Match #1
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL
Profile closeness79/100
Admit rate71%
- 4,410 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Enrollment 4,410 students, close to 3,982
- Average net price $10,018, close to $9,377
The colleges most similar to Northeastern Illinois University are Western Illinois University, Governors State University, and Eastern Illinois University. Northeastern Illinois University admits 75% of applicants and has an average net price of $9,377 a year; 1 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 4 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Northeastern Illinois University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Northeastern Illinois University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Governors State University
University Park, IL
Profile closeness79/100
Admit rate48%
- 2,556 students
- Public
- Rural: Fringe
- Graduation rate 23%, close to 25%
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #3
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate65%
- 4,188 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Enrollment 4,188 students, close to 3,982
- Acceptance rate 65%, close to 75%
Match #4
Chicago State University
Chicago, IL
Profile closeness68/100
Admit rate43%
- 1,384 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Average net price $7,273, close to $9,377
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #5
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL
Profile closeness58/100
Admit rate70%
- 11,301 students
- Public
- Suburb: Small
- Acceptance rate 70%, close to 75%
- Same control type (public)
Match #6
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL
Profile closeness54/100
Admit rate98%
- 8,750 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Same control type (public)
Match #7
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
Profile closeness53/100
Admit rate87%
- 8,494 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL
Profile closeness44/100
Admit rate77%
- 22,170 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Average net price $9,540, close to $9,377
- Acceptance rate 77%, close to 75%
Match #9
Illinois State University
Normal, IL
Profile closeness34/100
Admit rate88%
- 19,057 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Same control type (public)
Match #10
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Main Campus
Champaign, IL
Profile closeness24/100
Admit rate42%
- 36,258 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Same control type (public)
Questions about Northeastern Illinois University alternatives
What colleges are similar to Northeastern Illinois University?
The closest matches to Northeastern Illinois University are Western Illinois University, Governors State University, Eastern Illinois University, Chicago State University, and Northern Illinois University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Northeastern Illinois University hard to get into?
Northeastern Illinois University admitted 75% of its 3,399 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is moderately selective. 4 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Northeastern Illinois University alternatives cost less?
1 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Northeastern Illinois University ($9,377 a year), including Chicago State University ($7,273). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
