Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University Overview

Northern Illinois University is a public, state school in the small town setting of De Kalb, Illinois. Northern Illinois University was founded in 1895 and the school currently enrolls around 16,234 students per year, including 11,834 undergrad students. Northern Illinois University provides housing for up to 4,459 students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing. On the weekends, about 55% of students stay on-campus and participate in campus events and social life.

📆 Mark your calendar! The final application deadline for Fall 2023 is August 1.

Student Involvement at Northern Illinois University

Are you interested in music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Northern Illinois University students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Interested in joining a fraternity or sorority? Northern Illinois University has both fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? Northern Illinois University has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Northern Illinois University on the Student Life page.

Is Northern Illinois University a Good School?

The definition of a "good school" can mean different things for different people. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how selective an institution is.

Let's take a look at these areas to get a better view of what Northern Illinois University offers and if the school seems like the right college for you.

Northern Illinois University Acceptance Rate 2022

It is not difficult to get into Northern Illinois University. Northern Illinois University admitted 70% of all applicants in 2022. Out of 22,602 applications received in 2022, 15,922 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Northern Illinois University

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. It gauges how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Out of all the first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Northern Illinois University, around 77% come back their sophomore year. Around 51% of students who started at Northern Illinois University earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outlook Northern Illinois University Graduates

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers.

Check with Northern Illinois University directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

Northern Illinois University's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Northern Illinois University's endowment was $11 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Northern Illinois University spends about $8,763 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Northern Illinois University

Tuition cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

Northern Illinois University meets 65.7% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Northern Illinois University full-time are awarded $15,374 a year in financial aid, on average.

The average student debt for graduates in the class of 2022 was around $32,098 per student, not including those with no debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some financial aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Northern Illinois University.

Based on this information, how does Northern Illinois University sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may not be the right school for another! So ask yourself: Is Northern Illinois University a good school for you?

If Northern Illinois University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

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Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting admitted to some of the most selective colleges and universities in the U.S.

Where is Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University is located in the small town setting of De Kalb, Illinois, in the suburbs of Chicago.

If you would like to see Northern Illinois University for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 88 to De Kalb, or book a flight to the nearest airport, OHare International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Northern Illinois University and De Kalb are like without leaving home.

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