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Northern Illinois University

Public Graduate Strong 73/100

Northern Illinois University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Dekalb, Illinois

About Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Dekalb, Illinois. It enrolls 11,301 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: niu.edu

Acceptance: 69.8%
Graduation: 56.4%
Net Price: $13,391
Median Earnings (10yr): $57,808
Enrollment: 11,301
Student : Faculty: 14:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

73/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 29

Value 87

Affordability 81

Selectivity 62

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 69.8%, Northern Illinois University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

69.8%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Northern Illinois University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 22.1 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Northern Illinois University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,391 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$13,391

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

47%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

47%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $13,248
Room & Board (on-campus): $14,160
Room & Board (off-campus): $13,900
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,422
Other Expenses (off-campus): $2,422
Total Cost of Attendance: $28,851

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$10,126
$30,001 – $48,000

$9,854
$48,001 – $75,000

$12,797
$75,001 – $110,000

$17,612
Over $110,000

$21,834

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,750

10% percentile

$8,517

25% percentile

$22,162

Median percentile

$27,644

75% percentile

$37,991

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $18,567 ↓ $3,595

No Pell $15,000 ↓ $7,162

Dependent students $15,000 ↓ $7,162

Independent students $20,344 ↓ $1,818

Female students $17,125 ↓ $5,037

Male students $15,000 ↓ $7,162

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($22,162), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

56% of full-time students who enrolled at Northern Illinois University graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

56%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

70%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northern Illinois University earn a median of $57,808 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$57,808

Earning > $25K

82%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$42,300

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$57,600

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$46,300

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$49,100

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$52,300

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $15,300, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 16.1 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Northern Illinois University is home to 11,301 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

11,301

Part-Time

11%

First-Generation

38%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 41.9% 4,735

Hispanic 25.8% 2,910

Black 21.0% 2,378

Asian 6.4% 726

Other 2.2% 250

International 1.8% 199

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Northern Illinois University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Small Suburb Dekalb, Illinois

Housing

Partly residential 4,500 beds available

Adult Learners

10% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Northern Illinois University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 123 distinct programs across 24 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

10 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)
Management Sciences $86K ($62K–$115K)

16 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health/Medical Preparatory $62K ($43K–$83K)
Public Health $59K ($42K–$79K)

3 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

7 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Electrical Engineering $101K ($85K–$122K)
Industrial Engineering $98K ($81K–$122K)

7 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)

3 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Journalism $56K ($41K–$74K)
Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Northern Illinois University is 14:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

14:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$15,720

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$101M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$94,838

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

793 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	233	29%	$122,378
Associate Professors	236	30%	$105,704
Assistant Professors	138	17%	$93,387
Instructors	185	23%	$52,193
No Rank	1	0%	$63,000

Pros & Cons of Northern Illinois University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northern Illinois University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid

CONS

Modest first-year retention

Frequently Asked Questions about Northern Illinois University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northern Illinois University.

Is Northern Illinois University hard to get into?

Admissions at Northern Illinois University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 69.8%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University has an acceptance rate of 69.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Northern Illinois University cost?

The average net price after aid at Northern Illinois University is $13,391 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Northern Illinois University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $57,808 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,391 per year. That's roughly 4.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Northern Illinois University known for?

Northern Illinois University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Northern Illinois University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Northern Illinois University are $57,808, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Northern Illinois University accredited?

Yes. Northern Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University enrolls 11,301 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University graduates 56% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Northern Illinois University a public or private college?

Northern Illinois University is a Public institution.

Where is Northern Illinois University located?

Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois.

What programs does Northern Illinois University offer?

Northern Illinois University offers 123 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12).

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northern Illinois University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Northern Illinois University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.