The 2025 tuition & fees of Northern Illinois University is $13,060 for in-state and $13,060 for out-of-state students. Its tuition & fees is much lower than the average tuition for R2 Universities' tuition of $31,790 based on out-of-state tuition rate.
Based on the last year increase rate, The 2026 estimated tuition & fees at Northern Illinois is $13,639 for Illinois residents and $13,639 for out-of-state students, a 4.4% increase compared to 2025's rate.
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State | R2 Universities' Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | $12,506 | $12,506 | $30,674 |
| 2024-2025 | $13,060 | $13,060 | $31,790 |
| Change % 2024-2025 | 4.43% | 4.43% | 3.64% |
| 2025-2026 Estimate | $13,639 | $13,639 | $32,947 |
The living costs at Northern Illinois is $16,582 when living on campus. The on-campus living costs increased by 6.05% compared to the previous year. The off-campus living costs increased by 4.39%.
The Northern Illinois's 2025 COA is $30,842 for in-state and $30,842 for out-of-state students for living on campus. The off-campus COA is $30,582 for in-state and $30,582 for out-of-state students.
86% of enrolled students have received grants or scholarships, and the average aid amount is $12,589. It could cover 96.39% of the full tuition amount.
After receiving the financial aid, the net price is $18,253.
| On-Campus | Off-Campus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-State | In-State | Out-State | |
| Tuition & Fees | $13,060 | $13,060 | $13,060 | $13,060 |
| Room & Board | $14,160 | $13,900 | ||
| Personal Expenses | $2,422 | $2,422 | ||
| Books & Supplies | $1,200 | $1,200 | ||
| COA | $30,842 | $30,842 | $30,582 | $30,582 |
| COA with Financial Aid | $18,253 | $18,253 | $17,993 | $17,993 |
Northern Illinois's 4-years tuition is $53,640 for in-state and $53,640 for out-of-state students, based on current tuition and change rate.
Since the tuition & fees at Northern Illinois University have risen very slightly (very lower than national average) over the last 4 years, the actual costs may differ from the estimation based on the school or University system's new tuition policy.
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $13,199 | $13,338 | $13,480 | $13,623 | $53,640 |
| Out-of-State | $13,199 | $13,338 | $13,480 | $13,623 | $53,640 | |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $13,338 | $13,480 | $13,623 | $13,767 | $54,209 |
| Out-of-State | $13,338 | $13,480 | $13,623 | $13,767 | $54,209 | |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $13,480 | $13,623 | $13,767 | $13,913 | $54,783 |
| Out-of-State | $13,480 | $13,623 | $13,767 | $13,913 | $54,783 | |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $13,623 | $13,767 | $13,913 | $14,061 | $55,364 |
| Out-of-State | $13,623 | $13,767 | $13,913 | $14,061 | $55,364 | |
| Class of 2033 (Entering Fall 2029) | In-State | $13,767 | $13,913 | $14,061 | $14,210 | $55,952 |
| Out-of-State | $13,767 | $13,913 | $14,061 | $14,210 | $55,952 |
Based on recent tuition increase rate, for the students who were admitted in Fall 2025, the estimated 4-years COA is $126,922 for Illinois residents and $126,922 for out-of-state students.
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $31,192 | $31,547 | $31,932 | $32,322 | $126,922 |
| Out-of-State | $31,192 | $31,547 | $31,908 | $32,274 | $126,922 | |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $31,547 | $31,908 | $32,298 | $32,693 | $128,376 |
| Out-of-State | $31,547 | $31,908 | $32,274 | $32,646 | $128,376 | |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $31,908 | $32,274 | $32,669 | $33,069 | $129,852 |
| Out-of-State | $31,908 | $32,274 | $32,646 | $33,024 | $129,852 | |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $32,274 | $32,646 | $33,046 | $33,451 | $131,351 |
| Out-of-State | $32,274 | $32,646 | $33,024 | $33,407 | $131,351 | |
| Class of 2033 (Entering Fall 2029) | In-State | $32,646 | $33,024 | $33,429 | $33,839 | $132,871 |
| Out-of-State | $32,646 | $33,024 | $33,407 | $33,795 | $132,871 |
After receiving the financial aid, the net price for 4 years of attending the school is $76,566 for Illinois residents and $76,566 for out-of-state students.
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $18,603 | $18,958 | $19,343 | $19,733 | $76,566 |
| Out-of-State | $18,603 | $18,958 | $19,319 | $19,685 | $76,566 | |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $18,958 | $19,319 | $19,709 | $20,104 | $78,020 |
| Out-of-State | $18,958 | $19,319 | $19,685 | $20,057 | $78,020 | |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $19,319 | $19,685 | $20,080 | $20,480 | $79,496 |
| Out-of-State | $19,319 | $19,685 | $20,057 | $20,435 | $79,496 | |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $19,685 | $20,057 | $20,457 | $20,862 | $80,995 |
| Out-of-State | $19,685 | $20,057 | $20,435 | $20,818 | $80,995 | |
| Class of 2033 (Entering Fall 2029) | In-State | $20,057 | $20,435 | $20,840 | $21,250 | $82,515 |
| Out-of-State | $20,057 | $20,435 | $20,818 | $21,206 | $82,515 |
The graduate school tuition at Northern Illinois University is $9,176. Detailed graduate program tuition and majors can be found at Northern Illinois graduate program page.
Northern Illinois University has a law school and its tuition is different from other graduate programs, usually higher. The law school tuition is $26,925. See the detailed law school tuition at Northern Illinois University College of Law page.
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | $9,090 | $9,090 |
| 2024-2025 | $9,176 | $9,176 |
| Change % 2024-2025 | 0.95% | 0.95% |
| 2025-2026 | $9,263 | $9,263 |
For part-time and/or full-time students who take additional credits at Northern Illinois is $377. The graduate tuition per credit hour is $510.
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 2023-2024 | $360 | $360 |
| 2024-2025 | $377 | $377 | |
| 2025-2026 (Estimate) | $395 | $395 | |
| Graduate | 2023-2024 | $505 | $505 |
| 2024-2025 | $510 | $510 | |
| 2025-2026 (Estimate) | $515 | $515 |
The following charts visualize tuition, fees, living costs, and other expenses at Northern Illinois. You can enlarge the chart to view detailed information.
The following table compares tuition & fees between Northern Illinois University and its similar schools.
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois University | $13,060 | $13,060 |
| Eastern Michigan University | $16,990 | $16,990 |
| Kent State University at Kent | $12,920 | $21,575 |
| Ohio University-Main Campus | $14,158 | $24,838 |
| Ball State University | $11,082 | $29,630 |
| University of Toledo | $12,157 | $21,517 |
In-State (Illinois Residents): The projected 4-year cost for a degree is approximately $126,922, including tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, and other expenses. The tuition and fees alone are approximately $13,623 per year, which would total around $53,640 over four years.
Out-of-State: The projected 4-year cost for a degree is approximately $126,922. The tuition and fees are around $13,623 per year, totaling about $53,640 over four years.
The in-state undergraduate tuition at Northern Illinois is a little bit higher than the average for similar schools ($11,041 - public Research University (high research activity)).
The out-of-state undergraduate tuition at Northern Illinois is much lower than the average for similar schools ($23,595 - public Research University (high research activity)).
The in-state graduate tuition at Northern Illinois is lower than the average for similar schools ($11,778 - public Research University (high research activity)).
The out-of-state graduate tuition at Northern Illinois is much lower than the average for similar schools ($22,098 - public Research University (high research activity)).
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