Northern Illinois University
Public four-year university in Dekalb, IL that costs an average of $14,505 a year after financial aid, admits 70% of applicants and graduates 48% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$14,505
Acceptance rate
70%
Graduation rate
48%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$61,351
PublicSmall suburb11,301 undergraduates
Cost of Northern Illinois University
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $29,642 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $13,792 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $14,680 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| Average net price after aid | $14,505 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $12,319 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $11,502 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $13,387 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $20,105 |
| $110,001+ | $24,295 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with Northern Illinois University's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 70% |
|---|---|
| Test scores | Neither required nor recommended |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 48% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 70% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $52,885 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $61,351 |
| Rank in Illinois (earnings) | 34th of 65 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $19,555 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $222 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 52% |
| Students with federal loans | 46% |
Majors and programs at Northern Illinois University
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (56)
Master's degree programs (54)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 67 | $107,337 | $29,958 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 29 | $105,074 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 277 | $101,869 | $36,973 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 207 | $79,769 | $21,328 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 41 | $76,481 | — |
| Public Administration | 64 | $71,299 | $34,463 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 28 | $70,651 | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 249 | $69,034 | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 44 | $68,749 | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 38 | $63,166 | $45,197 |
| Marketing | 82 | $62,222 | $41,000 |
| Public Health | 76 | $61,283 | $43,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 146 | $60,718 | $27,858 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 102 | $60,279 | $24,750 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 125 | $57,030 | $27,121 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 29 | $56,623 | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 36 | $55,895 | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 46 | $54,530 | $30,750 |
| Education | 42 | $49,205 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 14 | — | — |
| Anthropology | 10 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 19 | — | — |
| Biology | 23 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 10 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 2 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 19 | — | — |
| Computer Science | 170 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 4 | — | — |
| Economics | 7 | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | 8 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 51 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 29 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 25 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 18 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 7 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 10 | — | — |
| History | 16 | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 31 | — | $30,925 |
| Industrial Engineering | 80 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 15 | — | — |
| Music | 66 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 21 | — | — |
| Physical Sciences, Other | 1 | — | — |
| Physics | 11 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 14 | — | — |
| Psychology | 24 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 7 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | — | — |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education | — | — | — |
| Sociology | 8 | — | — |
| Statistics | 11 | — | — |
| Taxation | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 12 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (24)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 78 | $98,991 | $31,900 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | — | $77,324 | $70,014 |
| Psychology | 29 | $73,405 | — |
| Biology | 4 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 18 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 8 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | 1 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 16 | — | — |
| Economics | 3 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 11 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 9 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 3 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 2 | — | — |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 22 | — | — |
| History | 4 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 6 | — | — |
| Physics | 15 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 4 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 1 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 12 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 1 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (4)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 184 | $61,696 | $83,496 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 11 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 13 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 56 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 4 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 37 | — | — |
| Music | 12 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Illinois
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville | $13,111 | 98% | $59,436 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Carbondale | $12,554 | 87% | $57,388 |
| Illinois State University | Normal | $17,829 | 88% | $67,557 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago | $9,540 | 77% | $73,666 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | $10,018 | 71% | $57,175 |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | $12,717 | 65% | $55,885 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | $9,377 | 75% | $56,278 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign | $13,042 | 42% | $87,599 |
About Northern Illinois University
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Dekalb, IL |
| Setting | Small suburb |
| Undergraduates | 11,301 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 15 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | niu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Northern Illinois University's acceptance rate?
Northern Illinois University admits 70% of applicants.
How much does Northern Illinois University cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $29,642 a year (tuition and fees: $13,792). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $14,505 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $12,319.
How much do Northern Illinois University graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $61,351 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 34th of 65 similar colleges in Illinois. The best-paid bachelor's program is industrial engineering ($79,613 a year after graduation).
What is Northern Illinois University's graduation rate?
48% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 70% of first-year students return for a second year.