Northern Illinois University

Overview of Northern Illinois University (NIU)

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The university strives to be an engine for innovation and to advance social mobility, as well as promote personal, professional, and intellectual growth. The school is also dedicated to transforming the world through research, artistry, teaching, and outreach. Other core values include curiosity, creativity, equality, inclusion, ethics, integrity, services, and stewardship.

The total student population at Northern Illinois University is 16,234, with 11,834 enrolled in undergraduate programs. The school employs approximately 814 full-time and 292 part-time faculty members. While the majority of these professionals dedicate their time and efforts to instruction, 18 are involved in research and public service. The institution also employs 922 graduate assistants, 595 of whom provide instructional assistance and 327 of whom perform research. Overall, the student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1. This is below the national average reported by the National Center for Education Statistics in 2018 and indicates that students likely receive more individualized attention than at other higher education facilities.

Top Rankings For Northern Illinois University

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NIU Acceptance Rate and Admissions

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NIU Tuition Cost & Financial Aid

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The cost of undergraduate tuition is determined by residency status and program major. As of the spring 2023 semester, domestic in-state and out-of-state students enrolled in 12 credit hours or more will be charged $4,895.06 in tuition per term. This does not, however, include any of the various fees assessed by Northern Illinois University, which may include general fees, delivery fees, course change fees, academic program enhancement fees, and student medical insurance. It’s important to note that students pursuing computer science, engineering, and nursing majors may be assessed a different tuition rate.

In addition to tuition and fees, prospective students must plan to pay for room and board. There are residence halls available on campus, but prices vary depending on the accommodation selected. Students will also need to account for the cost of books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

Northern Illinois University is committed to helping students afford life-changing education. To this end, undergraduate tuition rates haven’t increased in the last five years. The university also adds millions of dollars in new scholarships yearly.

Access to financial aid is easy, with advisors available to walk students through the entire process. In fact, more than 80% of those enrolled receive support paying for college. All students are also encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to determine the total amount of aid awarded. During the 2021-2022 academic year, 58% of students still required loans.

Sticker Price

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Academics

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Northern Illinois University empowers students through educational excellence and experiential learning through the pursuit of knowledge and sharing of research and artistry. Those enrolled are also encouraged to engage communities for the benefit of the region, nation, and world. Outstanding faculty help those enrolled explore and grow in an exciting learning environment that combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience.

Students can choose from over 100 fields of study within 42 different schools and departments.

The academic colleges present at Northern Illinois University include:

The retention rate for first-time, full-time, undergraduate freshmen who began their studies in 2019 was 67%. Part-time students with the criteria had a 39% retention rate. Notably, this is slightly below the national average of 68%. Additionally, the rate for part-time bachelor’s students was even lower, totaling at 39%. Overall, however, this data indicates that most full-time students enrolled at the university chose to return in 2020 for further education.

The overall graduation rate for students who began their studies in fall 2015 was 51%. This means that just over half of students were able to complete requirements within 150% of normal time. While 31% of counted students graduated within four years, most complete program requirements within six years.

Northern Illinois University is accredited by Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of six agencies recognized by the United State Department of Education. In addition to this regional accreditation, some programs possess specialized accreditation. The College of Education, for example, is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. Additionally, programs in counseling have received accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) since 1989. The athletic training program is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

Student Population Total

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Outcome & Salary

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Northern Illinois University provides students and alumni with a wide variety of career services and resources including one-on-one professional counseling, internship assistance, career, resume building, and career fairs. It also provides a significant amount of graduate employment data. Based on information collected from an alumni survey in 2016, 91% of graduates were employed within one year. Additionally, there were over 251,000 alumni living and working in 150 different countries throughout the world at that time. PayScale also reports that the median early career salary for Northern Illinois University graduates is $53,000.

Photos & Videos

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