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Is Northeastern Illinois University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Northeastern Illinois, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Northeastern Illinois sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $52,234 helps, but median debt of $14,600 plus yearly net price of $14,109 creates a tighter path. For context, Northeastern Illinois's net price is about 12% above the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$14,669
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $1,515 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $6,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$14,109
Median earnings 10 years out
$52,234
Median debt at graduation
$14,600
Graduation rate
18%
At Northeastern Illinois, a typical graduate carries about $14,600 in student debt and earns roughly $52,234 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $166 per month, or 4% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Northeastern Illinois is a public four year school in Chicago, IL. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
Worth-It Score: 88/100
Median net price: $14,355
Public 4-year
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL
Worth-It Score: 67/100
Median net price: $14,889
Public 4-year
Northern Illinois
Dekalb, IL
Worth-It Score: 66/100
Median net price: $13,391
Public 4-year
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
Worth-It Score: 69/100
Median net price: $13,297
Public 4-year
Western Illinois
Macomb, IL
Worth-It Score: 63/100
Median net price: $12,937
Common questions about Northeastern Illinois
The median net price at Northeastern Illinois is $14,109 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Illinois? See the most affordable public universities in Illinois →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →