Northern Illinois University (NIU)

Type	4 year, Public
Campus locale	Suburb: Small
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate
Calendar system	Semester

Student body size	Medium
Common app member	Yes
Dormitory capacity	4,500
Student to faculty ratio	15 to 1
Acceptance rate	70%
Students retention rate	67%
On-time graduation rate	51%

Located in Dekalb, Illinois, NIU is a public, institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

Northern Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

The retention rate of students at NIU is 67% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in Illinois is 70%, while the national average is 72%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at NIU do not continue their studies after the first year.

Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission
The institution provides on-campus housing
Website

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

70.4%

In-State Tuition & Fees

$12,478

Cost of attendance at Northern Illinois University in 2022 for students from Illinois.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Illinois's average	$13,029
National average	$8,573

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$12,478

Cost of attendance at Northern Illinois University in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Illinois's average	$19,104
National average	$18,862

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 98 of freshman students at Northern Illinois University received on average $13,008 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$13,008

	Students Receiving Aid		Average Amount	Total Amount
Pell Grant	1,124	56%	$4,919	$5,529,416
Other Federal Grant	1,885	94%	$4,809	$9,064,119
State Grant/Scholarships	1,224	61%	$5,110	$6,254,621
Institutional Grant/Scholarships	1,805	90%	$5,696	$10,280,564
Total Grant & Scholarships	1,968	98%	$13,008	$25,599,304

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Northern Illinois University students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Northern Illinois University students is 50.8%. Female students graduated at a rate of 53.5%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 48.0%.

50.8%

asian 66.7% 70 students
African American 32.5% 177 students
white 60.2% 621 students
unknown 66.7% 2 students
hispanic 47.4% 193 students
International Students 57.1% 16 students
Mixed Race 50.5% 55 students

Sport Conferences

Football Mid-American Conference
Baseball Mid-American Conference
Basketball Mid-American Conference
Track and Cross Country Mid-American Conference

Athletic Associations

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Service Offerings

Northern Illinois University provides the following additional services to its students

On-campus day care for students' children
Placement services for graduates
Academic/career counseling services
Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Northern Illinois University offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.

Academic

Special Learning Opportunities

Study abroad
Teacher certification
ROTC - Army

Veteran Services

Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
Recognized student veteran organization
Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)

Compare Similar Colleges

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Northern Illinois University