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DeKalb , 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.
Located in DeKalb, IL, Northern Illinois University is a public university. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 69%. The freshman retention rate at Northern Illinois University is 70% and the six-year graduation rate is 49%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 1. The transfer application deadline is July 1.
Here are some recent data on important things to consider about Northern Illinois University.
Quick Facts
11,349
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
49%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Discover some important info about admission at Northern Illinois University.
In 2025, the school accepted 16,504 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult 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
Be sure to apply to this school by August 1. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Northern Illinois University was 70%.
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 49%.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 15,415 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 5. There was a total of 11,349 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 199 international students. 1,462 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 5,501 male and 6,418 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 725, and the number of Black American students was 2,378. 2,909 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 177 as multirace. The school also had 12 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 60 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 104 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Northern Illinois University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition fees for area resident were $10,742, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $10,742 for students coming from out of state. For international students, tuition fees at this school stood at $20,484. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $3,050 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $10,742 | $3,050 | $13,792 |
| In-State | $10,742 | $3,050 | $13,792 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated expense of books and supplies for a full-time student 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 room and board?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Northern Illinois University was $14,680 per academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 10,742 |
| Room and Board | $ 14,680 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 26,622 |
Financial Aid
Financial help for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Northern Illinois University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,836 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $16,498 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.
There were 7,142 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 7,521. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $30,807,273, and state $41,620,210. The students of Northern Illinois University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $23,511,850, and external in the amount of $2,029,528.
$4,073
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 578 students overall (including freshmen) at Northern Illinois University in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 153 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $30,807,273 while the state aid is $698,902. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $8,740,230. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,518,679 USD.
Majors
Faculty
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Northern Illinois University was 14:1: that means 14 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 1,039. This number included 486 male and 553 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
It is not all about learning and grades at Northern Illinois University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some information about social life at Northern Illinois University.
Its campus is 650 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
There are 286 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. 3 percent of male and 2 of female students are active in different organizations at Northern Illinois University. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Student Volunteer Choir, followed by Black Choir and Pi Sigma Epsilon. Other popular organizations among the students at Northern Illinois University are Delta Sigma Pi and American Marketing Association.
Those who like music can join the Northern Illinois University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Northern Illinois University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Northern Illinois University has a number of services necessary for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic. 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 everything most students need.
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. There is 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 DeKalb, IL.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Northern Illinois University is 69%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Northern Illinois University is 70%.
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.
