College comparison

Cleveland State University vs Northern Illinois University

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH	Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL
Acceptance rateNorthern Illinois University is more selective	91%	70%
SAT (25–75)	—	—
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	8,969	11,301
Avg net price	$14,764	$13,391
Test policy	—	—
Type	Public	Public
Location	Cleveland, OH	Dekalb, IL

Quick answers

Is Cleveland State University or Northern Illinois University harder to get into?

Northern Illinois University is more selective: Cleveland State University's acceptance rate is approximately 91% and Northern Illinois University's is approximately 70% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for Cleveland State University vs Northern Illinois University?

The middle-50% SAT range is — at Cleveland State University and — at Northern Illinois University. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.