DEKALB, IL · PUBLIC
Northern Illinois University reported a $13,391 average net price, a completion rate of 49.2%, $64,583 median earnings four years after completion, and $22,162 median federal debt among completers in the June 2026 College Scorecard release.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College ScorecardPage compiled September 16, 2026Download source data ↗
01 · Earnings after completion
Northern Illinois University’s median earnings were $64,583 four years after completion and $61,432 five years after completion, based on 4,500 and 4,475 working graduates, respectively.
The red marker shows the federal earnings threshold where available. Earnings cover graduates who were working and not enrolled; they do not include every former student.
02 · Cost after grant aid
Northern Illinois University reported a $13,391 average net price. Published lower-income figures were $10,126 for households below $30,001 and $9,854 for households from $30,001 to $48,000.
| Federal income band | Average net price |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $10,126 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $9,854 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $12,797 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $17,612 |
| $110,001+ | $21,834 |
Average net price is cost of attendance minus average grant and scholarship aid for the defined cohort. Your actual price depends on the institution’s aid offer.
03 · Student progress and aid
Northern Illinois University reported a completion rate of 49.2%, a retention rate of 70.0%, a Pell-recipient share of 47.3%, and a federal-loan share of 46.7%.
These percentages have different denominators. Completion and retention describe first-time student cohorts; Pell and federal-loan shares describe undergraduate aid receipt.
04 · Federal student debt
Median federal debt among Northern Illinois University completers was $22,162 across 4,509 reported borrowers. The figure is cumulative debt, not annual cost or a monthly payment.
$22,162
Borrower repayment progress after four years: 29.0% across a reported cohort of 4,676 undergraduate completers.
05 · Field-of-study evidence
21 Northern Illinois University programs met this site’s evidence threshold, including Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering.
A program page requires at least 75 working graduates plus published four-year earnings and median debt. This is our evidence threshold, not a federal rating.
06 · Nearby comparison set
This report lists 6 other public institutions in Illinois that match Northern Illinois University on state and control type; the set is not ranked.
Answers at a glance
The Northern Illinois University FAQ reports $13,391 average net price, $64,583 four-year median earnings, and $22,162 median federal debt.
The reported average net price was $13,391 for the applicable Title IV student cohort. It is a cohort average, not an individual aid offer.
Northern Illinois University’s median earnings were $64,583 four years after completion and $61,432 five years after completion, based on 4,500 and 4,475 working graduates, respectively.
Median federal debt among Northern Illinois University completers was $22,162 across 4,509 reported borrowers. The figure is cumulative debt, not annual cost or a monthly payment.
