Northern Illinois University Featured Image
Northern Illinois University Logo

Northern Illinois University

DeKalb, United States

  • Cost of Living$ 22,200
  • Tuition Fee From$ 10,910
  • Country Rank#177
  • Batch Strength14,266
  • Global Diversity15.5%
  • Gender Ratio51:49

Overview

About

Northern Illinois University (NIU) is an Illinois public research university located in DeKalb. On May 22, 1895, Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld established Northern Illinois State Normal School as part of an extension of the state's system for training college-educated teachers. It includes satellite campuses in Chicago, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon, Illinois, in addition to the main campus in DeKalb. The institution is made up of seven degree-granting colleges and has roughly 16,000 students as well as over 240,000 alumni. It is one of the only two public universities in Illinois to play at the highest level of all sports, Division I, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The sports teams of the university are known as the Huskies, and they participate in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

The University of Northern Illinois has seven schools, with 60 undergraduate majors, and 80 master's degrees for graduate students. It follows a semester-based academic schedule. Engineering, business, visual and computer arts and nursing programs are nationally certified for fulfilling high academic quality requirements. The main campus of the institution is located in Dekalb, and the 765-acre campus is a diverse combination of architecture and magnificent natural surroundings. It provides students with a full traditional university experience.

The university's programs are nationally recognised for satisfying high academic quality criteria. The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities includes NIU. It is expanding its Accelerator Technology programs and has been designated as a high-level research institute of higher education by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The Moscow Art Theatre School collaborates with the university's School of Theatre and Dance. Graduate students spend a month in Moscow for training, while undergraduate students engage in a semester-long program.

Northern Illinois University’s acceptance rate stands at 59% making its admission process slightly selective. The institution integrates business principles with hands-on instructional practices to offer students a firm understanding of the problems encountered by realistic companies in a fast-changing global business world. Prior to obtaining their PhD, the majority of faculty members worked as business professionals. Many are well-known in their particular industries across the country, with some even internationally.

University Name Northern Illinois University
Official Website www.niu.edu
Year of Establishment 1895
Average Living Cost $24,120
Total No. of International Students 13,248
University Type Public
For Free Study Abroad Counselling Click Here

Ranking

US News & World Report 2024:

Northern Illinois University achieved a notable position on the global stage, securing #928 position.


QS World University Ranking 2024:

Northern Illinois University has shown excellence by securing 601–800 spot on the global scale.


When it comes to Northern Illinois University rankings, the institution has been recognised by US News & World Report - Global Universities and National University Rankings. As part of their ranking system, US News & World Report considers Global Research Reputation, Regional Research Reputation, and Number of Publications Cited (12.5% each), among other ranking criteria. Several other respected organisations have also ranked Northern Illinois University based on a variety of metrics. The following are some of its top-ranking highlights -

  • THE University Rankings 2022 - #601 - 800
  • US News & Global Report National Rankings 2022 - #299 - 391
  • Center for World University Rankings 2022 - #822
  • THE US College Rankings 2022 - #401 - 500
  • US News Universities - National Rankings 2022 - #299 - 391
  • US Uni QS Rankings 2021 - #201 - 250

 

Course-Wise Rankings

Several courses at the university have been recognised and ranked across parameters. A few of them are listed below -

  • THE PG Business & Economics 2022 - #501 - 600
  • US News UG Business 2022 - #190
  • THE PG Engineering & Technology 2022 - #601 - 800
  • THE Psychology Rankings 2022 - #401 - 500
  • THE Arts & Humanities Rankings 2022 - #501+
  • THE Clinical Health Rankings 2022 - #601+
  • US News Best Graduate Law Schools 2022 - #147 - 194

Year

QS Ranks

US News Ranks

2023

-

#928

2022

-

#928

Facilities

The university's campus life building supports and fosters a good student environment, leadership development, campus activities board, student association, career services, the northern star student newspaper, counseling, student development centre, and honours program. Numerous Northern Illinois University facilities provide for students' needs at every stage of their time on campus. Following is a list of some of them -

 

  • There is a sports club at the institution that is available to all students who are paying tuition. Students may enjoy recreational sports like archery, bowling, swimming, ice hockey, etc. 

  • With the recent additions of Starbucks, Grill at the Huskie Den, and Depot C-Store, NIU also offers a large eating area. There, students can either select a lunch alternative or go for drinks.

  • The Student Government Organization has records for over 300 student organisations. There are other subcategories within the clubs, including Community Service, Diversity and Culture, Political, Military, etc.

  • On campus, emphasis is placed on the health and safety of students. Therefore, there are groups like Cultural Resources Centers, Campus Child Care, University Police and Public Safety, and Disability Resource Center.

Notable Alumni

Dan Castellaneta
Dan Castellaneta
American Actor
Matt Walsh
Matt Walsh
American Comedian
Cindy Morgan
Cindy Morgan
American Actress

Courses

Admission

Northern Illinois University Entry Requirements

NIU has a total student enrolment of 16,234, with 11,834 students enrolled in undergraduate programs and 4,079 in graduate programs. The application procedure begins with an online application fee of $40 USD for undergraduate programs and $60 USD for graduate programs. When submitting their applications, students must meet the Northern Illinois University entry requirements, which vary depending on where the student is applying from, their choice of degree and course, and other variables. A few typical criteria are mentioned below -

Undergraduate Entry Requirements

  • Official Academic Transcripts
  • High-School Records & Diploma Certificates
  • A fully-filled application form
  • A minimum 3.0 GPA for guaranteed general admission
  • SAT/ACT scores are not required
  • English Language Proficiency Scores - TOEFL: 71; IELTS: 6.0; PTE: 48

 

Graduate Entry Requirements

  • Official Academic Transcripts of previous education
  • Academic Records - Completion of a bachelor’s degree, High-School documents
  • English Language Proficiency Scores - TOEFL: 80; IELTS: 6.5; PTE: 53
  • Standardised Exam Scores - especially if the course demands
  • LOR (s)
  • SOP
  • Resume/CV
  • Work Portfolio

 

Northern Illinois University Fees

Northern Illinois' tuition is determined by residence, truth-in-tuition eligibility, and program major. When compared to other universities, Northern Illinois University fees are deemed to be affordable for students. Furthermore, students might receive financial assistance to study at the university through scholarships and grants. The following are some of the most popular courses at the university, along with their typical yearly fees -

  • MS Computer Science - $10,910
  • BS Operations & Information Management - $19,891
  • BS Accountancy - $19,891

 

Placement

The university offers its own career services department that assists students with career decisions, internship and job search planning, graduate school planning, interview skills preparation, mock interviews, LinkedIn profile evaluations, resume reviews, and so on. It also organises a job fair where students may connect and interact with corporations and government organisations, in addition to taking advantage of Northern Illinois University placements. After two years, the median wages of graduates are 36,800 USD per year, with a 94% employment rate. The average pay of NIU graduates is listed below by job (PayScale) -

  • Accounting - $5,49,000
  • Mechanical Engineering - $59,900
  • Nursing - $62,600
  • General Psychology - $28,000
  • Computer Science - $57,400

Scholarship

Regardless of the program you are studying, there are several scholarship opportunities provided by the university as well as other organizations. With so many scholarships available now, overseas students can greatly lower the financial burden of studying in a new country. You can apply for scholarships to study at the Northern Illinois University through UniScholars. You can find the following types of scholarships based on your academic performance and financial situation:

 

  • Merit-based scholarships

  • Need-based scholarships

  • Country-specific scholarships

  • College-specific scholarships

  • Student-specific scholarships

Finances

Most international students are obligated to show proof of sufficient funds to obtain a visa. While some students may have the opportunity to make use of scholarships, not all students cut the eligibility to get a scholarship or a grant. Moreover, not all scholarships cover 100% of your study abroad expenses. At such times, most students resort to acquiring education loans to avoid the financial hassles associated with studying at the Northern Illinois University. For Indian students, UniCreds is the ideal education loan marketplace if you’re looking for low-interest rates and free consultation services!

Accommodation

There are several student housing options available for students planning to attend the Northern Illinois University. You may select from a wide choice of affordable yet elegant student flats, halls of residence, studios, en-suites, and more! You have the option of staying on campus in the university halls of residence or a private residence. Because of their proximity to the university, on-campus housing options may be ideal; nevertheless, they tend to fill up fast and are more expensive.

 

UniAcco simplifies the process of finding student housing and offers a variety of options. As a result, students can select from a wide range of available student accommodations near the university, such as luxury studios, en-suites, and shared apartments that are more inexpensive and student-friendly.

Cost of Living

Recognised as a university town, DeKalb is considered to be a safe, affordable, and student-friendly city. This small city gives students an overall community feel with solace and solitude around. It is known to have great restaurants, bars, and socialising areas. The cost of living in DeKalb is affordable when compared to other cities in the area. Students must consider factors such as accommodation, food, entertainment, clothing, transportation, and more as part of their overall living expenditures. The table below comprises a breakdown of the average monthly expenses of an overseas student in DeKalb.

 

Particulars

Cost (Monthly)

Off-Campus Accommodation 

$1,297

On-Campus Accommodation

$1,389

Transportation

$77

Food Cost

$327

Utility Cost

$80

Entertainment

$36

Groceries

$48

Clothes

$65

Health Insurance

$80

Total Cost of Living with Off Campus Accommodation 

$2,010

Total Cost of Living with On Campus Accommodation 

$2,102

Annual Cost of Living

$24,120

FAQs