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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.
Northern Illinois University is a public university located in DeKalb, IL. This institution follows 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%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is August 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.
To find out more about what Northern Illinois University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
11,349
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
49%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Here are the most relevant data you should know about admission policy and requirements at Northern Illinois University.
In 2025, the school accepted 16,504 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, 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. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by August 1. When filling out the application as a transfer student, note that 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. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Northern Illinois University was 70%.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 49%.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. 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
The overall number of students enrolled at Northern Illinois University in 2025 was 15,415.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 5. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 11,349, 199 of which were foreign students. The school admitted a total of 1,462 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 5,501 male and 6,418 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. 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, while the number of African American students was 2,378. 2,909 students 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
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some important data on Northern Illinois University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Northern Illinois University estimated tuition price.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $10,742. Tuition fees were $10,742 for students coming from a different state. Tuition costs at Northern Illinois University for international students equalled $20,484. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $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
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant expense. Most students have to spend about $1,200 for books and supplies during their time at Northern Illinois University.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities 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
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial help for students. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid available at Northern Illinois University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,836 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $16,498.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 7,142 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 7,521. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $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 aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for 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.
578 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 153 full-time freshman. 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
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
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 men and 553 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has 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. Check out some details about students' life at Northern Illinois University.
Its campus is 650 acres in size.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 286. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. 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 at Northern Illinois University are Delta Sigma Pi and American Marketing Association.
Students who like music can join the Northern Illinois University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Northern Illinois University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Northern Illinois University, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol available 24/7. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has 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 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 school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset 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 reported acceptance rate for Northern Illinois University is 69%.
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According to the latest information, the 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.