Dekalb, IL · Public · Graduate degree · College Scorecard data · Updated September 10, 2026
| Tuition | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois University (in-state) | $13,248 | — |
| IL average | $18,678 | -29% |
| National average | $18,082 | -27% |
| Per year | Four years | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $13,248 | $52,992 |
| Out-of-state | $13,248 | $52,992 |
Tuition only. Housing, books and living costs are not included — most colleges publish a fuller cost-of-attendance figure.
Northern Illinois University ranks 66 by in-state tuition among the 131 IL colleges that report a rate — lower is cheaper.
| Colleges with a similar price to Northern Illinois University | In-state tuition |
|---|---|
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $13,334 |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | $12,922 |
| Eastern Illinois University | $13,679 |
| Chicago State University | $12,754 |
In-state tuition at Northern Illinois University is $13,248 per year; out-of-state students pay $13,248.
Northern Illinois University in-state tuition is 29% below the IL average of $18,678.
National average in-state tuition is $18,082; Northern Illinois University is 27% below that.
$13,248 is the official in-state tuition published by College Scorecard for the most recent cohort year.
Four years of tuition at Northern Illinois University comes to about $52,992 for an in-state student and $52,992 for an out-of-state student at current rates. That is tuition only — it excludes housing, books and living costs.
By in-state tuition, Northern Illinois University ranks 66 out of the 131 IL colleges that report a rate — lower numbers are cheaper. The five cheapest and five most expensive colleges in the state are listed above.