Side-by-side
Northern Illinois University vs Santa Fe College
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Same c campus feel and a comparable size (11k undergrads vs 11k undergrads) — students often consider these side-by-side.
| Northern Illinois University | Santa Fe College | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 70% | — |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $13,248 | $2,563 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $13,248 | $9,189 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $13,248 | $2,563 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $13,248 | $9,189 |
| Graduation rate | 49% | 53% |
| Total enrollment | 11,301 | 11,122 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/northern-illinois-university-vs-santa-fe-college.