Northern Illinois University

1425 Lincoln Highway
Dekalb, IL 60115

View map for Northern Illinois University

https://www.niu.edu/
Feature Note
Main telephone 815-753-1000 Ext 1000
Feature Note
Public or private Public
Type of school University
Date founded 1895
Degrees offered Bachelor's, Master's, First professional, Doctorate, Other advanced degrees
School accreditation North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Setting Small town-rural area (not within commuting distance of a large city)
Closest major metropolitan area Chicago
Campus size 650 acres
County De Kalb
Feature Note
Number of full time, freshmen men 1,113
Number of full time, freshmen women 1,264
Total number of full time freshmen 2,377
Number of part time, freshmen men 32
Number of part time, freshmen women 31
Total number of part time freshmen 63
Total number of freshmen men 1,145
Total number of freshmen women 1,295
Total number of freshmen 2,440
Number of full time, undergraduate men 4,649
Number of full time, undergraduate women 5,282
Total number of full time undergraduates 9,931
Number of part time, undergraduate men 756
Number of part time, undergraduate women 742
Total number of part time undergraduates 1,498
Total number of undergraduate males 5,405
Total number of undergraduate females 6,024
Total number of undergraduate students 11,429
Total enrollment 11,429
American Indian/Alaskan Native Less than 1%
Asian 6%
Black 20%
Hispanic 23%
White 43%
Race/ethnicity unknown Less than 1%
These figures reflect responses of people who chose to indicate their racial-ethnic background. All categories except Hispanic represent non-Hispanic students. International students are not included in these figures so they may not add up to 100 percent.
Percentage of students from out of state 5%
Number of states and territories represented 40
Percentage of students from outside the US 1%
Number of countries represented 47
Percentage of students 25 or older 15%
Feature Note
Tuition year 2023-2024
In-state tuition $9,790
Out-of-state tuition $9,790
Fees $2,716
Room and board (live on campus)* $11,748
* Room and board costs may vary by housing facility and number of meals in meal plan
Academic program/major Yes
Installment plan (you can pay tuition in several payments over the course of the term) Yes
Tuition guarantee (you aren't affected by tuition increases; the tuition you pay your first year is the amount you pay all years) Yes
Children of alumni Yes
School employees and their children Yes
Senior citizens Yes
Undergraduate costs are for ... (Costs are for the 2023-2024 academic year.)
Feature Note
Financial aid contact person Samantha McCarron
Financial aid contact title Director, Financial Aid and Scholarship Office
Financial aid contact e-mail Email
Financial aid phone 815-753-1395
Financial aid office website Find more information on this website
Scholarship list website Find more information on this website
Submit these forms FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
School year financial aid data is from 2021-2022
Average financial aid package awarded to freshmen $15,639
For freshmen, percentage of need* met by aid package 71%
Average amount of financial aid awarded to freshmen
Loan $3,127
Scholarship or grant $13,077
Average financial aid package awarded to undergraduates (including freshmen) $13,380
For all undergraduates, percentage of need* met by aid package 67%
Average amount of financial aid awarded to undergraduates
Loan $4,162
Scholarship or grant $10,692
Work study $2,258
* "Need" as defined for financial aid results from a formula based on a student's situation. The formula considers family and student income, family size, unusual expenses, and the school's costs.
Number of freshmen who applied for aid 2,082
Number of freshmen who received aid 1,748
Number of undergraduates who applied for aid 8,902
Number of undergraduates who received aid 7,311
Percentage of students who took out loans to pay for school 70%
Average student loan debt for last graduating class $28,637
Loans
Federal PLUS loans (for parents) Yes
Federal Direct Stafford loans (subsidized) Yes
Federal Direct Stafford loans (unsubsidized) Yes
Need-based scholarships and grants
Federal Pell Grants Yes
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Yes
Privately-sponsored scholarships and grants Yes
State-sponsored scholarships and grants Yes
Merit-based scholarships and grants
School-sponsored scholarships in academics Yes
School-sponsored scholarships in art Yes
School-sponsored scholarships in special achievements Yes
School-sponsored scholarships for special characteristics Yes
Student employment
Work study Yes
Non-proprietary financial aid data are from ... (Financial aid data are for the 2021-2022 academic year.)
Feature Note
Admissions contact e-mail Email
Admissions phone (local) 800-892-3050 Ext 3050
Electronic application website Find more information on this website
For incoming students Minimally difficult (about 95% of applicants accepted)
Number of male applicants 10,906
Number of male applicants accepted 7,367
Number of male applicants who enrolled 1,145
Number of female applicants 15,040
Number of female applicants accepted 10,971
Number of female applicants who enrolled 1,295
Total number of applicants 25,946
Total number of applicants accepted 18,338
Total number of applicants who enrolled 2,440
High school education High school diploma required and GED accepted.
Fall* application deadline August 1
Notification date for fall admission applicants Continuous
Fall transfer application deadline August 1
Notification date for fall transfer applicants Continuous
* Application dates for winter, spring, or summer term admission are likely to be different.
Online application available Find more information on this website
Submit these items:
High school transcript or GED certificate Required for some students
Other application materials High school class rank
Other application materials Required for some students
High school GPA Important
Difficulty of high school courses Important
Standardized test scores Not considered
High school class rank Important
Recommendations Considered
Application essay Considered
Character/personal qualities Not considered
Interview Considered
Talent or ability Considered
Extracurricular activities Considered
Religious affiliation/commitment Not considered
Work experience Not considered
Related to a school graduate Not considered
First generation college student Not considered
Racial/ethnic group Not considered
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject Yes
Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Yes
Age limit on courses to be transferred No limit
Average GPA (on 4.0 scale) 4.0
Percentage in top 50% of their high school class 74%
Percentage in top 25% 26%
Percentage in top 10% 16%
Percentage of freshmen who returned for their sophomore year 65%
Percentage of full-time students who complete their bachelor's degree:
In four years or less 30%
Between four and five years 15%
Between five and six years 4%
Feature Note
Bachelor's Yes
Master's Yes
First professional Yes
Doctorate Yes
Other advanced degrees Yes
Academic calendar Semesters
Number of faculty on campus 1,145
Student faculty ratio 14:1
Required number of credits for a bachelor's degree 124 credit hours
All students must meet:
Core curriculum or school-wide requirements Yes
Internship requirement Depends on major
Math or science requirement Yes
Senior project requirement Depends on major
Evenings Yes
On-line/distance learning Yes
Part time Yes
Summer school Yes
Accelerated degree Yes
Double major Yes
Graduate courses open to undergraduates Yes
Honors program Yes
Student-designed major Yes
3-2 degree programs (three-year bachelor's degree and two-year master's degree) are available Yes
Domestic exchange available Yes
At these US schools or through this program Rockford Regional Academic Center
Study abroad available Yes
Army ROTC Yes
Air Force ROTC Yes
Advanced Placement Yes
Cooperative education Yes
Independent study Yes
Internships Yes
Computers on campus for student use Yes (1500)
Computer lab available to students Yes
Computer network can be accessed from dorm rooms Yes
Computer network can be accessed from off campus Yes
Online registration for classes Yes
Main library name Founders Memorial Library
Feature Note
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Yes
Feature Note
Choral groups Yes
Drama or theater groups Yes
Marching band Yes
Newspaper Yes
Radio station Yes
National or local fraternities Yes
National or local sororities Yes
Number of student clubs and associations with open membership 249
Largest clubs and organizations on campus American Marketing Association, Delta Sigma Pi, Pi Sigma Epsilon, Black Choir, Student Volunteer Choir
Feature Note
Percentage of students who live on campus 34%
Percentage of students on campus on a typical weekend 55%
School owns or operates housing Yes
Highest year that students are required to live on campus Not required
Housing availability for first year students Priority for housing
Housing options Co-ed, men only, women only
Housing is available for students with disabilities Yes
Dorms require a key or code to enter Yes
School owns or operates housing for Married graduate students, single graduate students
Housing availability for single graduate students First come, first served
Housing availability for married graduate students First come, first served
Feature Note
English as a Second Language (ESL) program Yes
Health clinic Yes
Legal services Yes
Low-cost health insurance Yes
Psychological counseling Yes
Orientation Yes
Housing Yes
Services for students with learning disabilities Yes
Child daycare available on campus Yes
Women's center Yes
24-hour emergency phone and alarms on campus Yes
Campus patrolled by trained security personnel Yes
Late night transport service Yes
Feature Note
Was counseled by the career services office 5%
Alumni networking and mentoring Yes
Career counseling Yes
Career interest testing Yes
Career library Yes
Job bank Yes
Job fairs Yes
Job interviews Yes
Job interview preparation Yes
On campus recruitment by employers Yes
Placement assistance Yes
Résumé preparation assistance Yes
Résumé referral to employers Yes
Feature Note
Grad admissions contact person Purushothaman Damodaran
Grad admissions contact title Interim Dean, Graduate School
Grad admissions contact e-mail address Email
Grad admissions contact phone (local) 800-892-3050
Number of undergraduate men 5,405
Number of undergraduate women 6,024
Total number of undergraduate students 11,429
Total enrollment 11,429
Tuition year 2019-2020
In-state tuition* $8,922
Out-of-state tuition* $8,922
Fees $2,358
* Tuition may vary by program
Graduate costs are for ... (Costs are for the 2019-2020 academic year.)
Source: Illinois Career Information System (CIS) brought to you by Illinois Department of Employment Security. If you have questions or concerns about the information displaying please contact Illinois Career Information System.