Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, Illinois · Public · 74.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 56/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Northeastern Illinois University is a public urban commuter university in Chicago, Illinois, enrolling approximately 3,982 students. It earns an overall ROI score of 56 - Below Average Value - and 22% of students complete a degree within the expected timeframe. The in-state tuition of $12,383 and net price of $14,109 are low, and median debt is just $14,600. The earnings premium subscore of 68 reflects 30.5% higher earnings than high-school-only workers, and computer science graduates earn $62,831 one year out. The 11.4-year payback period and the 70% three-year repayment rate are the practical financial metrics for students who complete. NEIU is best understood not as an ROI-optimized credential but as a critical access pathway for Chicago students who would otherwise not pursue four-year degrees.
How Northeastern Illinois University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate21.6% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
Northeastern Illinois University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,383/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,726/yr |
| Average net price | $14,109/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $56,436 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,234 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,600 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $155 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 21.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,982 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $12,383/year ($22,726/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $14,109/year, or roughly $56,436 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $13,709/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,001/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $14,600, which works out to about $155 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,200) and comes to 0.41, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,709 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,824 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,077 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,464 |
| $110,001+ | $25,001 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $13,709 - extremely affordable for Chicago, where living expenses alone can exceed this figure. Federal and state grant aid covers a large share of tuition costs for Pell-eligible students. For low-income Chicago residents committed to degree completion, NEIU provides access to a four-year credential at a low cost.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($48,001 - $75,000) pay $15,077 in net price - still very low in the Chicago market. At this price, computer science and accounting graduates recover total costs in three to four years based on starting salaries. The completion rate caveat applies here too: students who persist to graduation find strong ROI; those who leave without a degree face modest but unnecessary debt.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($110,000-plus) face a net price of $25,001. NEIU is primarily a value option for local students, and higher-income families have more options available.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Northeastern Illinois University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $88,917 | B+ |
| Social Work | $53,848 | B |
| Teacher Education | $52,176 | B |
| Psychology | $54,301 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $55,569 | B |
| Biology | $53,567 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,226 | B |
| Accounting | $68,328 | B+ |
| Marketing | $69,011 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,247 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is NEIU's strongest ROI program with 103 annual graduates. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 earns a B+ grade against only $15,750 in median debt. NEIU CS graduates enter Chicago's enormous technology employer base - from financial services to healthcare IT - with strong earnings potential and minimal debt burden.
Accounting
Accounting graduates earn $50,475 one year out and $68,328 at four years. Against just $15,000 in median debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 earns a B+ grade. The 55 annual graduates compete directly in Chicago's large public accounting and corporate finance market. At NEIU's net price, accounting offers exceptional financial value.
Human Resources Management
Human Resources Management graduates earn $49,131 one year out and $63,276 at four years. Against $15,365 in median debt, the ratio of 0.31 earns a B+ grade. The 30 annual graduates enter Chicago's large corporate HR market with strong credentials and minimal debt. This is a relatively low-profile program at NEIU but one of the most financially efficient pathways it offers.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance graduates earn $48,807 one year out and $64,022 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 earns a B+ grade against only $12,502 in median debt - the lowest debt level of any tracked program. The 34 annual graduates enter Chicago's financial services industry with the lowest debt-to-income ratio of any NEIU program. At these numbers, NEIU finance is an extraordinary value for students who complete.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest tracked program with 56 graduates. One-year earnings of $46,630 and four-year earnings of $69,226 are solid for a public commuter university. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 earns a B grade. Business graduates at NEIU compete across Chicago's diverse employer base in management, operations, and consulting entry roles. The low net price makes this credential financially accessible.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Northeastern Illinois University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 74.6% |
| Enrollment | 3,982 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 55.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,265 |
NEIU admitted 75% of applicants in available data, with no published standardized test score ranges. The institution functions as an open-access four-year option for Chicago-area students who may not have qualified for or chosen to attend more selective Illinois public universities. Many students arrive via community college transfer. The financial aid packaging is critical: NEIU's low tuition combined with Pell Grant eligibility produces very low net costs for many students, though individual aid offers vary significantly.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Illinois University (this school) | 56 | $14,109 | $52,234 |
| University of Michigan-Flint | 56 | $7,007 | $53,230 |
| Eastern Illinois University | 54 | $12,786 | $51,989 |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | 52 | $10,892 | $48,866 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | 52 | $32,654 | $65,703 |
| Chicago State University | 16 | $12,335 | $42,778 |
Who Thrives Here
NEIU is designed for non-traditional, working-adult, first-generation, and community college transfer students in Chicago's North Side and northwest suburbs. The 75% admission rate and absence of published test scores confirm a broad-access mission. With 56% of students receiving Pell Grants, NEIU is one of Illinois's most financially accessible four-year institutions. Students who thrive are self-motivated, often juggling work and family responsibilities, and benefit from NEIU's evening class scheduling and commuter-friendly services. Computer science, business, and accounting students will find the clearest financial returns.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Northeastern Illinois University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $14,109 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $52,234 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 21.6% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 69.9% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $14,600 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Northeastern Illinois University: Common Questions
Is Northeastern Illinois University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Northeastern Illinois University scores 56/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,109 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $52,234 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Northeastern Illinois University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $14,109 a year, or roughly $56,436 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Northeastern Illinois University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,234 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,434 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Northeastern Illinois University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 11.4 years for Northeastern Illinois University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Northeastern Illinois University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $14,600, against average earnings of $35,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Northeastern Illinois University?
The six-year graduation rate is 21.6%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.