Quad

Head-to-head

Northern Illinois
University at Albany

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Northern Illinois's grants cover 48% of its full price on average, vs. 35% at University at Albany

    Aid generosity
  2. 2

    University at Albany grads earn $10.2K more ten years out than Northern Illinois's ($67,979 vs. $57,808)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  3. 3

    Northern Illinois has 8 pts more first-gen students than University at Albany (38% vs. 30%)

    First-generation students
  4. 4

    Northern Illinois costs about $4.8K less per year on average than University at Albany ($15,527 vs. $20,325, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  5. 5

    University at Albany is more diverse (index 0.76 vs. 0.71)

    Diversity index
  6. 6

    Northern Illinois has 4 pts more Pell recipients than University at Albany (47% vs. 44%)

    Pell Grant recipients

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

University at Albany admits 69%, Northern Illinois 70%; University at Albany's yield is higher, at 13%.

Acceptance rate
Northern Illinois70%
University at Albany69%
Quad's selectivity
  • Northern IllinoisAccessible
  • University at AlbanySelective
SAT middle 50%
Northern IllinoisTest-blind
University at AlbanyNot reported
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • Northern IllinoisGPA, school record, rank, and prep program required
  • University at AlbanyGPA and school record required

Who's on each campus

University at Albany is a bit larger than Northern Illinois (12,564 vs. 11,301 undergrads); Northern Illinois has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Northern Illinois11.3K
University at Albany12.6K
Pell Grant share
Northern Illinois47%
University at Albany44%

Majors and faculty

Psychology leads at Northern Illinois, and Business Administration and Management at University at Albany.

Students per faculty member
Northern Illinois15 to 1
University at Albany16 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • Northern IllinoisPsychology, General9%
  • University at AlbanyBusiness Administration and Management, General10%

What each costs

Northern Illinois costs about $4.8K less a year than University at Albany on average, and its grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Northern Illinois$15.5K
University at Albany$20.3K
Aid generosity
Northern Illinois48%
University at Albany35%

What each pays off

University at Albany's former students earn more, a median $68K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 60% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Northern Illinois$57.8K
University at Albany$68K
Graduation rate
Northern Illinois64%
University at Albany68%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; both got less selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • Northern IllinoisGrowing+19%
  • University at AlbanyGrowing+49%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why