Why Choose Northern Illinois University?

  • Programs:  200 programs are offered by the university, comprising 100+ undergraduate programs, 7 pre-professional programs, and 80+ graduate programs. All the programs are offered through seven colleges namely, Business, Education, Engineering and Technology, Health and Human Services, Law, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts. Explore: NIU Courses!
  • Campus: The university has its own Sports Club which is open to all fee-paying students. Sports such as Archery, Bowling, Swimming, Ice Hockey, Tennis, Volleyball, etc. can be played here for recreational purposes. 
  • Cost to Study: International graduate students are required to pay 9 lakhs tuition fees and 9 lakhs for living expenses in US whereas undergraduate students are required to pay 7 lakhs tuition fees and 8 lakhs for living expenses. 
  • Scholarships: Students at NIU can avail finanacial assistance in the form of grants, loans, federal work-study programs. A SAT score of 1450 and GPA of 3.75/4 (91%) is required to get scholarships in USA upto 7,000 USD. 
  • Placements: The employement rate after 2 years of graduation is 94%, whereas, after 6 years of graduation, the employment rate is 92%. The average salary offered to the graduates of the university are 45,500 USD per year, which’s 14% more than the national average earnings of the graduates.

Northern Illinois University Rankings

  • #601–800 World University Rankings THE 2022
  • #401-500 US College Rankings THE 2022
  • #299-#391 in National Universities US News 2022
  • #132 in Top Performers on Social Mobility US News 2022
  • #156-#209 in Top Public Schools US News 2022
  • #201-250 in US UNI QS Rankings 2021

Highlights

Type of University Public, Co-ed
Total Undergraduate enrollment 12,131
Total Graduate enrollment 4,204
Exams Accepted IELTS/ TOEFL/ SAT/ ACT
Degree seeking student male/female distribution in percent 48.8% degree seeking men 51.2% degree seeking women
Student-Teacher Ratio 13:1
Test Scores Accepted SAT or ACT
English proficiency language scores IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent
Financial Aid Available as Awards and Scholarships
Official Website niu.edu/index.shtml

Northern Illinois University Campus

  • Northern Illinois University has five locations- DeKalb, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Naperville and Rockford. The main campus of Northern Illinois University that consists of a lush land of 800 acres.
  • The university has its own Sports Club which is open to all fee-paying students. Sports such as Archery, Bowling, Swimming, Ice Hockey, Tennis, Volleyball, etc. can be played here for recreational purposes.
  • NIU also has an extensive dining area with new additions of Starbucks, Grill at the Huskie Den, and the Depot C-Store. Students can either choose a meal option there or visit it for refreshments.
  • There are around 300 student organizations registered with the Student Government Organization. The groups are divided into various subcategories such as Community Service, Diversity and Culture, Political, Military, etc.
  • The safety and wellness of students is a priority on campus. Hence, centres such as Cultural Resources Centres, Campus Child Care, University Police and Public Safety, and Disability Resource Centre operate on campus.

Northern Illinois University Accommodation

  • The university provides Housing in USA and Residential Services on-campus to its students.
  • Six Residence Halls: Gilbert Hall, Grant Hall, Neptune Hall, New Residence Hall, Northern View Community, and Steveston Towers.
  • Types of Rooms Available: Double Room, Suite With Bathroom, Suite Without Bathroom, Single Room.
  • Features of Halls: mixed coed floors, privacy-enhanced shared bathrooms, in-hall laundry rooms, 24-hour secure hall access, wifi, HD cable Tv, A.C., Elevators in some areas, public computer workstations, and anywhere printing.

Northern Illinois University Programs

  • Types of programs offered by Northern Illinois University are undergraduate programs, graduate programs, online programs, law, minors and certificates, accelerated integrated programs, pre-professional studies, and doctoral and research programs.
  • More than 200 programs are offered by the university, comprising 100+ undergraduate programs, 7 pre-professional programs, and 80+ graduate programs.
  • Undergraduate programs are offered in the field of Business and Entrepreneurship; Government and non-profit services; Education; Art, Media, and Communications; Health and Wellness; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
  • Academic programs also include Master’s degree programs, Specialist degree programs, doctoral degree programs, Certificate of Graduate study, Educator Licensure, Endorsements, off-campus programs, online programs, non-degree study, and research.
  • Online programs are offered that comprise undergraduate degrees, certificates, and graduate degrees in the field of Science, General Studies, Arts, Applied Science, Business, Accountancy, etc.
  • The most popular majors of 2019 graduates were Speech communication and Rhetoric; Psychology, General; Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, other; Mechanical Engineering; and Accounting.

Northern Illinois University Application Process

The application process to take admission to Northern Illinois University is mentioned below. 
Application Portal: Online application
Application Fee (non-refundable): 40 USD
Admission Requirements: 

  • Official academic transcripts.
  • English language proficiency proof.
  • Letters of recommendation.
  • Statement of purpose.
  • Resume/Curriculum Vitae.
  • Passport.

Northern Illinois University Cost of Attendance

Undergraduate and Post-graduate cost of attendance based on full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours per semester). The cost of attendance including tuition fees, room, and board, and other factors for cost of living in USA are tabulated below. 

Expenses UG Cost (INR) PG Cost (INR)
Tuition 7.27 lakhs 9.02 lakhs
Fees 2.18 lakhs -
Room and Board 8.32 lakhs 9.85 lakhs
Books and Supplies 98 thousand 90 thousand
Personal Expenses 13.93 lakhs 23.86 lakhs

Northern Illinois University Scholarships for International Students

  • Financial assistance at Northern Illinois University is offered in the form of grants, loans, federal work-study, and scholarships for international students to study in the USA. For grants and loans, students have to file a FAFSA.
  • NIU Scholars Award is given for four years. The award money is 7,000 USD.
  • Tuition rates, fees, room and board, and book stipend for four years are provided through Presidential Scholarship. The minimum academic requirements needed to get this award is SAT score 1450 and 3.75/4 (91%) cumulative GPA.
  • Students whose parent/parents have graduated from NIU are given 1,000 USD in the first year of their graduation. All the students who apply to the university are automatically considered for this scholarship.

There are MyScholarships given to students. General application must be filled out for this purpose. Admitted students can apply for this scholarship. The General Application consists of the following components:

Required Optional
Personal statement Short statement about financial need
Two yes/no questions List of activities/service/any employment
List of any honors/awards -

Depending on the chosen major, some schools will require the students to fill out a conditional application. Otherwise, students will be offered other various opportunities for scholarships

Merit scholarships are received by students who showcase excellence in academics. These scholarships are given out to students every year. After receiving this scholarship students must obtain a certain CGPA throughout the course to continue this scholarship.

Northern Illinois University Alumni Network

Alumni of Northern Illinois University get numerous exclusive benefits. Some benefits that NIU alumni get are as follows-

  • The career services, including the web-based job referral system, ‘Huskies get Hired’ is accessible to alumni.
  • NIU alumni get discounts on GEICO auto insurance.
  • Get an exclusive 35% discount on your visit to Orlando.
  • Alumni also get special rates while continuing education. Special discounts can be availed by them.
  • While moving from a place to another, NIU alumni can get special rates from Ace Worldwide Moving and Storage Deals.
  • Card carrying NIU alumni can avail up to 50% discount at hotels.
  • Car rental companies such as Hertz, Avis and Alamo offer 25% discount.

Notable Alumni

  • Sherwin David Harris- Actor
  • Kurt Sutter- Screenwriter and Director
  • Mary Kanellis- Professional wrestler

Northern Illinois University Placements

  • University has its own career services that help students in career decision making, internship and job search planning, graduate school planning, interview skills preparation, mock interview, LinkedIn profile reviews, resume review, etc. It also arranges a career fair for the students.
  • After 2 years of graduation, the median earnings of graduates is 36,800 USD per year, whereas, after 6 years of graduation, the median earnings is 45,500 USD.
  • After 2 years of graduation, the employment rate is 94%, whereas, after 6 years of graduation, the employment rate is 92%.
  • The average earnings of the graduates of the university are 45,500 USD per year, which’s 14% more than the national average earnings of the graduates.

Also Check: Jobs in USA

The average salary of NIU graduates by Job (PayScale) are tabulated below:

Job Average Salary
Accounting 54,9000 USD
Mechanical Engineering 59,900 USD
Nursing 62,600 USD
General Psychology 28,000 USD
Computer Science 57,400 USD

Northern Illinois University organizes its own career fair for students of various disciplines, such as Accountancy Career Fair, Diversity Reverse Career Fair, etc. The institute also conducts workshops on professionalization which include topics such as writing proposals, delivering conference proposals, preparing for the academic job market, etc.

FAQs

Ques. What is the tuition fee of Northern Illinois University programs?

Ans. The Tuition Fee is 9,464 USD per semester for a 12 credit hour course.

Ques. Is the SAT or ACT score required for admission to Northern Illinois University?

Ans. No, the University has a test-optional policy. Applicants may or may not choose to submit these scores.

Ques. Is there a separate application form required for international students for admission to Northern Illinois University?

Ans. No, there’s no requirement for a separate application. Applicants can either apply through a Common Application or the NIU Application.

Ques. Is there conditional admission offered to international students at Northern Illinois University?

Ans. Yes, conditional admission is offered to international students who are required to fulfill the conditions mentioned within a specific time frame.

Ques. Are there early decision and early action options available for international students at Northern Illinois University?

Ans. No early decision and early action options are available for international students at Northern Illinois University.

Ques. What are the English language requirements for admission to Northern Illinois University?

Ans. The English language requirements are TOEFL ( internet-based) - 80; IELTS - 6.5; PTE - 53

Ques. What are the most popular programs offered at Northern Illinois University?

Ans. The most popular majors of 2019 graduates were Speech communication and Rhetoric; Psychology, General; Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, other; Mechanical Engineering; and Accounting.