How should I compare the financial value of UIUC and Northeastern?

Northeastern’s clearest differentiator is its formal co-op system. Completing substantial full-time work placements can give you a stronger résumé before graduation, help clarify career interests, and sometimes provide income that offsets personal expenses. But examine your exact program’s co-op participation, typical placement locations, whether graduation may take five years, and the total cost across every expected term; a paid co-op does not automatically make a higher overall price worthwhile.

Compare borrowing in dollars, not just annual estimates. Add your expected four- or five-year net price, subtract only grants that are guaranteed to renew, and separate federal student loans from parent or private loans. Avoid choosing either school based on an assumed high starting salary, especially if debt would require substantial parent borrowing. A modest edge in internships or prestige rarely compensates for a large difference in debt, while a close cost comparison makes program fit, co-op access, and where you want to begin your career the deciding factors.