Head-to-head comparison
Illinois State University vs Northern Illinois University: which has better ROI?
Option A Normal, IL
Illinois State University
- Net price / year
- $19,398
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,117
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Option B Dekalb, IL
Northern Illinois University
- Net price / year
- $13,391
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,808
- Payback
- 5.7 yrs
Illinois State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $77,592 in 5.6 years versus 5.7 years at Northern Illinois University, on median earnings of $62,117 vs $57,808 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Illinois State University | Northern Illinois University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,398 | $13,391 |
| Total net cost | $77,592 | $53,564 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,117 | $57,808 |
| Median debt | $20,482 | $22,162 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 5.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $197,548 | $135,396 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Illinois State University or Northern Illinois University?
Northern Illinois University, at $13,391 a year after aid versus $19,398 — a gap of $6,007 a year, or $24,028 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 Illinois State University or Northern Illinois University graduates earn more?
Illinois State University graduates report a median $62,117 ten years after entry, $4,309 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, Illinois State University or Northern Illinois University?
Illinois State University: its completers carry a median $20,482 in federal loans versus $22,162 at Northern Illinois University, a difference of $1,680. 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?
65% of students finish at Illinois State 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.