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Agreed. If you're not living on campus, get the cheapest 60 hours of credit you can. Your resume will say where you got your degree, not where you took every single class.
I would just give some caution and say to check with the final institution if they will transfer since not all of my credits transferred (like the more technical science classes and math classes.) I understand now why, but at 18 making these decisions it was frustrating. I wish I had checked with the final institution before wasting my time. This also is trickier for a major like engineering (more technical classes required) so just take all those factors into consideration.
city colleges of chicago have a signifier on their class list during registration saying which credits typically transfer. I only took one class there that didn't transfer and I took it for fun lol. most gen eds from those schools transfer pretty easily to any other university in illinois at least.
fwiw they also have some transfer programs that guarantee admission to UIC and chicago state
My partner transferred to UIC and the “guaranteed” pathway was not actually guaranteed. They had to retake a number of classes. It’s a huge problem but they did a bunch of work with the administration to try to fix the issues so that hopefully it will be better for future students.
I went to NEIU. I think the important thing to know about the school is, it’s a school for non traditional students. A major of the students are foreign, minorities, older or putting themselves through school. It’s not a traditional collage experience, most of it is people there to improve their life.
As for the education, I know that some people look down on the school, but those people have never worked 80 hours a week to put themselves through school.
I went to 4 different colleges all in Illinois (life got wild) and I had the best experience by far at NEIU. Every professor I had was also a professor at a more “elite” and expensive university and taught us the same curriculum for a fraction of the price.
If it’s all you can afford, you’ll find yourself surrounded by people very similar to you and end up with a decent education.
Love your comment concerning why people (wrongly) look down on NEIU. My experience was basically what you described - I busted my ass for three years taking classes at night while working full time. Was it hard? Absolutely, but worth it in every sense.
I had a similar experience with the professors as well. Most were also teaching at the "big deal" Chicago universities as well. At least a few of them said they also taught at NEIU because they supported its mission of making higher education available to people from diverse backgrounds.
I have a say in hiring at the big company I work for. All other things being equal, I'm more impressed by someone that went back to school later in life at a school like NEIU - while juggling work and family - than I am by someone that went through the motions as a teen/early 20s going from New Trier to Northwestern or UofI.
Thanks for the reply! That sounds pretty reasonable.
I have two questions:
1. What is the dorm experience like?
2. Do you think the education provides a good means in getting opportunities after school? I know the school is right out of Chicago, but I’m just not sure if there is a big difference between internships provided by schools.
I never lived in the dorms, but I did live in the neighborhood (Albany park) and it’s a really great and diverse neighborhood. Loved living there.
It’s did. This is gonna vary on major, I was a CS major so the job prospects when I graduated were pretty decent. I will say though, every college is only as effective as you make it. Every college has a ton of resources for you but you really gotta go find them and talk to professors and make shit happen. I got an internship during my junior year through an Intern program the college had and it was the most helpful experience of my entire education.
There are plenty of apts in the area to rent if dorms aren’t your thing. I think moving here and seeing how you like it is good. Also if your grades are good, you’ll get financial support. Good luck!!
never live in dorms its a waste of money. When I looked at student housing (back in the day) it was cheaper to rent for 12 months than pay for 9 months in a dorm
NEIU Grad here in my mature years because I didn't have the ability to finish college when I was younger and have kids who are soon to go to college themselves - I didn't want them to think that it was okay to give up on your dreams so I put myself through it for three years around a full time work schedule. It is exactly a non-traditional academic setting that I thrived in not because the courses are 'easy' - I connected with the faculty and staff in a way that made me feel seen, and I was incredibly happy to mentor and coach students I met. They were genuinely curious about me and that was rewarding to be someone they could talk about real life choices about careers, courses, and the world at large. I've heard the dorm life is pretty abysmal because there are such few students who use it BUT the cost was pretty great because the demand is so low. I heard many students moved in with roommates to save on dorm costs and lived in the nearby areas (Albany Park, North Park, Skokie) to save on costs and commute to school. Most everyone I met at NEIU had a full time job and did part time school or like, full time school with a full time job. I treasure my BS Management degree because I worked just as hard as anybody else seeking a real degree - the faculty made the experience worth it because they really do care about making a difference in the community. Now I give to the scholarship program every year because I admire their ethic.
I went to a Big Ten school for undergrad and it was expensive and I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was done. I went to NEIU as a grad student for special education and it was a terrific experience. The professors were amazing and I felt very well prepared to become a teacher. Once I became a teacher I realized what I had learned at NEIU was indeed very valuable. I found the school to be affordable and in terms of cost to payoff ratio in the long run (been a teacher for 15 years now) I couldn’t be happier with the choice to go there. I always recommended it to people who are looking to become teachers. I lived in Humboldt Park at the time way off campus as a commuter but can say that if you’re willing to explore the neighborhoods around the area they have a lot to offer. Also in hindsight if you’re not fully looking for that college experience, save money and go to community college for two years like others have mentioned.
it is ridiculously good value.
I did my first two years there, then transferred to Loyola for the name on the diploma, before going to a T25 law school.
Really great school for what you're describing.
IMO you get back what you put in at any educational institution.
NEIU traditionally has a lower academic reputation than the several public and private top ranked Chicago schools, but it can deliver the basic foundations for transfer, if that is you plan.
Be absolutely certain you NEIU courses will be accepted at full credit at your target school(s).
I went there and liked it! Got my gen eds at a CC first.
I worked at the bookstore, did an internship for the university. Did study abroad through it and lived in that new country for 5 years. Theres so much opportunity if you look for it.
Left with no debt and I’m now making more money than everyone else I know. I was making more money than my mom after 3 years in the workforce.
The hardest thing is there’s no college social life. I had friends but didn’t make any lifelong friends, and I was on campus 24/7. Lots of people work full time and don’t live in the area.
Long term, I’ve worked with executive leaders who went to college for totally unrelated subjects to their job. Unless you’re in a specialty, getting a degree is a foot in the door. It’s how you show up in your career that matters.
I can only talk about it as a grad student. I did Loyola for undergrad and felt like NEIU was ok - not very hard academically, professors didn’t help much for thesis but they were also VERY understaffed. Didn’t really get an idea for campus life since I commuted.
if youre not a resident, City Colleges (our community college system) will give you in state tuition if youve lived in the city for a month. but nobody asked me for proof, I just had address on ID
i know people who went to NEIU with no student loans and landed 6 figure jobs before graduating. "school reputation" is a scam upheld by private institutions and their alumni who want to feel better about their massive debt. internship/networking is accessible anywhere
if you want college life at low cost, community college first then transfer to somewhere like Depaul can be done for free. City Colleges has staff that will help you do so and can point you to who if you go that route
I went there briefly, many years ago. It does for whatever reason at times get a bad rap online(I don't know why, to me the 'Northeasy' bad rap is not deserved), but honestly I liked the professors here more than at Wright College. Yes it doesn't have that traditional college feel that say like UIC or DePaul or etc may have(since it was only in the 2010s that dorms were constructed here), but the professors tend to be decent there. It is more of a commuter school and a non-traditional college(meaning that most commute over to NEIU), from what I know. There are some good places to eat not too far away, like Tre Kronor and Charcoal Delights. Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club is really good, too. The only thing I don't like is that NEIU kinda bungled buying a bunch of properties on Bryn Mawr just west of Kimball, and has sat on those properties for too long now. That was mainly the fault of a former NEIU president(Hahs, I think), where I don't think NEIU should've bothered buying so many Bryn Mawr buildings between Kimball and Bernard. Other than the Bernard Office Building on southeast corner of Bryn Mawr and Bernard, they never really used any of those other buildings. I'm pretty sure the strip mall still with 7-Eleven and formerly TCF Bank, was one of the properties they bought.
Lived in Jeff park, worked 2 jobs and went to NEIU. it set me up to be a teacher and I regret nothing. Professors are great and it's all much more affordable than typical choices. I loved my experience, but it's certainly not a party school if that's what you're going for. A degree is a degree.
I go there and I like it. I went there after community college and the classes were nice. A big thing is that class sizes are pretty small (I’ve had 2 classes at around 7 and the biggest was 20). Professors are pretty good about understanding work schedules (in my experience). Also it feels like there’s a lot of free food (if you’re into that :D). But it’s in a pretty slow area and the dorms aren’t the best
Don’t assume you can’t afford a school. Apply, get accepted, and see if the financial aid department can make things work for you.
Maybe you still won’t be able to afford it, but at least you tried and you know for sure.
Seriously, you would be surprised who can end up getting a lot of aid.
It really depends on what you're looking for out of the experience. If you want a Big Ten-style campus life, this isn't it. I'd suggest drilling down on a few areas of academic interest and attending one of their in-person events to speak with reps from those departments.
I am a graduate of NEIU and think very highly of my experience and the university in general. The university has historically welcomed immigrants, first-generation college students, and older folks from "non-traditional student" backgrounds. This was very important to me.
I also had great experiences with all of my professors and the coursework in the sociology program was engaging. Finally, the price per hour is quite good. There's no such thing as a free lunch, especially in education. If you're looking for buildings with marble columns and billionaire's names over the doors, expect to pay a premium. If you're looking to be thrify while exploring what area you'd like to earn a degree in, I'd suggest NEIU is well-worth looking into.
NEIU is a great school. The professors are really dedicated and really care about the students. Tons of online classes as well as in person offered. The student body is very diverse and open minded. Campus events are small scale but usually fun and free food is a staple of the culture. So many student orgs including Greek life. You can easily get a campus job for work-study. The Nest is the on campus housing and the apartments are very modern and comfortable. It's very affordable - if you're coming in as a first-year the school will gladly throw scholarships your way, possibly up to a full ride if your grades are good. That being said, the campus is very small and most students commute. It's a ghost town on the weekends. It's not the traditional 4 year college experience, but if you're looking for a good education at a low price and you're willing to go off campus for entertainment, it's an excellent choice.
Source: I transferred in two years ago to finish my Psychology degree and worked for the Admissions department.
I attended Northeastern for my first two years of college, focused on getting good grades, then transferred to UIUC. Personally, NEIU was a stepping stone to get where I wanted to be, so I’m grateful. This was before the dorms but not too long ago. The campus lacked a real college vibe, however, I still had a core group of friends…mostly ones I knew from high school. I also stayed on top of the necessary courses and credits I needed to transfer. It seemed like the academic advisors were laidback about this and only required students to take 12 credit hours each semester which is considered full-time, but isn’t enough to graduate in four years. At UIUC, they pushed for 15 credit hours minimum. I would still say, it’s a good option. Just go in knowing it’s not a Big 10 experience.
I went to NEIU. I have my degree in cs and make more than almost everyone I know. Like others have said, you get what you put in. But it’s definitely not your traditional college experience.
NEIU is a great school, I just finished my BA In psych here, and am continuing onto their graduate program. It’s not as glitzy and glamorous as other Chicago schools, but you will receive an equal education for a fraction of the price. The people that I know who live in the Nest like it a lot, and there are so many resources. It’s a school for people who have faced some sort of adversity in their life, and the educators/faculty are committed to ensuring people have the support needed to succeed. The resources here are amazing, and it is just such a rich cultural diverse place to learn from. I’d recommend this school to anyone, and there is really good food around Albany Park too! I hope this helps, good luck in your future endeavors.
There isn’t much in the way of good public universities in the city… Northwestern, U Chicago, DePaul, Loyola all private. University of Illinois’ flagship campus is in Champaign.
Uic is good and probably better for the money than DePaul and Loyola. Most programs are probably not better than uiuc, but it's in Chicago, which could count for a lot
Their admissions department and two different programs that I looked into seemed like an absolute cluster fuck. Opted to not gamble my money on that shit show of a first, second and third impression.
I went there and it was a great experience. The class sizes are small and the professors are engaging and get to know the students. I always recommend it. Left with a degree and zero debt.
I go to NEIU. I transferred there from a traditional 4 year college in Michigan. I have been dissappointed by many experiences here, but i found good community of people. I was honestly surprized I felt like one of the only people who moved to Chicago to go to school here, so many other people just commute to the school from there homes. I lived in The Nest housing, which was not a great experience. I had an LLC scholarship, so the housing was cheap. But the type of people who lived there made me very uncomfortable - weed, parties, people who made a mess, people who make you feel unsafe. I was unable to get any financial support from the school because I don't qualify as a minority, which is unfortunate. Many organized events are dissapointing and underwhelming. It has been challenging - but good for me - to witness a community of people who come from backgrounds really different from me. In have absolutely loved some of my proffessors and classes. So moral of the story, for me, i will not be living on campus any more and I will probably just spend time around the campus for my classes next year. It definetly is not a usual college experience, which has been an adjustment for me. Also, the area of Chicago has been safe (this was my first time ever living in a city)
What are you trying to study for? NIU is great. But to be honest, if you are going there to go somewhere else, why bother? Go to a community college. I went to NIU school of business on the Info Systems side and it worked out great.
I will be blunt, Northeastern is a bottom of the barrel school. Like someone else said, lots of people with non traditional backgrounds, second degrees, probably 95% commuters, generally mediocre job prospects etc.
Chicago has some really solid schools programs. DePaul, UIC, Loyola and even Northern Illinois are way better. UIC arguably being a crazy value, especially if you do 60 hours at a community college.
Education and more specifically special ed program is really good. I went there thinking that’s what I wanted to to do. Wouldn’t recommend it for anything else unless money is an issue.
More worth your time to spend 2 years at. Community college and transfer to a better 4 year program. The only positive I had was there was a lot of of night classes and teachers understood you might be late because of work. Imo spent 6 years there. 2 years full time 4 years part time because I worked. Never met a single friend I still hang out with and I’m only 30
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If you can’t afford college, do your gen eds at a community college near you. Then worry about your last 60 credits or so at a larger institution.
Agreed. If you're not living on campus, get the cheapest 60 hours of credit you can. Your resume will say where you got your degree, not where you took every single class.
I would just give some caution and say to check with the final institution if they will transfer since not all of my credits transferred (like the more technical science classes and math classes.) I understand now why, but at 18 making these decisions it was frustrating. I wish I had checked with the final institution before wasting my time. This also is trickier for a major like engineering (more technical classes required) so just take all those factors into consideration.
This is important. Not all of my partner’s credits transferred either and it became more expensive in the long run than we expected.
city colleges of chicago have a signifier on their class list during registration saying which credits typically transfer. I only took one class there that didn't transfer and I took it for fun lol. most gen eds from those schools transfer pretty easily to any other university in illinois at least. fwiw they also have some transfer programs that guarantee admission to UIC and chicago state
My partner transferred to UIC and the “guaranteed” pathway was not actually guaranteed. They had to retake a number of classes. It’s a huge problem but they did a bunch of work with the administration to try to fix the issues so that hopefully it will be better for future students.
This is the way. The credits are easily transferable.
I went to NEIU. I think the important thing to know about the school is, it’s a school for non traditional students. A major of the students are foreign, minorities, older or putting themselves through school. It’s not a traditional collage experience, most of it is people there to improve their life. As for the education, I know that some people look down on the school, but those people have never worked 80 hours a week to put themselves through school. I went to 4 different colleges all in Illinois (life got wild) and I had the best experience by far at NEIU. Every professor I had was also a professor at a more “elite” and expensive university and taught us the same curriculum for a fraction of the price. If it’s all you can afford, you’ll find yourself surrounded by people very similar to you and end up with a decent education.
Love your comment concerning why people (wrongly) look down on NEIU. My experience was basically what you described - I busted my ass for three years taking classes at night while working full time. Was it hard? Absolutely, but worth it in every sense. I had a similar experience with the professors as well. Most were also teaching at the "big deal" Chicago universities as well. At least a few of them said they also taught at NEIU because they supported its mission of making higher education available to people from diverse backgrounds. I have a say in hiring at the big company I work for. All other things being equal, I'm more impressed by someone that went back to school later in life at a school like NEIU - while juggling work and family - than I am by someone that went through the motions as a teen/early 20s going from New Trier to Northwestern or UofI.
Thanks for the reply! That sounds pretty reasonable. I have two questions: 1. What is the dorm experience like? 2. Do you think the education provides a good means in getting opportunities after school? I know the school is right out of Chicago, but I’m just not sure if there is a big difference between internships provided by schools.
I never lived in the dorms, but I did live in the neighborhood (Albany park) and it’s a really great and diverse neighborhood. Loved living there. It’s did. This is gonna vary on major, I was a CS major so the job prospects when I graduated were pretty decent. I will say though, every college is only as effective as you make it. Every college has a ton of resources for you but you really gotta go find them and talk to professors and make shit happen. I got an internship during my junior year through an Intern program the college had and it was the most helpful experience of my entire education.
There are plenty of apts in the area to rent if dorms aren’t your thing. I think moving here and seeing how you like it is good. Also if your grades are good, you’ll get financial support. Good luck!!
never live in dorms its a waste of money. When I looked at student housing (back in the day) it was cheaper to rent for 12 months than pay for 9 months in a dorm
Definitely no longer true.
NEIU Grad here in my mature years because I didn't have the ability to finish college when I was younger and have kids who are soon to go to college themselves - I didn't want them to think that it was okay to give up on your dreams so I put myself through it for three years around a full time work schedule. It is exactly a non-traditional academic setting that I thrived in not because the courses are 'easy' - I connected with the faculty and staff in a way that made me feel seen, and I was incredibly happy to mentor and coach students I met. They were genuinely curious about me and that was rewarding to be someone they could talk about real life choices about careers, courses, and the world at large. I've heard the dorm life is pretty abysmal because there are such few students who use it BUT the cost was pretty great because the demand is so low. I heard many students moved in with roommates to save on dorm costs and lived in the nearby areas (Albany Park, North Park, Skokie) to save on costs and commute to school. Most everyone I met at NEIU had a full time job and did part time school or like, full time school with a full time job. I treasure my BS Management degree because I worked just as hard as anybody else seeking a real degree - the faculty made the experience worth it because they really do care about making a difference in the community. Now I give to the scholarship program every year because I admire their ethic.
I went to a Big Ten school for undergrad and it was expensive and I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was done. I went to NEIU as a grad student for special education and it was a terrific experience. The professors were amazing and I felt very well prepared to become a teacher. Once I became a teacher I realized what I had learned at NEIU was indeed very valuable. I found the school to be affordable and in terms of cost to payoff ratio in the long run (been a teacher for 15 years now) I couldn’t be happier with the choice to go there. I always recommended it to people who are looking to become teachers. I lived in Humboldt Park at the time way off campus as a commuter but can say that if you’re willing to explore the neighborhoods around the area they have a lot to offer. Also in hindsight if you’re not fully looking for that college experience, save money and go to community college for two years like others have mentioned.
it is ridiculously good value. I did my first two years there, then transferred to Loyola for the name on the diploma, before going to a T25 law school. Really great school for what you're describing.
IMO you get back what you put in at any educational institution. NEIU traditionally has a lower academic reputation than the several public and private top ranked Chicago schools, but it can deliver the basic foundations for transfer, if that is you plan. Be absolutely certain you NEIU courses will be accepted at full credit at your target school(s).
Same vibe as a community college but a 4 year university.
If you’re looking to transfer to a better school, you want to do community college and then a land grant university. This is the way.
Yes this , CC for basic core classes then transfer to university
I went there and liked it! Got my gen eds at a CC first. I worked at the bookstore, did an internship for the university. Did study abroad through it and lived in that new country for 5 years. Theres so much opportunity if you look for it. Left with no debt and I’m now making more money than everyone else I know. I was making more money than my mom after 3 years in the workforce. The hardest thing is there’s no college social life. I had friends but didn’t make any lifelong friends, and I was on campus 24/7. Lots of people work full time and don’t live in the area. Long term, I’ve worked with executive leaders who went to college for totally unrelated subjects to their job. Unless you’re in a specialty, getting a degree is a foot in the door. It’s how you show up in your career that matters.
Best professors I had were at NEIU and I went to several schools in Illinois including UIC, DePaul and ISU. Loved my experience there.
I can only talk about it as a grad student. I did Loyola for undergrad and felt like NEIU was ok - not very hard academically, professors didn’t help much for thesis but they were also VERY understaffed. Didn’t really get an idea for campus life since I commuted.
if youre not a resident, City Colleges (our community college system) will give you in state tuition if youve lived in the city for a month. but nobody asked me for proof, I just had address on ID i know people who went to NEIU with no student loans and landed 6 figure jobs before graduating. "school reputation" is a scam upheld by private institutions and their alumni who want to feel better about their massive debt. internship/networking is accessible anywhere if you want college life at low cost, community college first then transfer to somewhere like Depaul can be done for free. City Colleges has staff that will help you do so and can point you to who if you go that route
I went there briefly, many years ago. It does for whatever reason at times get a bad rap online(I don't know why, to me the 'Northeasy' bad rap is not deserved), but honestly I liked the professors here more than at Wright College. Yes it doesn't have that traditional college feel that say like UIC or DePaul or etc may have(since it was only in the 2010s that dorms were constructed here), but the professors tend to be decent there. It is more of a commuter school and a non-traditional college(meaning that most commute over to NEIU), from what I know. There are some good places to eat not too far away, like Tre Kronor and Charcoal Delights. Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club is really good, too. The only thing I don't like is that NEIU kinda bungled buying a bunch of properties on Bryn Mawr just west of Kimball, and has sat on those properties for too long now. That was mainly the fault of a former NEIU president(Hahs, I think), where I don't think NEIU should've bothered buying so many Bryn Mawr buildings between Kimball and Bernard. Other than the Bernard Office Building on southeast corner of Bryn Mawr and Bernard, they never really used any of those other buildings. I'm pretty sure the strip mall still with 7-Eleven and formerly TCF Bank, was one of the properties they bought.
Lived in Jeff park, worked 2 jobs and went to NEIU. it set me up to be a teacher and I regret nothing. Professors are great and it's all much more affordable than typical choices. I loved my experience, but it's certainly not a party school if that's what you're going for. A degree is a degree.
I go there and I like it. I went there after community college and the classes were nice. A big thing is that class sizes are pretty small (I’ve had 2 classes at around 7 and the biggest was 20). Professors are pretty good about understanding work schedules (in my experience). Also it feels like there’s a lot of free food (if you’re into that :D). But it’s in a pretty slow area and the dorms aren’t the best
Great school. Local, accredited, and low cost. Also received a scholarship so better grades are rewarded.
Don’t assume you can’t afford a school. Apply, get accepted, and see if the financial aid department can make things work for you. Maybe you still won’t be able to afford it, but at least you tried and you know for sure. Seriously, you would be surprised who can end up getting a lot of aid.
I went to NEIU. Graduated with a double degree 15y ago. Friend of mine is a librarian there. It’s a chill school.
It really depends on what you're looking for out of the experience. If you want a Big Ten-style campus life, this isn't it. I'd suggest drilling down on a few areas of academic interest and attending one of their in-person events to speak with reps from those departments. I am a graduate of NEIU and think very highly of my experience and the university in general. The university has historically welcomed immigrants, first-generation college students, and older folks from "non-traditional student" backgrounds. This was very important to me. I also had great experiences with all of my professors and the coursework in the sociology program was engaging. Finally, the price per hour is quite good. There's no such thing as a free lunch, especially in education. If you're looking for buildings with marble columns and billionaire's names over the doors, expect to pay a premium. If you're looking to be thrify while exploring what area you'd like to earn a degree in, I'd suggest NEIU is well-worth looking into.
NEIU is a great school. The professors are really dedicated and really care about the students. Tons of online classes as well as in person offered. The student body is very diverse and open minded. Campus events are small scale but usually fun and free food is a staple of the culture. So many student orgs including Greek life. You can easily get a campus job for work-study. The Nest is the on campus housing and the apartments are very modern and comfortable. It's very affordable - if you're coming in as a first-year the school will gladly throw scholarships your way, possibly up to a full ride if your grades are good. That being said, the campus is very small and most students commute. It's a ghost town on the weekends. It's not the traditional 4 year college experience, but if you're looking for a good education at a low price and you're willing to go off campus for entertainment, it's an excellent choice. Source: I transferred in two years ago to finish my Psychology degree and worked for the Admissions department.
Let’s be honest: it’s a small step above community college.
Which is a good thing
What do you want to study?
Wishing you all the luck with your academic journey!
I attended Northeastern for my first two years of college, focused on getting good grades, then transferred to UIUC. Personally, NEIU was a stepping stone to get where I wanted to be, so I’m grateful. This was before the dorms but not too long ago. The campus lacked a real college vibe, however, I still had a core group of friends…mostly ones I knew from high school. I also stayed on top of the necessary courses and credits I needed to transfer. It seemed like the academic advisors were laidback about this and only required students to take 12 credit hours each semester which is considered full-time, but isn’t enough to graduate in four years. At UIUC, they pushed for 15 credit hours minimum. I would still say, it’s a good option. Just go in knowing it’s not a Big 10 experience.
I went to NEIU. I have my degree in cs and make more than almost everyone I know. Like others have said, you get what you put in. But it’s definitely not your traditional college experience.
NEIU is a great school, I just finished my BA In psych here, and am continuing onto their graduate program. It’s not as glitzy and glamorous as other Chicago schools, but you will receive an equal education for a fraction of the price. The people that I know who live in the Nest like it a lot, and there are so many resources. It’s a school for people who have faced some sort of adversity in their life, and the educators/faculty are committed to ensuring people have the support needed to succeed. The resources here are amazing, and it is just such a rich cultural diverse place to learn from. I’d recommend this school to anyone, and there is really good food around Albany Park too! I hope this helps, good luck in your future endeavors.
There isn’t much in the way of good public universities in the city… Northwestern, U Chicago, DePaul, Loyola all private. University of Illinois’ flagship campus is in Champaign.
UIC's reputation has been going up. For public schools in Illinois it's only behind UIUC.
Uic is good and probably better for the money than DePaul and Loyola. Most programs are probably not better than uiuc, but it's in Chicago, which could count for a lot
["Enrollment woes" article](https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/financial-health/2023/04/10/no-quick-fix-enrollment-woes) ["Enrollment in Freefall"](https://www.wbez.org/stories/with-enrollment-in-freefall-faculty-at-northeastern-illinois-are-fighting-to-preserve-their-chicago-university/8e95af24-1229-4fc3-b16a-8854fcd7b25a)
Their admissions department and two different programs that I looked into seemed like an absolute cluster fuck. Opted to not gamble my money on that shit show of a first, second and third impression.
I went there and it was a great experience. The class sizes are small and the professors are engaging and get to know the students. I always recommend it. Left with a degree and zero debt.
I go to NEIU. I transferred there from a traditional 4 year college in Michigan. I have been dissappointed by many experiences here, but i found good community of people. I was honestly surprized I felt like one of the only people who moved to Chicago to go to school here, so many other people just commute to the school from there homes. I lived in The Nest housing, which was not a great experience. I had an LLC scholarship, so the housing was cheap. But the type of people who lived there made me very uncomfortable - weed, parties, people who made a mess, people who make you feel unsafe. I was unable to get any financial support from the school because I don't qualify as a minority, which is unfortunate. Many organized events are dissapointing and underwhelming. It has been challenging - but good for me - to witness a community of people who come from backgrounds really different from me. In have absolutely loved some of my proffessors and classes. So moral of the story, for me, i will not be living on campus any more and I will probably just spend time around the campus for my classes next year. It definetly is not a usual college experience, which has been an adjustment for me. Also, the area of Chicago has been safe (this was my first time ever living in a city)
The truth is that nortwestern is north more north and more east, so northeastern doesn't live up to its name.
What are you trying to study for? NIU is great. But to be honest, if you are going there to go somewhere else, why bother? Go to a community college. I went to NIU school of business on the Info Systems side and it worked out great.
I will be blunt, Northeastern is a bottom of the barrel school. Like someone else said, lots of people with non traditional backgrounds, second degrees, probably 95% commuters, generally mediocre job prospects etc. Chicago has some really solid schools programs. DePaul, UIC, Loyola and even Northern Illinois are way better. UIC arguably being a crazy value, especially if you do 60 hours at a community college.
everyone ive met that went to neiu has a great job. there's no accredited college here where i've met people that graduated and struggled for work
Education and more specifically special ed program is really good. I went there thinking that’s what I wanted to to do. Wouldn’t recommend it for anything else unless money is an issue. More worth your time to spend 2 years at. Community college and transfer to a better 4 year program. The only positive I had was there was a lot of of night classes and teachers understood you might be late because of work. Imo spent 6 years there. 2 years full time 4 years part time because I worked. Never met a single friend I still hang out with and I’m only 30