Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, Illinois · Public · 11,301 undergraduates
All 74 programs with reported earnings leave graduates out-earning a typical Illinois high-school graduate (about $36,082/yr). Another 66 programs did not have enough data to judge.
What families actually pay
| Family income | Net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $10,126 |
| $30k to $48k | $9,854 |
| $48k to $75k | $12,797 |
| $75k to $110k | $17,612 |
| $110k and up | $21,834 |
| All families (average) | $13,391 |
Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). Credit: TuitionTracker.
Program earnings vs a high-school graduate
| Program | Credential | Median earnings | vs HS grad | Verdict | Median debt | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $119,872 | +$83,790 | clears the bar | $32,950 | 0.4 yrs |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $49,669 | +$13,587 | clears the bar | $21,375 | 1.6 yrs |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $75,557 | +$39,475 | clears the bar | $25,000 | 0.6 yrs |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | Bachelor's Degree | $55,778 | +$19,696 | clears the bar | $22,500 | 1.1 yrs |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $73,176 | +$37,094 | clears the bar | $21,000 | 0.6 yrs |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $93,438 | +$57,356 | clears the bar | $21,004 | 0.4 yrs |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Bachelor's Degree | $50,385 | +$14,303 | clears the bar | $24,545 | 1.7 yrs |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $76,373 | +$40,291 | clears the bar | $21,500 | 0.5 yrs |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $83,573 | +$47,491 | clears the bar | $15,342 | 0.3 yrs |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $86,999 | +$50,917 | clears the bar | $23,125 | 0.5 yrs |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $55,109 | +$19,027 | clears the bar | $23,812 | 1.3 yrs |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | Bachelor's Degree | $54,207 | +$18,125 | clears the bar | $25,294 | 1.4 yrs |
| Law | First Professional Degree | $78,459 | +$42,377 | clears the bar | $75,688 | 1.8 yrs |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | Bachelor's Degree | $71,040 | +$34,958 | clears the bar | $20,000 | 0.6 yrs |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Master's Degree | $65,145 | +$29,063 | clears the bar | $24,901 | 0.9 yrs |
Showing the 15 largest programs by graduates. See all 74 on the full profile.
Access and outcomes: 47% of students receive Pell grants · 49% complete their program.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, compared to the state high-school-graduate earnings threshold. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Something look wrong? Report it.