Tuition & net price

How much does Northern Illinois University cost?

Published tuition is $13,248, with a full cost of attendance of $28,851 a year. After aid, families pay between $9,854 and $21,834 depending on income.

Tuition$13,248before aid
Cost of attendance$28,851tuition + living
Lowest net price$9,854families under $30k
Highest net price$21,834families over $110k

What families actually pay Average net price after grants and scholarships, by household income.

Household incomeNet price a yearShare of the sticker price
Under $30,000 $10,126 35%
$30,001–$48,000 $9,854 34%
$48,001–$75,000 $12,797 44%
$75,001–$110,000 $17,612 61%
Over $110,000 $21,834 76%

Net price is the federal measure of what students actually pay: total cost of attendance minus the grant and scholarship aid they receive. It is the only cost figure worth comparing between universities — the published tuition above is a list price that most students never pay in full.

Who pays how The mix of grant aid and borrowing at this university.

On Pell grants
47%
Take federal loans
47%
Typical repayment
$235/mo

A high Pell share means the university enrols many lower-income students, and usually that its net price for those families is well below the sticker price. A high loan share means the gap between aid and cost is being filled with borrowing — the repayment record shows how that works out afterwards.

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How the price compares Universities charging a similar amount in Illinois.

UniversityIn-stateOut-of-stateCost of attendanceNet price (under $30k)
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale $13,334 $13,334 $28,329 $9,415
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville $12,922 $12,922 $28,919 $8,483
National-Louis University $12,705 $12,705 $24,154 $12,462
Generations College $12,700 $12,700 $25,660 not published
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges $5,260 $12,460 $17,333 $9,365
Governors State University $12,004 $12,004 $24,227 $9,563

Northern Illinois University costs: common questions

How much is tuition at Northern Illinois University?
Published tuition is $13,248 a year before aid.
What does Northern Illinois University actually cost after financial aid?
It depends on family income. After grants and scholarships, families earning under $30,000 pay a net $10,126 a year, while families over $110,000 pay $21,834.
What is the total cost of attendance at Northern Illinois University?
$28,851 a year as the institution reports it — tuition, fees, housing, books and living costs combined. Almost nobody pays this in full; the net price above is what families actually pay.
Is Northern Illinois University worth the money?
Graduates earn a median $57,808 ten years after starting, against $22,162 of median debt — see the full payback breakdown for the arithmetic.

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition and cost of attendance are as reported by the institution; net price is the average paid by students receiving federal aid, by household income band. Figures imported 28 Aug 2026.