Head-to-head comparison
DePaul University vs Northern Illinois University: which has better ROI?
Option A Chicago, IL
DePaul University
- Net price / year
- $30,902
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,751
- Payback
- 6.1 yrs
Option B Dekalb, IL
Northern Illinois University
- Net price / year
- $13,391
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,808
- Payback
- 5.7 yrs
Northern Illinois University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $53,564 in 5.7 years versus 6.1 years at DePaul University, on median earnings of $57,808 vs $68,751 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | DePaul University | Northern Illinois University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,902 | $13,391 |
| Total net cost | $123,608 | $53,564 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $68,751 | $57,808 |
| Median debt | $23,168 | $22,162 |
| Payback | 6.1 yrs | 5.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $284,212 | $135,396 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, DePaul University or Northern Illinois University?
Northern Illinois University, at $13,391 a year after aid versus $30,902 — a gap of $17,511 a year, or $70,044 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do DePaul University or Northern Illinois University graduates earn more?
DePaul University graduates report a median $68,751 ten years after entry, $10,943 more than the $57,808 at Northern Illinois University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, DePaul University or Northern Illinois University?
Northern Illinois University: its completers carry a median $22,162 in federal loans versus $23,168 at DePaul University, a difference of $1,006. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at DePaul University, against 49% at Northern Illinois University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.