College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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Can You Afford Northern Illinois University?

Concerned about paying for college? Take a look at NIU’s financial aid options, including grants, scholarships, and student loans, then calculate the net price based on your income level to determine if you can afford to attend this school.

2020 - 2021 Costs Between $16,001 and $29,442

Feeling a little stressed about paying $29,442 to attend Northern Illinois University each year? This number can be deceiving, and for many, the net price you pay will be less.

While there is no tuition reduction for Illinois students, 94.7% of freshmen receive some form of financial aid, with the average amount totaling $10,411. Students from low-income families receive an average of $13,441 in aid during their first year.

Cost (no aid)

Tuition and fees$14,392
+ Room and board$10,880
+ Other expenses$4,170
Total cost$29,442
Affordability Score (56 out of 100)
more expensive
less expensive

Net Price (with average aid)

Total cost$29,442
- Grants and scholarships$10,411
Net price$19,031
Affordability Score (67 out of 100)
more expensive
less expensive

Average Net Price for Low Income Undergraduates

Total cost$29,442
- Grants and scholarships$13,441
Net price$16,001
Affordability Score (72 out of 100)
more expensive
less expensive

Learn more about tuition and fees, room, board and other expenses, and financial aid options at NIU.

Projected Costs Between $60,458 and $163,489 For a Four Year Degree. Between $30,723 and $81,622 For a Two Year Degree.

Looking at the total projected cost of a college education over the course of two / four (or more) years can feel a little overwhelming. However, doing so will help better prepare you for the financial commitment you are making.

The overall cost for on-campus students to attend NIU in 2020 - 2021 was $29,442. To calculate future costs, we looked at the prior five years of data and determined that this cost decreased an average of 0.3% each year. If this trend continues, we expect the full cost for incoming freshmen to be $29,289 during their first year. By their senior year, that cost will be approximately $29,061 for a bachelor degree candidate ($29,213 for an associate degree candidate) for a total of $116,700 over the course of four years ($58,502 over the course of two years). These numbers do not take into consideration financial aid, which reduces this overall cost by varying amounts per student.

Remember, the full costs quoted above are not what most students will pay, and the net price varies quite a bit based on individual circumstances.

Average Net Price at Northern Illinois University

Cost With Interest

The tables below outlines how the overall degree net cost can vary depending on your situation. This table also highlights the impact student loans can have on the overall cost of college.

Projected 2-Year Net CostsLow Income w/ Aidw/ Average AidNo Aid
Annual growth rate*-0.0%-0.3%
Freshman year$15,613$19,012$29,289
Senior year$15,422$19,002$29,213
Total 2-year net price$31,035$38,014$58,502
10-year loan interest @ 6.8%$11,823$14,482$22,287
Total monthly payment$357$437$673
Total amount paid$42,859$52,497$80,789
Projected 4-Year Net CostsLow Income w/ Aidw/ Average AidNo Aid
Annual growth rate*-0.0%-0.3%
Freshman year$15,613$19,012$29,289
Senior year$15,048$18,983$29,061
Total 4-year net price$61,318$75,991$116,700
10-year loan interest @ 6.8%$23,360$28,950$44,458
Total monthly payment$706$875$1,343
Total amount paid$84,678$104,941$161,159

Visit net price and financial aid to learn more about the total cost of attending Northern Illinois University.

Further Questions to Consider

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