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# Schools Similar to Northern Illinois University

Updated September 30, 2026

[Overview](/school/northern-illinois-university/)[Cost & aid](/school/northern-illinois-university/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/northern-illinois-university/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/northern-illinois-university/admissions/)[Majors](/school/northern-illinois-university/majors/)Similar schools

**On this page**+

## Compare alternatives to NIU

-   [Similar admissions profiles](#similar-admissions) · 5 matches
-   [Higher admission rates](#higher-admission) · 5 matches
-   [Nearby alternatives](#nearby-alternatives) · 5 matches
-   [Higher earnings at similar cost](#higher-earnings) · 3 matches
-   [Lower cost with similar earnings](#lower-cost) · 5 matches
-   [Similar overall profiles](#related-peers) · 10 matches

## Similar admissions profiles

Similar admissions profiles · matching order within this group

| School | NIU · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Northeastern Illinois University](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/) | 69.8% | 74.6% | $60,607 4 years after completion |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 69.8% | 77.5% | $45,385 4 years after completion |
| Edgewood University | 69.8% | 75.7% | $68,625 4 years after completion |
| McKendree University | 69.8% | 71.7% | $60,630 4 years after completion |
| Manchester University | 69.8% | 71.1% | $52,989 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher admission rates

Higher admission rates · matching order within this group

| School | NIU · admission rate | Admission rate | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Aurora University](/school/aurora-university/) | 69.8% | 80.9% | $64,521 4 years after completion |
| [Illinois State University](/school/illinois-state-university/) | 69.8% | 88.2% | $62,507 4 years after completion |
| [University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/) | 69.8% | 100.0% | $62,480 4 years after completion |
| [Ferris State University](/school/ferris-state-university/) | 69.8% | 91.4% | $64,721 4 years after completion |
| [University of Illinois Springfield](/school/university-of-illinois-springfield/) | 69.8% | 85.9% | $63,235 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Nearby alternatives

Nearby alternatives · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Illinois State University](/school/illinois-state-university/) | IL | $62,507 4 years after completion |
| [Northeastern Illinois University](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/) | IL | $60,607 4 years after completion |
| [Olivet Nazarene University](/school/olivet-nazarene-university/) | IL | $64,769 4 years after completion |
| [University of Illinois Springfield](/school/university-of-illinois-springfield/) | IL | $63,235 4 years after completion |
| McKendree University | IL | $60,630 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Higher earnings at similar cost

Higher earnings at similar cost · matching order within this group

| School | NIU · earnings | Earnings | Average annual net price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [University of St Francis](/school/university-of-st-francis/) | $64,583 4 years after completion | $75,229 4 years after completion | $13,006 |
| University of Tulsa | $64,583 4 years after completion | $79,396 4 years after completion | $15,000 |
| [University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus](/school/university-of-colorado-denveranschutz-medical-campus/) | $64,583 4 years after completion | $74,059 4 years after completion | $11,900 |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Lower cost with similar earnings

Lower cost with similar earnings · matching order within this group

| School | NIU · average annual net price | Average annual net price | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Indiana University-Northwest](/school/indiana-university-northwest/) | $13,391 | $5,130 | $59,535 4 years after completion |
| [Saint Xavier University](/school/saint-xavier-university/) | $13,391 | $10,970 | $66,961 4 years after completion |
| [Purdue University Northwest](/school/purdue-university-northwest/) | $13,391 | $6,079 | $73,337 4 years after completion |
| [CUNY Brooklyn College](/school/cuny-brooklyn-college/) | $13,391 | $3,103 | $62,833 4 years after completion |
| [California State University-Los Angeles](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/) | $13,391 | $3,967 | $59,756 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Similar overall profiles

Similar overall profiles · matching order within this group

| School | State | Earnings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Minnesota State University-Mankato](/school/minnesota-state-university-mankato/) | MN | $64,235 4 years after completion |
| [University of Nebraska at Omaha](/school/university-of-nebraska-at-omaha/) | NE | $60,448 4 years after completion |
| [Indiana University-Indianapolis](/school/indiana-university-indianapolis/) | IN | $64,616 4 years after completion |
| [Oakland University](/school/oakland-university/) | MI | $68,708 4 years after completion |
| [Western Michigan University](/school/western-michigan-university/) | MI | $62,885 4 years after completion |
| [University of Toledo](/school/university-of-toledo/) | OH | $66,084 4 years after completion |
| [Wichita State University](/school/wichita-state-university/) | KS | $59,707 4 years after completion |
| [Southern Illinois University Edwardsville](/school/southern-illinois-university-edwardsville/) | IL | $65,199 4 years after completion |
| [Central Michigan University](/school/central-michigan-university/) | MI | $61,298 4 years after completion |
| [Ferris State University](/school/ferris-state-university/) | MI | $64,721 4 years after completion |

[Matching method and source notes](#peer-matching)

## Matching methods and sources

[How schools are matched](/methodology/).

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).