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De Kalb, IL
Northern Illinois University, located in DeKalb, Illinois, is a comprehensive public research university that offers a wide range of academic programs and opportunities. With a sprawling campus spread over 750 acres, NIU provides an engaging and vibrant environment for its students. Established in 1895, the university is known for its strong commitment to education, research, and community engagement.
NIU offers more than 100 undergraduate programs and over 80 graduate programs across various disciplines, including business, engineering, health sciences, arts, and education. The university is particularly renowned for its programs in education, engineering, and business administration. Students at NIU benefit from the dedicated faculty, small class sizes, and hands-on learning experiences that cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
Beyond academics, Northern Illinois University offers numerous extracurricular activities and opportunities for students to engage in social, professional, and recreational pursuits. The campus boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including modern residence halls, athletic complexes, performing arts centers, and research laboratories. With a wide range of student clubs and organizations, as well as NCAA Division I athletics teams, NIU provides a vibrant campus life that fosters personal growth and development alongside academic achievements. Overall, Northern Illinois University offers a comprehensive educational experience aimed at not only preparing students for successful careers but also empowering them to become responsible global citizens.
Northern Illinois University is a public university located in De Kalb, IL. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 70%. The freshman retention rate at Northern Illinois University is 65% and the six-year graduation rate is 50%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 1. The transfer application deadline is July 1.
Learn more about what Northern Illinois University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
11,429
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
50%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. Here are the most important information you should know about admission policy and requirements at Northern Illinois University.
In 2023, the school accepted 18,338 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.4. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Northern Illinois University.
Deadlines
The application deadline for this school is August 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Northern Illinois University was 65% in 2023.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 50%.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2023, the institution enrolled 15,649 students.
That year, the school had 4.8% of students coming from another state. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 11,429, 152 of which were international students. The school reported to have a total of 1,252 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 5,601 male and 6,307 female full-time students in 2023, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. 952 full-time graduate men and 1,025 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Northern Illinois University.
In 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 750, while the number of Afro-American students was 2,358. 2,714 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 359 as multirace. The school also had 9 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 30 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 62 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Northern Illinois University estimated tuition fees.
Tuition fees for area resident were $10,230.68, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $10,230.68. If you are an international student at Northern Illinois University, you should know that the 2023 tuition amounted to $20,461.36. Full-time students in 2023 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $3,018.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $10,231 | $3,018 | $13,248 |
| In-State | $10,231 | $3,018 | $13,248 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,200.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Northern Illinois University was $14,160 in 2023.
| Tuition | $ 10,231 |
| Room and Board | $ 14,160 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 25,591 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial support available to students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at Northern Illinois University.
The most recent records show that 1,748 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $13,380 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
6,858 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Northern Illinois University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 7,418. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $27,095,306, and state $28,700,077. The students of Northern Illinois University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $19,401,401, and external in the amount of $1,288,623.
$4,013
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 528 students overall (including freshmen) at Northern Illinois University in 2023. 157 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $27,095,306 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $891,222. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $8,408,899. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $804,586 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2023, this ratio at Northern Illinois University was 14:1. That means that there were 14 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 761 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 495 male and 623 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Northern Illinois University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some information about students' life at Northern Illinois University.
It has a campus size of 650 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in different student organizations can make your educational experience more interesting and fulfilling.
This school has 249 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. That includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 2.44% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 1.26 for female students. The most popular student organization is Student Volunteer Choir, followed by Black Choir and Pi Sigma Epsilon. Other popular student organizations at this school are Delta Sigma Pi and American Marketing Association.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Northern Illinois University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? Northern Illinois University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Northern Illinois University offers a number of services needed for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Women's Center are available to the students of Northern Illinois University.
All in all, campus life at Northern Illinois University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Northern Illinois University.
Career Counselling
At Northern Illinois University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Northern Illinois University is located in De Kalb, IL.
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Northern Illinois University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Northern Illinois University is 70%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Northern Illinois University is 65%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.