R2 ResearchPublicHSI

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois·Public, 4-year or above·Great Lakes·niu.edu

Northern Illinois University's acceptance rate is 69.8% (2024). Its six-year graduation rate is 49% and its four-year rate is 29% (2024). Tuition and fees are $13,248 (2024). Fall enrollment is 15,414 students, and 17,142 enrolled over the full 12-month year (2024). Source: IPEDS.

Acceptance
69.8%
-14.8pp vs R2 Research
6-yr graduation
49%
-5.0pp vs R2 Research
Total enrollment
15,414
peer median 14,488
Avg net price
$13,391
-$1.4k vs R2 Research
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About

Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois, United States. It was founded as "Northern Illinois State Normal School" in 1895 by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld, initially to provide the state with college-educated teachers. In addition to the main campus in DeKalb, it has satellite centers in Chicago, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon, Illinois.

Admissions & acceptance rate

First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.

Applied
23,651
23,651 candidates competed
Admitted
16,505
69.8% acceptance rate
Enrolled
1,991
12.1% yield

Graduation rate & outcomes

Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.

Overall completion
49%
4-year graduation
29%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
49%-5.0pp vs R2 Research
Full-time retention
70%

Pell equity

26.1pp gap
Pell recipients
36%346 of 954
Non-Pell (all)
62%545 of 877
Subsidized loan, no Pell
59%207 of 352
No Federal Aid
64%338 of 525

Non-Pell students graduate at a 26.1-point higher rate than Pell recipients.

Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.

Program outcomes

Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.

Of 137 Title IV programs, 66 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 2 fail. 69 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.

Total programs
137
Passing
66
48.2% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
2
1.5% of portfolio
Fail rate
1.5%
+0.9pp vs 0.6% national

Pass / fail distribution

137programs
  • Passing66 · 48.2%
  • No Data69 · 50.4%
  • Failing2 · 1.5%

Severity spectrum

Critical
0
Severe
2
Recoverable
0
At Risk
5
Watch
3
Safe
58
No data
69

Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.

Earnings premium gap

Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.

68
Music
Master's Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
-13.4%
$41,850 vs $48,304
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Master's Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
-11.6%
$42,708 vs $48,304
English Language and Literature General
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
+2.1%
$50,510 vs $49,483
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+3.1%
$63,768 vs $61,854
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+5.7%
$36,777 vs $34,808
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+5.9%
$65,500 vs $61,854
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+7.3%
$66,367 vs $61,854
Fine and Studio Arts
Master's Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+10.3%
$53,301 vs $48,304

Near the line (±5%)

Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.

2
English Language and Literature General
Master's Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
+2.1%
+$1,027
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+3.1%
+$1,914

Debt vs earnings

Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.

54
Law
First Professional Degree · Legal Professions And Studies
87%
$68,443 debt · $78,459 earn
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Master's Degree · Education
79%
$47,188 debt · $59,834 earn
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Doctoral Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
76%
$61,500 debt · $80,885 earn
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
73%
$27,000 debt · $36,777 earn
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
72%
$45,786 debt · $63,768 earn
Psychology General
Doctoral Degree · Psychology
65%
$55,368 debt · $85,719 earn
Human Development Family Studies and Related Services
Bachelor Degree · Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
62%
$30,560 debt · $49,147 earn
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
53%
$21,345 debt · $40,398 earn

Accreditation status & history

Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.

AccreditedInstitutional accreditor

Higher Learning Commission

Accredited since 1915Next review Aug 2034

Programmatic accreditations · 19

Action history · 22

  1. Jul 2025Loss of Accreditation or Preaccreditation: Voluntary Withdrawal
    American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Professional Psychology (IPSY) - Predoctoral internship programs
  2. Apr 2025Renewal of Accreditation
    American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education · Physical Therapy (PT) - Professional programs for the physical therapist
  3. Oct 2024Renewal of Accreditation
    American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · School Psychology (SCPSY) - PhD Doctoral programs
  4. Aug 2024Renewal of Accreditation
    American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar · Law (LAW) - Professional schools
  5. Jun 2024Renewal of Accreditation
    Higher Learning Commission

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Tuition & cost

What families actually pay, broken down by family income.

Net price by family income

Aid exceeds costFamily pays
$0–30k$10,126
$30–48k$9,854
$48–75k$12,797
$75–110k$17,612
$110k+$21,834

Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.

Avg net price
$13,391
-$1,373vs R2 Research median $14,764
Federal loans
46.7%
Tuition and fees
$13,248

Federal aid volume & trends

Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.

In AY 2024–25, 6,225 students received $36.3M in Pell grants, alongside $66.3M in federal Direct Loans.

Pell recipients
6,225
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$36.3M
$36,331,215 total
Direct Loans
$66.3M
10,608 loan awards

Pell recipients · 5-year trend

6k
’20
6k
’21
6k
’22
6k
’23
6k
’24

Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25

Subsidized$17.7M
4,201 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$17.8M
4,341 loan awards
Unsubsidized · Grad$19.0M
1,183 loan awards
Parent PLUS$7.2M
607 loan awards
Grad PLUS$4.6M
276 loan awards

Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student loan default rate

The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.

Of 4,673 borrowers who entered repayment, 102 (2.1%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.

Default rate
2.1%
-0.2pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
4,673
Defaulted
102
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard

Default rate vs national, by cohort

2016
7.8%
2017
8.3%
2018
5.9%
2019
2.1%
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate

* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Academic programs at Northern Illinois

Top program areas ranked by completions.

Distinct CIP programs103
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered

Top program families by completions

3,230 total completions
01Business
67520.9%
02Education
57117.7%
03Health Professions
51015.8%
04Computer Sciences
35811.1%
05Psychology
2888.9%
06Engineering
2146.6%
07Social Sciences
1946.0%
08Visual/Performing Arts
1775.5%
09Parks/Recreation
1344.1%
10Communication
1093.4%

Enrollment trends & demographics

Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.

Fall total
15,414
12-mo unduplicated
17,142
Undergraduate
12,360
Graduate
4,782

Gender split

Men
45%7,747
Women
55%9,395

Race / ethnicity composition

White
41.9%
Hispanic
25.8%
Black
21.0%
Asian
6.4%
Non-resident
1.8%
Two or more
1.6%
Unknown
0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.1%

Athletics & Title IX gender equity

How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.

Athletes
445
285 M · 160 W
Women athletes
36.0%
Athletic aid
$7.9M
Total student aid
Budget
$34.3M
Total expenses

Men vs women · spending splits

Athletic student aid
$4.7M
$3.2M
Recruiting expense
$383K
$128K
Head-coach salaries
$242K
$108K
Men Women

Sport-by-sport · 13

Football
143 M · —
$13.2M
Soccer
27 M · 28 W
$1.8M
Baseball
40 M · —
$1.0M
Wrestling
38 M · —
$742K
Track and Field (Indoor)
— · 37 W
$402K
Track and Field (Outdoor)
— · 36 W
$402K

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Campus safety & crime statistics

Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.

Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
4.32
67 offenses · 15,504 students

3-year trend

2.532 yrs ago4.661 yr ago4.32Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
181
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
244
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
2
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
23

Criminal offenses by type

Aggravated assault
21
Burglary
16
Rape
13
Motor vehicle theft
9
Robbery
4
Fondling
4

By location

67total
  • On campus60
  • Non-campus7

Includes 26 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).

VAWA offenses

48
Domestic violence
7
Dating violence
35
Stalking
90 total under the Violence Against Women Act.

Hate crimes by bias

No hate crimes reported.

Arrests vs disciplinary referrals

CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons73
Drugs323
Liquor753

Residence-hall fires

  • Stevenson Towers North1 fire
    ElectricalDamage $100-$999
  • Stevenson Towers South1 fire
    ElectricalDamage $100,000-$249,999
  • Northern View 61 fire
    CookingDamage $1,000-$9,999
  • Patterson Hall East2 fires
    Open flamesDamage $0-$99
  • Patterson Hall East2 fires
    CookingDamage $100-$999

Data quality: 7 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student-faculty ratio

Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.

Student-to-faculty
15.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
785

Northern Illinois vs Peer comparison

The peer institutions Northern Illinois selected for federal comparison reporting.

6-yr gradRetentionSelectivityEnrollmentAffordabilityYield
This institutionPeer median

A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.

Carnegie
SubjectNorthern Illinois University
49%69.8%15,414$13,391R2 Research
Arkansas State University
53%82.3%15,726$12,366R2 Research
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
61%81.0%17,594$24,022R2 Research
California State University-East Bay
48%97.4%12,326$9,320R2 Research
Central Michigan University
59%89.8%14,488$17,597R2 Research
Cleveland State University
51%91.3%14,074$14,764R2 Research
CUNY City College
57%60.0%15,544$3,776R2 Research
East Tennessee State University
53%86.2%13,728$15,983R2 Research
Eastern Michigan University
46%79.6%12,631$15,407R2 Research
Marshall University
51%95.7%11,958$7,502R2 Research
New Mexico State University-Main Campus
55%89.0%15,408$8,889R2 Research
North Carolina A & T State University
57%49.9%14,311$10,846R2 Research
Oakland University
58%87.8%15,768$9,120R2 Research
Rutgers University-Newark
64%71.4%11,315$19,703R2 Research
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
60%86.9%11,790$13,297R2 Research
Tarleton State University
48%89.6%17,433$20,783R2 Research
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
40%88.6%11,266$15,225R2 Research
University of Akron Main Campus
52%59.7%13,332$13,946R2 Research
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
47%97.4%11,354$15,788R2 Research
University of Massachusetts-Boston
49%83.8%15,575$17,707R2 Research
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
65%83.0%16,598$17,163R2 Research
University of Missouri-Kansas City
54%72.2%14,732$13,310R2 Research
University of Nebraska at Omaha
49%87.0%14,972$13,441R2 Research
University of North Dakota
61%76.9%15,019$18,551R2 Research
University of North Florida
65%53.2%16,154$10,154R2 Research
University of South Alabama
52%71.0%14,003$17,648R2 Research
University of Toledo
58%92.0%14,358$17,249R2 Research
University of Vermont
79%65.3%14,476$19,343R2 Research
University of Wyoming
59%96.9%10,813$13,599R2 Research
Western Michigan University
58%84.6%16,744$15,273R2 Research
Wichita State University
51%93.9%16,689$13,194R2 Research
Peer group median54%84.6%14,488$14,764

Institutions like Northern Illinois

Explore the federal data for institutions in Northern Illinois's comparison group.

  • R2 ResearchArkansas

    Arkansas State University

    Grad rate
    53%
    Admit rate
    82.3%
    Enrollment
    15,726
    Net price
    $12,366
  • R2 ResearchOhio

    Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

    Grad rate
    61%
    Admit rate
    81.0%
    Enrollment
    17,594
    Net price
    $24,022
  • R2 ResearchCalifornia

    California State University-East Bay

    Grad rate
    48%
    Admit rate
    97.4%
    Enrollment
    12,326
    Net price
    $9,320
  • R2 ResearchMichigan

    Central Michigan University

    Grad rate
    59%
    Admit rate
    89.8%
    Enrollment
    14,488
    Net price
    $17,597
  • R2 ResearchOhio

    Cleveland State University

    Grad rate
    51%
    Admit rate
    91.3%
    Enrollment
    14,074
    Net price
    $14,764
  • R2 ResearchNew York

    CUNY City College

    Grad rate
    57%
    Admit rate
    60.0%
    Enrollment
    15,544
    Net price
    $3,776
  • R2 ResearchTennessee

    East Tennessee State University

    Grad rate
    53%
    Admit rate
    86.2%
    Enrollment
    13,728
    Net price
    $15,983
  • R2 ResearchMichigan

    Eastern Michigan University

    Grad rate
    46%
    Admit rate
    79.6%
    Enrollment
    12,631
    Net price
    $15,407
  • R2 ResearchWest Virginia

    Marshall University

    Grad rate
    51%
    Admit rate
    95.7%
    Enrollment
    11,958
    Net price
    $7,502
  • R2 ResearchNew Mexico

    New Mexico State University-Main Campus

    Grad rate
    55%
    Admit rate
    89.0%
    Enrollment
    15,408
    Net price
    $8,889
  • R2 ResearchNorth Carolina

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Grad rate
    57%
    Admit rate
    49.9%
    Enrollment
    14,311
    Net price
    $10,846
  • R2 ResearchMichigan

    Oakland University

    Grad rate
    58%
    Admit rate
    87.8%
    Enrollment
    15,768
    Net price
    $9,120
  • R2 ResearchNew Jersey

    Rutgers University-Newark

    Grad rate
    64%
    Admit rate
    71.4%
    Enrollment
    11,315
    Net price
    $19,703
  • R2 ResearchIllinois

    Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

    Grad rate
    60%
    Admit rate
    86.9%
    Enrollment
    11,790
    Net price
    $13,297
  • R2 ResearchTexas

    Tarleton State University

    Grad rate
    48%
    Admit rate
    89.6%
    Enrollment
    17,433
    Net price
    $20,783
  • R2 ResearchTexas

    Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi

    Grad rate
    40%
    Admit rate
    88.6%
    Enrollment
    11,266
    Net price
    $15,225
  • R2 ResearchOhio

    University of Akron Main Campus

    Grad rate
    52%
    Admit rate
    59.7%
    Enrollment
    13,332
    Net price
    $13,946
  • R2 ResearchColorado

    University of Colorado Colorado Springs

    Grad rate
    47%
    Admit rate
    97.4%
    Enrollment
    11,354
    Net price
    $15,788
  • R2 ResearchMassachusetts

    University of Massachusetts-Boston

    Grad rate
    49%
    Admit rate
    83.8%
    Enrollment
    15,575
    Net price
    $17,707
  • R2 ResearchMassachusetts

    University of Massachusetts-Lowell

    Grad rate
    65%
    Admit rate
    83.0%
    Enrollment
    16,598
    Net price
    $17,163
  • R2 ResearchMissouri

    University of Missouri-Kansas City

    Grad rate
    54%
    Admit rate
    72.2%
    Enrollment
    14,732
    Net price
    $13,310
  • R2 ResearchNebraska

    University of Nebraska at Omaha

    Grad rate
    49%
    Admit rate
    87.0%
    Enrollment
    14,972
    Net price
    $13,441
  • R2 ResearchNorth Dakota

    University of North Dakota

    Grad rate
    61%
    Admit rate
    76.9%
    Enrollment
    15,019
    Net price
    $18,551
  • R2 ResearchFlorida

    University of North Florida

    Grad rate
    65%
    Admit rate
    53.2%
    Enrollment
    16,154
    Net price
    $10,154
  • R2 ResearchAlabama

    University of South Alabama

    Grad rate
    52%
    Admit rate
    71.0%
    Enrollment
    14,003
    Net price
    $17,648
  • R2 ResearchOhio

    University of Toledo

    Grad rate
    58%
    Admit rate
    92.0%
    Enrollment
    14,358
    Net price
    $17,249
  • R2 ResearchVermont

    University of Vermont

    Grad rate
    79%
    Admit rate
    65.3%
    Enrollment
    14,476
    Net price
    $19,343
  • R2 ResearchWyoming

    University of Wyoming

    Grad rate
    59%
    Admit rate
    96.9%
    Enrollment
    10,813
    Net price
    $13,599
  • R2 ResearchMichigan

    Western Michigan University

    Grad rate
    58%
    Admit rate
    84.6%
    Enrollment
    16,744
    Net price
    $15,273
  • R2 ResearchKansas

    Wichita State University

    Grad rate
    51%
    Admit rate
    93.9%
    Enrollment
    16,689
    Net price
    $13,194

Northern Illinois Institutional Research office

The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.

Office
Institutional Effectiveness
Reports to Division of Academic Affairs
Email
gbarker1 [at] niu.edu
Phone
815-753-4742
Address
1425 W. Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL 60115

Institutional Effectiveness, as a leader in a data-informed culture and as a model of best practices in data-informed decision-making, is committed to working with the university community on issues of accreditation, assessment and evaluation; institutional research; and decision support and analysis.

Visit IR office page
Team
5 members
  • Gregory P. Barker, Ph.D.
    Executive Director for Institutional Research and Analytics
  • Jason Reed
    Institutional Research Data Coordinator
  • Debbie O'Dell
    Institutional Research Data Specialist
  • Pingping Ren
    Research Associate
  • Jun Zhang
    Research Associate, Institutional Research

Common Data Set

Northern Illinois's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.

Source publications

Reports & documents (2)

Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.

Notable alumni of Northern Illinois (17)

A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.

  • Judith Curry
    Academe
  • Jose Manuel 'Chel' Diokno
    Politics and government
  • John Dunn
    Academe
  • Ann Rondeau
    Academe
  • Joan Allen
    Arts and entertainment
  • Dan Castellaneta
    Arts and entertainment
  • Charlotte Kate Fox
    Arts and entertainment
  • Steve Harris
    Arts and entertainment
  • Nicole Briscoe
    Media
  • Ralph de la Vega
    Business
  • Ken Bishop
    Athletics
  • P. J. Fleck
    Athletics
Showing 1–12 of 17
1 / 2

Frequently asked questions about Northern Illinois University

Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Northern Illinois University.

What is the acceptance rate at Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University's acceptance rate is 69.8% (16,505 admitted from 23,651 applicants), based on the latest IPEDS.

What is the graduation rate at Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University's six-year graduation rate is 49% and its four-year rate is 29%, per 2024 IPEDS data.

How many students attend Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University reports a total enrollment of 15,414 students per the latest IPEDS.

What is the average net price at Northern Illinois University?

The average net price at Northern Illinois University is $13,391 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.

What is the yield rate at Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University's yield rate is 12.1%, the share of admitted students who enrolled, per the latest IPEDS.

Where is Northern Illinois University located?

Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois 60115-2828.

Who runs Institutional Research at Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University's IR work is done by the Institutional Effectiveness, which reports to Division of Academic Affairs.

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
Federal Pell Grant & loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant and Direct Loan recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.

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