Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Northern Illinois University graduates experience consistent earnings growth throughout their early-to-mid career progression. Median earnings rise from $46,113 at six years after enrollment to $51,305 at eight years and reach $57,808 at the ten-year mark, representing 25.4% total growth.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $22,162 in debt with typical earnings.
Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median debt of $22,162, positioning slightly above the peer median of $20,000 by $2,162. Student debt ranges from $8,517 at the 25th percentile to $27,644 at the 75th percentile, indicating variation in borrowing patterns across students and programs.
Northern Illinois University ranks at the 86.4th percentile for return on investment, reflecting well above average performance in translating educational investment into career outcomes. The institution generates $24,393 in earnings beyond expectations, positioning at the 95.9th percentile nationally and demonstrating exceptional value creation relative to student demographics.
Approximately 23.4% of Northern Illinois University graduates continue to graduate or professional study, with high confidence in this estimate based ...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Northern Illinois University's return performance reflects strong outcomes across diverse academic programs, with engineering and technology fields driving the highest individual returns. Computer Science graduates earn $79,236 while Electrical Engineering graduates earn $79,921, representing premium outcomes that support higher debt levels comfortably.
Applied Engineering Technologies demonstrates exceptional value with $74,294 earnings and top-tier national rankings. Business programs contribute solid returns with Accounting Technology graduates earning $73,170 and Business Administration graduates earning $63,809.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
The earnings distribution spanning from $37,890 at the 25th percentile to $83,290 at the 75th percentile reflects Northern Illinois University's diverse program portfolio and multiple career pathways. Low-income graduates earn $46,300, indicating strong mobility potential for Pell-eligible students who comprise 45.6% of enrollment.
