-time cohort accounts for a minority of those who study here. The four pillars are spread across a wide range. Affordability and access sit at the high end, while return is much lower than the other three. The overall shape shows high access and affordability, with return trailing well behind. Affordability is the clearest strength for readers weighing price alongside outcomes, with Northeastern Illinois University in Azimuth’s 92nd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. It is the university’s strongest of the four pillars. Azimuth places access in the 90th percentile, mobility in the 80th percentile, and return in the 58th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Return is the weakest pillar, so the picture is strongest on affordability and access rather than graduate return. 55.7% of undergraduates at Northeastern Illinois University receive Pell Grants, a measure of financial access at this public university in Chicago, Illinois. Azimuth ranks the university #145 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Pell recipients in the first-time full-time cohort complete at 46.9%, which is 25.3 percentage points above the overall [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) (21.6%). Azimuth ranks the university #293 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. Four years after completion, completers earn about $5,868 more than the model expects for similar students. [How value-added outcomes are assessed](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) · [How to interpret program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) Northeastern Illinois University rankings in context | Geography | Rank | | --- | --- | | National | #172 | | [Illinois](/rankings/best-colleges-in-illinois/) | #7 | | [Midwest](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-midwest/) | #22 | Azimuth overall value rankings within each geographic comparison group. ### National pillar percentiles **Economic mobility** National percentile: 80 **Access & reach** National percentile: 90 **[Affordability](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/cost/)** National percentile: 92 **[Return on investment](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/outcomes/)** National percentile: 58 ### Top-ranked majors 1. Human Resources Management and Services**#38** 2. Business/Commerce, General**#50** 3. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities**#55** This school’s three highest-ranked programs nationally. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ. [Explore major rankings](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/majors/#major-rankings) 01 / Northeastern Illinois University briefing ## [Northeastern Illinois University cost & financial aid](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/cost/)[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps) For aid recipients, Northeastern Illinois University presents an aid-reduced price that is close to comparable public universities of similar size. The published cost of attendance is $26,960. In-state tuition and fees are $12,383, while out-of-state tuition and fees are $22,726. Published room and board adds $10,390. The average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships, is $14,109, with $12,851 in financial aid savings against the sticker price. That average is above the peer median of $14,068 at comparable institutions (same type and size), a difference of $41. Azimuth ranks the university #117 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The published charges and aid-reduced average point to a comparatively accessible price for recipients of aid. For aid recipients, Northeastern Illinois University starts with a published cost of attendance of $26,960, but prices differ across family-income bands. Average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is $13,709 for the lowest family-income band, $12,824 for the next band, $15,077 for the middle band, $20,464 for the next-highest band, and $25,001 for the highest band. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $11,292. Azimuth ranks the public university #117 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For the average aid recipient, aid covers about 48% of the published cost, or $12,851 against the sticker price. The average net price, what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships, is $14,109 across all aid recipients. That is above the $14,068 peer median for comparable institutions (same type and size), a difference of $41. Published in-state tuition is $12,383, and out-of-state tuition is $22,726. Among borrowers who complete, median federal student loan debt is $14,600, below the $21,229 peer median for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $6,629. 52.0% of federal aid recipients take federal loans, and that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $166 a month if repaid over ten years. Median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing is $13,578. Your family income Choose a household income range to see estimated net price. $0–30K$30–48K$48–75K$75–110K$110K+ Reported average annual net price · $48–75K**$15,077** After grants and scholarships. Your aid offer may differ. Averages within each income band; individual aid packages vary. ### Borrowing and repayment at Northeastern Illinois University Northeastern Illinois University has a comparatively low federal borrowing picture for completers relative to similar institutions. Among federal-loan borrowers who complete, median federal student loan debt is $14,600, which is $6,629 below the $21,229 peer median at comparable institutions (same type and size). A 52.0% of federal aid recipients take federal loans. [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowers, a separate parent-borrower population, have median borrowing of $13,578. Northeastern Illinois University pairs earnings above the model’s expectation with lower median debt than comparable institutions. Four years after completion, federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled have median earnings of $60,607. Azimuth places that earnings figure in the 53rd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. [Earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) is favorable here: Graduates earn about $5,868 more than the model expects for similar students. Azimuth places this measure in the 73rd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The modeled program-mix earnings scenarios are $50,365 in a downside case, $60,607 in a typical case, and $75,629 in an upside case. Median federal student debt is $14,600, $6,629 below the $21,229 peer median at comparable institutions (same type and size). That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $166 a month if repaid over ten years. Above-expected earnings and lower borrowing point the same way, although the observed earnings median sits nearer the middle of the national distribution. Parent borrowing is separate from student borrowing: median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing among parent borrowers is $13,578. Federal student debt at the median corresponds to an estimated payment of $166 a month if repaid over ten years. [How Financial GPS measures payment burden](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/) · [The four risk-and-reward zones](/analysis/4-zones-of-college-risk-and-reward/) Financial GPS ### What does repayment look like? **Institution median student debt** $14,600 **Institution Parent PLUS debt** $13,578 Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included. **Estimated student payment · monthly** $166/mo **Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly** $173/mo Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s. Payment assumptions Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. [Explore your own numbers in Financial GPS](/financial-gps/?tool=student&school=northeastern-illinois-university#student-tool) [Read the full cost & aid brief](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/cost/) 02 / Northeastern Illinois University briefing ## [Northeastern Illinois University career outcomes & earnings](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/outcomes/)[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)[\[8\]](#hub-data-note-scenarios)[\[9\]](#hub-data-note-value-added) Graduates earn about $5,868 more than the model expects for similar students. That puts the gap at the 73rd percentile, and Azimuth places the university at the 58th percentile for return among nonprofit four-year institutions. Four years after completing a degree, federally aided graduates who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $60,607, in the 53rd percentile nationally. That is $3,306 above the $57,301 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). The part the model attributes to the factors it measures adds $4,862. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain adds $1,006. Within the measured factors, the STEM component adds $1,416. The earnings picture centers on a median of $60,607 four years after completion for Northeastern Illinois University graduates. Azimuth places that earnings measure in the 53rd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, based on an earnings cohort of 1,859 federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled. Graduates earn about $5,868 more than the model expects for similar students. This is [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/), the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students. Earnings scenarios based on the program mix provide typical, downside, and upside outcomes rather than results for observed groups. An estimated 29.8% of graduates continue to graduate study, a figure estimated from the program mix. The above-expected result and the earnings scenarios give context beyond the schoolwide median alone. Northeastern Illinois University shows earnings above its peer median and above the model’s expectation, although its school-level median sits near the middle of nonprofit four-year institutions. Four years after completion, federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled have median earnings of $60,607, in the 53rd percentile. The peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), is $57,301; the university’s figure is $3,306 above it. Graduates earn about $5,868 more than the model expects for similar students. [Earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/), the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, falls in the 73rd percentile. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $4,862. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain adds $1,006. Within the measured factors, the STEM component adds $1,416. Earnings scenarios grounded in the program mix run from $50,365 on the downside to $75,629 on the upside four years after completion. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) the university #620 for return among nonprofit four-year institutions. Computer Science is the largest listed field and has the highest listed earnings, with 111 degrees awarded and median earnings of $88,917 four years after completion. That median is 0.83x of the national median for its field. Other sizeable fields have lower reported medians: Teacher Education awarded 109 degrees and reported $52,176, while Business Administration and Management awarded 60 degrees and reported $69,226. Accounting adds 73 degrees awarded with median earnings of $68,328. The range across these fields gives context for the downside and upside scenarios. Program choice matters here: earnings scenarios range from $50,365 in the downside case to $75,629 in the upside case four years after completion. These are scenarios from the program mix, not observed graduate groups. At the higher end, Computer Science completers earn a median of $88,917 four years after completion; Business Administration and Management completers earn $69,226; and Marketing completers earn $69,011. Those field-level figures show the range behind the earnings scenarios. At Northeastern Illinois University, borrowers who complete have median federal student loan debt of $14,600, below the $21,229 median at comparable institutions (same type and size). That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $166 a month if repaid over ten years. Graduates earn about $5,868 more than the model expects for similar students. Average net price, what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships, is $13,709 in the lowest income band; $12,824 in the lower-middle band; $15,077 in the middle band; $20,464 in the upper-middle band; and $25,001 in the highest income band. Lower borrower debt and higher-than-expected earnings point in the same direction, while the range in average net prices makes family income an important part of the cost picture. What explains value-added earnings? **Program & institutional factors The part attributed to observed institutional characteristics.** +$4,862 **Unexplained remainder What remains after the model’s observed factors.** +$1,006 **Total modeled value added The modeled difference from expected earnings.** +$5,868 These are statistical model components, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. [Read the full outcomes brief](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/outcomes/) 03 / Northeastern Illinois University briefing ## [Northeastern Illinois University acceptance rate & admissions](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/admissions/)[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)[\[10\]](#hub-data-note-sat)[\[11\]](#hub-data-note-retention) Northeastern Illinois University admitted 74.6% of applicants, a rate below the median of 85.9% for comparable institutions (same type and size). The lower rate is a useful comparison point, but it does not determine any one applicant’s result. Admissions **Admission rate** 74.6% [Read the full admissions brief](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/admissions/) 04 / Northeastern Illinois University briefing ## [What are the largest majors at Northeastern Illinois University?](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/majors/)[\[12\]](#hub-data-note-programs) The largest programs at Northeastern Illinois University show a clear split between a high-earning technical field and several moderate-earning service and education fields. Computer Science is both the biggest program, at 111 degrees awarded, and the best-paid, with graduates earning a median of $88,917 four years after completion. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #116 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. The next largest programs earn considerably less. Teacher Education awards 109 degrees and posts median earnings of $52,176, ranking #63 in its field. Liberal Arts and General Studies follows with 106 degrees and earnings of $55,569, placing #55 nationally. Social Work and Psychology round out the largest programs, with earnings of $53,848 and $54,301 respectively. The spread between the top program and the rest is substantial. Northeastern Illinois University has 17 nationally ranked bachelor's programs, with 22 programs reporting earnings data. The strongest national ranks are in Human Resources Management and Services and Business/Commerce, both inside the top #50 in their fields. The largest program is Computer Science, with 111 degrees awarded and median earnings of $88,917 four years after completion. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #116 nationally and #9 in Illinois. Teacher Education is nearly as large at 109 degrees awarded, with a stronger national rank of #63 and median earnings of $52,176. Liberal Arts and General Studies rounds out the top three at 106 degrees awarded and median earnings of $55,569. Northeastern Illinois University awards bachelor's degrees across 17 ranked programs, with earnings data available for 22. The largest program family is Business, accounting for 25.2% of degrees awarded, followed by Education at 11.8% and Computer & Information Sciences at 8.8%. The three largest single programs are Computer Science with 111 degrees awarded, Teacher Education with 109, and Liberal Arts and General Studies with 106. The highest-ranked program is Human Resources Management and Services, which ranks #3 in Illinois within its field. It awards 55 degrees a year and graduates earn a median of $63,276 four years after completion. Business/Commerce ranks #50 nationally within its field and #2 in Illinois, with 40 degrees awarded and median earnings of $59,853. The highest-earning program is Computer Science, where graduates earn a median of $88,917. Business Administration and Management follows at $69,226 from 60 degrees awarded, and Marketing follows at $69,011 from 42 degrees awarded. The pattern is one of strength spread across several fields rather than concentrated in one. The highest-ranked programs sit in business and human resources, while the largest programs span computer science, education, and liberal arts. Across all fields, 18.6% of degrees awarded are in STEM. Four-year earnings · six largest reported fields **Computer Science 111 degrees awarded** $88,917 **Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods 109 degrees awarded** $52,176 **Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 106 degrees awarded** $55,569 **Social Work 96 degrees awarded** $53,848 **Psychology, General 80 degrees awarded** $54,301 **Accounting and Related Services 73 degrees awarded** $68,328 Fields selected by reported completions. Counts describe credentials awarded, not unique students or the earnings sample. Bars show median four-year earnings. [Read the full majors brief](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/majors/) 05 / Northeastern Illinois University briefing ## How does Northeastern Illinois University serve students from different backgrounds? Mobility is also a relative strength at Northeastern Illinois University: Azimuth places its mobility pillar in the 80th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Within the first-time full-time cohort, the [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) is 21.6%; Pell recipients complete within six years at 46.9%, above the overall rate by 25.3 percentage points. Graduates earn about $5,868 more than the model expects for similar students, an earnings-beyond-expectations result—the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students—that Azimuth places in the 73rd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access is a relative strength at Northeastern Illinois University, where Pell Grants reach 55.7% of the 3,982 undergraduates. Azimuth places its access pillar in the 90th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The admission rate is 74.6%, and an estimated 57.3% of undergraduates enter as transfers or part-time students. Pell participation and transfer entry are both central to the overall undergraduate profile. 06 / Northeastern Illinois University briefing ## [What colleges are similar to Northeastern Illinois University?](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/similar/)[\[15\]](#hub-data-note-peers) Azimuth groups alternatives by admissions, location, cost and earnings, then orders candidates within each group. Peer earnings use the matched four-year cohort. [How matching works](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/similar/#peer-matching). ### A shortlist for different decisions Choose a row to compare the figures with Northeastern Illinois University. Admissions peerNorthern Illinois University69.8% admitted+ Comparison with Northeastern Illinois University | Measure | Northeastern Illinois University | Northern Illinois University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $60,607 | $64,583+$3,976 vs Northeastern Illinois University | | Average annual net price | $14,109 | $13,391\-$718 vs Northeastern Illinois University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 74.6% | 69.8% | [Explore Northern Illinois University →](/school/northern-illinois-university/) Higher-admission alternativeDominican University90.3% admitted+ Comparison with Northeastern Illinois University | Measure | Northeastern Illinois University | Dominican University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $60,607 | $59,507\-$1,100 vs Northeastern Illinois University | | Average annual net price | $14,109 | $11,745\-$2,364 vs Northeastern Illinois University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 74.6% | 90.3% | [Explore Dominican University →](/school/dominican-university/) Nearby alternativeGovernors State UniversityNearby option · IL+ Comparison with Northeastern Illinois University | Measure | Northeastern Illinois University | Governors State University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $60,607 | $56,405\-$4,202 vs Northeastern Illinois University | | Average annual net price | $14,109 | $12,329\-$1,780 vs Northeastern Illinois University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 74.6% | 48.3% | [Explore Governors State University →](/school/governors-state-university/) Higher-earnings alternativeUniversity of St Francis$75,229 earnings+ Comparison with Northeastern Illinois University | Measure | Northeastern Illinois University | University of St Francis | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $60,607 | $75,229+$14,622 vs Northeastern Illinois University | | Average annual net price | $14,109 | $13,006\-$1,103 vs Northeastern Illinois University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 74.6% | 65.3% | [Explore University of St Francis →](/school/university-of-st-francis/) Lower-cost alternativeTrinity International University-Illinois$2,835 average net price+ Comparison with Northeastern Illinois University | Measure | Northeastern Illinois University | Trinity International University-Illinois | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $60,607 | $51,985\-$8,622 vs Northeastern Illinois University | | Average annual net price | $14,109 | $2,835\-$11,274 vs Northeastern Illinois University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 74.6% | 100.0% | Similar profileUniversity of Nebraska at KearneyMatched across several measures+ Comparison with Northeastern Illinois University | Measure | Northeastern Illinois University | University of Nebraska at Kearney | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $60,607 | $56,647\-$3,960 vs Northeastern Illinois University | | Average annual net price | $14,109 | $16,242+$2,133 vs Northeastern Illinois University · higher cost | | Admission rate | 74.6% | 89.5% | [Explore University of Nebraska at Kearney →](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-kearney/) Each school is the first-ranked match in its category, not a recommendation across every measure. The same college may lead more than one category. Figures use the matching snapshot; earnings reflect the matched four-year cohort. — means unavailable. [Read the full similar schools brief](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/similar/) ## Data scope & methodology Structured payloads generated September 27, 2026 · Governed hub narrative September 28, 2026 · Governed spoke corpus September 28, 2026 Four-year earnings describe cohorts of completers. Figures for other horizons describe different cohorts and are not joined into a career-growth projection. Azimuth's overall rank and pillar percentiles come from the school profile. Absolute pillar ranks, city, enrollment and official-site links are shown only when structured data supplies them. Detailed earnings, cost, admissions and program values come from the endpoint responsible for each measure. Missing values are not replaced with zero. Value-added estimates are model associations, not causal effects. Figures are refreshed with each data release, at most a quarter apart. The underlying source dates can be earlier than the release. Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source. Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth. [Read the ranking methodology, data definitions and limitations](/methodology/) · [About College Azimuth](/about/) Read the analysis behind [value-added earnings](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) and the [change to four-year graduate earnings](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/). These articles are published on collegeazimuth.com. ## Data notes & source fields Scorecard field codes identify the underlying measure; Azimuth-derived values are labeled separately. Snapshot dates are not measurement years. Source populations and reporting periods differ across measures. Field definitions are in the [U.S. Department of Education · College Scorecard documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/files/InstitutionDataDocumentation.pdf); notes with a different source link it below. 1. **Admission rate.** Reported applicants admitted; not a transfer-specific or individual admission probability. Source fields: `ADM_RATE` 2. **Six-year completion.** First-time, full-time students completing at the institution within 150% of normal time, typically six years for a bachelor’s degree. Source fields: `C150_4` 3. **Four-year institutional earnings.** Median earnings of graduates in the reported cohort who are working and not enrolled, four years after completion. Source fields: `MD_EARN_WNE_4YR` 4. **Median federal student debt.** Federal student-loan debt among completers in the reported borrowing cohort. Excludes Parent PLUS and is not total debt across all students. Source fields: `GRAD_DEBT_MDN` 5. **National, regional and state ranks; pillar percentiles; major ranks.** Derived scores within the stated eligible comparison set, not raw Scorecard fields. Major ranks compare institutions within a field; their denominators differ. Source fields: `Azimuth rankings` [College Azimuth · Ranking methodology](/methodology/) 6. **Annual net price by family income.** Average annual cost after grants and scholarships for the eligible first-time, full-time aid-recipient cohort. Public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. Includes living costs; these are averages, not medians or individual offers. Source fields: `NPT4_PUB/PRIV; NPT41_PUB/PRIV through NPT45_PUB/PRIV` 7. **Parent PLUS debt, payments and GPS illustration.** Stored payments use Financial GPS loan and repayment assumptions. The adjustable spectrum applies the published framework to annual student payments divided by earnings minus an expense allowance; its initial allowance is 150% of the federal poverty guideline for one person, for the year the API serves. It is an illustration rather than a school rating. The parent table is the 10-year payment on the median Parent PLUS as a share of household income above 200% of the guideline for a household of three: under 6% Safe, 6–10% Caution, over 10% High pressure. Parent PLUS uses the completer median where available, otherwise the all-borrower median; these describe different borrowing populations. Source fields: `PLUS_DEBT_ALL_COMP_MD; fallback PLUS_DEBT_ALL_MD; Azimuth Financial GPS calculations` [College Azimuth · Financial GPS methodology](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/) 8. **Downside and upside earnings; yellow band.** The band spans the modeled lower and higher scenarios. It is not the P25–P75 interval for individual graduates. The median marker is the separately reported institutional median. Source fields: `Azimuth modeled program-mix scenarios` [College Azimuth · Earnings scenario methodology](/analysis/median-roi-hides-a-harsh-reality/) 9. **Value added and its components.** Observed-factor attribution plus the unexplained remainder equals total modeled value added. These are associations, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. Source fields: `Azimuth statistical model` [College Azimuth · Value-added methodology](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) 10. **SAT score range and reported midpoint.** Reported scores of enrolled score-submitters, not admission cutoffs. The midpoint field is not necessarily the middle of the displayed range. Source fields: `SATVR25 + SATMT25; SATVR75 + SATMT75; SAT_AVG` 11. **First-year retention.** Retention of the reported full-time cohort at four-year institutions. Source fields: `RET_FT4` 12. **Program earnings, completion counts and major-mix dots.** Included bachelor’s programs have at least five reported completions. Counts are aggregated credentials, not unique people or an earnings sample. Major-mix dots group those counts by field of study; excluded programs are not zero activity. Source fields: `EARN_MDN_4YR; IPEDSCOUNT1; CIPCODE` [College Scorecard · Field-of-study technical documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/assets/FieldOfStudyDataDocumentation.pdf) 13. **Pell recipients.** Share of undergraduates receiving a Pell Grant in the reported academic year. Source fields: `PCTPELL` 14. **Entering students outside the first-time, full-time group.** This is not an observed transfer-in rate. It includes part-time entrants and other entering-student attendance patterns. Source fields: `1 − PFTFTUG1_EF` 15. **Peer earnings and signed differences.** Differences are peer minus this school, from the same matching snapshot. A positive earnings difference does not mean the peer is better on every measure. Source fields: `Azimuth peer model using MD_EARN_WNE_4YR` [College Azimuth · Comparison methodology](/methodology/) [How to interpret program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)