Affordable Alternatives to Northern Illinois University
Open-data reference.
We found 15 schools structurally similar to Northern Illinois University that cost less. 15 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.
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Dekalb, Illinois · Public
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University posts an average net price of $13,391 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Northern Illinois University across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.
The maximum possible savings across this list is $10,288, achieved by CUNY Brooklyn College at $3,103. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 15 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Northern Illinois University’s $57,808, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $64,002.
The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.
Similar Schools That Cost Less
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.
| School | Net Price | Savings | Earnings (10yr) | Graduation | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY City College New York, NY · Public Better Value | $3,776 | -$9,615 | $66,039 | 55.8% | 66% |
| California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA · Public Better Value | $4,564 | -$8,827 | $59,977 | 54.8% | 66% |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO · Public Better Value | $11,900 | -$1,491 | $64,270 | 46.7% | 64% |
| CUNY Queens College Queens, NY · Public Better Value | $4,195 | -$9,196 | $62,763 | 56.4% | 60% |
| CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY · Public Better Value | $3,103 | -$10,288 | $60,752 | 55.2% | 60% |
| California State University-East Bay Hayward, CA · Public Better Value | $9,320 | -$4,071 | $71,401 | 46.7% | 59% |
| California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA · Public Better Value | $7,000 | -$6,391 | $61,244 | 55.9% | 57% |
| University of California-Merced Merced, CA · Public Better Value | $11,983 | -$1,408 | $64,368 | 68.9% | 56% |
| San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA · Public Better Value | $12,278 | -$1,113 | $68,077 | 50.3% | 51% |
| California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, CA · Public Better Value | $6,555 | -$6,836 | $62,951 | 69.7% | 51% |
| California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA · Public Better Value | $10,440 | -$2,951 | $64,403 | 69.3% | 49% |
| Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NY · Public Better Value | $10,867 | -$2,524 | $69,781 | 54.9% | 48% |
| Ohio State University-Marion Campus Marion, OH · Public Better Value | $11,488 | -$1,903 | $60,409 | 26.2% | 48% |
| Ohio State University-Lima Campus Lima, OH · Public Better Value | $12,940 | -$451 | $60,409 | 20.6% | 48% |
| California State University-Stanislaus Turlock, CA · Public Better Value | $6,067 | -$7,324 | $63,188 | 55.6% | 47% |
Top Similar Alternatives
Quick picks from the full list – compare any two schools side by side
How We Match Schools
Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.
Only schools with a lower average net price than Northern Illinois University are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.
Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.