Northeastern Illinois University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Northeastern Illinois University charges a net price of $14,109/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $56,436. Graduates earn a median $52,234 ten years after entry, $3,874/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 14.6 years — a 20-year net return of $21,044, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Northeastern Illinois University's 14.6-year payback ranks #953 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 26% of them, and #37 of 116 in Illinois.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,109/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $56,436 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $52,234 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $3,874/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $14,600 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 14.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $21,044 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Northeastern Illinois University's own numbers. Net price $14,109 × 4 years = $56,436 total. Median earnings $52,234 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,874 a year of premium. $56,436 ÷ $3,874 = 14.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $21,044. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Northeastern Illinois University students graduate with?
A median $14,600 in federal loans among completers, or 28% of the $52,234 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Northeastern Illinois University students graduate?
22% finish their degree — 78% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $56,436 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $256,527 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Northeastern Illinois University expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $14,109 net price runs $359 above the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, or $1,436 more across the full degree.