Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public · Small suburb · Carnegie R1/R2 · NIU

Public institution in Dekalb, IL · 11,277 undergraduates · 70% acceptance rate · $57,808 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 10%Undergraduates
Top 21%Out-of-state tuition & fees
Top 24%Pell Grant share

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $12,909509th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $12,700814th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $12,700426th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $27,214821st cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $22,162913th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $57,808652nd highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $46,113791st highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 49.6%1,178th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 70.4%1,225th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 70.5%618th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: —
Median ACT: —

Campus

Undergraduates: 11,277224th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 14.0:11,172nd smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 45.6%510th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 44 mi (ORD)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in Illinois#20

Applying

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: Free
Personal essay: Optional / not required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 54 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$67,965	$66,989
Mechanical EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$65,180	$64,150
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions	bachelors	$65,131	$65,924
Industrial EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$61,516	$62,409
Computer Science	bachelors	$60,848	$59,519
Engineering Technology, GeneralEngineering Technology	bachelors	$57,017	$57,888
Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$56,544	$57,318
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsHealth Professions	bachelors	$56,505	$56,415
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$55,859	$51,145
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness	bachelors	$50,149	$51,511
MarketingBusiness	bachelors	$47,260	$45,127
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsBusiness	bachelors	$45,940	$46,869

Campus facts

Founded in 1895source
Athletic nickname: "Huskies"source
Huskie Stadium seats about 23,595source
Competes in NCAA Division Isource
School colors: Cardinal and Blacksource
Campus size: about 945 acressource
Formerly known as "Northern Illinois State School" (1895–1921)source
Formerly known as "Northern Illinois State Teachers College" (1921–1955)source
Formerly known as "Northern Illinois State College" (1955–1957)source
Athletic conference: FBSsource
A [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program institutionsource
A Space-grant]]}} institutionsource
Plays for the "Bronze Stalk Trophy" (since 1941)source
Fight song: ""Huskie Fight Song""source
Notable alum: Robert Zemeckissource
Notable alum: Dan Castellanetasource
Notable alum: Joan Allensource
Notable alum: Tammy Duckworthsource
Notable alum: Carrie Snodgresssource

Athletics — 13 sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $7,923,716 (M $4,742,119 · W $3,181,597)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.