Northern Illinois University: Ranking, Cost, Acceptance Rate & Admissions 2024
- B Shiksha Grade
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The last date to submit all application documents at Northern Illinois University for the Fall semester is May 1, 2025.
- About Northern Illinois University
- Programs
- Scholarships
- Admissions 2025
- Fees
- NIU Student Reviews
- Jobs Outcome
- Ranking 2025
- Northern Illinois University Vs UIUC Vs DePaul University: Which is better?
- Study in the USA
- Notable Alumni
- Northern Illinois University FAQs
Programs
Northern Illinois University is renowned for offering the best academic programs for its international and domestic students. The University offers a wide range of courses at undergraduate and graduate levels through its seven degree-granting colleges. The most popular majors at Northern Illinois University are: Psychology, Health & Medical Preparatory programs, Computer Science, Marketing & Management, Accounting, Mechanical Engineering, Adult & Continuing Education, and Management Science etc. Some of the top programs at the university opted by international students are listed below:
- Bachelor in Computer Science
- Master of Science in Management Information Systems
Academic Degree Programs
Program | Statistics |
---|---|
Bachelor's degree programs | 100 |
Master's degree programs | 80 |
Degree-Granting Colleges
NIU Colleges | |
---|---|
Business | Education |
Engineering and Engineering Technology | Health and Human Sciences |
Law | Liberal Arts and Sciences |
Visual and Performing Arts |
A graphical representation of top programs preferred by NIU alumni is listed below:
Top Courses
Top Courses |
Shiksha Grading |
---|---|
Business Economics |
C++ |
Physics |
C++ |
MBA/PGDM |
C++ |
MS |
C |
MIM |
C++ |
NOTE: What makes Shiksha Grading stand out is that the website uses the aggregate of all the publicly available university and course rankings from top-ranking publishers and maps it into 9 buckets - A++, A+, A, B++, B+, B, C++, C+, and C. In this method, universities are graded by country, and courses are graded by availability at the college in a particular country.
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Commonly asked questions On Popular Programs
Q: What are the duration of the PG courses in Northern illinois University?
Northern Illinois University offers 155 different academic programs leading to degrees or certificates. Additionally, the university provides online options for two of its major programs, specifically in the fields of MA and M.Sc. Most of the postgraduate courses offered by Northern Illinois University span between 12 and 24 months, which comprises 4 semesters. Some of the postgraduate programmes like the MBA offered at Northern Illinois University have a duration of 12 months and encompass 2 semesters.
Q: What are the requirements for studying M.A. at Northern illinois University?
To apply for our various undergraduate and graduate programs at Northern Illinois University, here are the basic requirements for international students:
Requirements for M.A at Northern illinois University:
- To earn a graduate degree, students should hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, typically spanning four years.
- Additionally, students are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent.
- Please note that certain programs may necessitate the submission of a GMAT or GRE score.
Q: Which is the best course in Northern illinois University?
Northern Illinois University provides a wide array of academic options for students. Students can find more than 100 undergraduate programs, comprising 66 majors, 70 minors, and 7 pre-professional tracks. Additionally, there are over 69 graduate programs with 72 specializations available across various fields of study. Talking about the best course can be difficult as the definition of best may vary from individual to individual, according to the needs and goals. However, As per the data collected from various online sources, the most popular majors among international students include Research and Experimental Psychology, Economics, and Computer Hardware Engineering.
Q: What is the most popular majors offered at Northern Illinois University?
As per the prior students who had studied at Northern Illinois University, the strongest academic programs at the university are Computer Science; Chemistry; Biology; Mathematics; Psychology; Nursing; Exercise and Sports Science; Business Administration; Accounting Human Resource Development; and School Counselling. The reasons that make them popular are the opportunities students get after completing their curriculum, the high salary packages, the in-depth knowledge gained by the students, high graduation rates, subject rankings, supportive faculties, and research opportunities.
Q: How is the Master of Computer Science program offered at Northern Illinois University?
Accredited by the Computer Accreditation Commission of ABET, the Computer Science programme at Northern Illinois University shows that it is one of the quality programs of the university. The programme revolves around the subjects, such as Algorithms, Data Structure, Computer Architecture, Artificial Intelligence, Database Systems, and more.
The programme provides thesis and non-thesis option via faculty members with strong research backgrounds. The CS graduates get the best opportunities after completing the programs along with research projects.
Scholarships
Once an international student has been admitted to NIU as a freshman or transfer student, they will automatically be considered for either a merit or housing scholarship. The merit and housing scholarships offered to international students are:
Scholarship Name | Award (per year) |
---|---|
Merit Scholarship | USD 5,000 to USD 9,000 (INR 415,135 to INR 747,243) |
Housing Scholarship | USD 3,600 (INR 298,897) |
*USD/INR = 83.03
Commonly asked questions On Scholarships
Q: What is the eligibity criteria for indian students to avail scholarships at Northern illinois University?
The university provides a variety of financial aid opportunities for international students. These scholarships primarily consider academic achievements and financial needs. Here are the available options:
Academic Excellence Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to students based on their academic performance. To be eligible, students should maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale. The value of this scholarship ranges from USD 5,000 to USD 9,000 (INR 415,135 - 747,243) per academic year.
Housing Support Grants: This scholarship is designed for students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Recipients of this grant must reside in Neptune West residence hall. The scholarship provides a yearly sum of USD 3,600.
*USD/INR = 83.03
Q: Does Northern Illinois University offer scholarships to international students?
Yes, Northern Illinois University offer scholarships to support international students. Northern Illinois University offers mainly two types of scholarships to international students; Merit scholarship and Housing scholarship. The award given in Merit and Housing scholarship are given below.
Scholarship Name | Award (per year) |
---|---|
Merit Scholarship | USD 5,000 to USD 9,000 (INR 415,135 - 747,243) |
Housing Scholarship | USD 3,600 (INR 298,897) |
*USD/INR = 83.03
Admissions 2025
Northern Illinois University offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs through its seven degree-granting colleges. International students must meet the adnussion requirements at the university. Moreover, the university admission process for undergraduate programs is as follows:
Admission Deadlines 2025
Intake | Deadline |
---|---|
Fall Semester |
Sept 1, 2025 |
Spring Semester | May 1, 2025 |
Admission Requirements for International Students
Northern Illinois University offers programs at the bachelor's, master's and doctorate levels. The minimum admission requirements for international students will vary from course to course. Therefore, international students are advised to check the minimum admission requirements before applying. The general admission requirements for international students are given below.
- Completed Application form
- Copy of Passport
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Transcripts from all secondary and post-secondary schools attended or attending
- Proof of sufficient fund
- SAT/ACT
- GRE/GMAT
- CV/Resume or Portfolio
- Interview
- Letter of Recommendations
- Essay
English Language Requirements
English is the language of instruction at Northern Illinois University, therefore, international students whose native language is not English are required to show proficiency in the English language. International students can demonstrate their proficiency in the English language by submitting IELTS/TOEFL/PTE scores.
Exam | Scores |
---|---|
TOEFL | 80 |
IELTS | 6.5 |
PTE | 53 |
Duolingo | 115 |
Acceptance Rate
NIU acceptance rate is 70%, which makes it competitive.
Application Fee
Northern Illinois University application fee for undergraduate and postgraduate program is as follows:
Particular |
Undergraduate |
Postgraduate |
---|---|---|
Application Fee |
USD 50 (INR 4,204) |
USD 60 (INR 5,045) |
Coversion used: USD 1 - INR 84.7
- Application fees :No Fees
- Type of deadline :Depends on course
Type of documents | Applicable for |
---|---|
SOP | Needed for few courses |
LOR | Needed for few courses |
Essays | Not required |
CV | Needed for few courses |
Additional documents | Required |
Intake season | Deadline |
---|---|
Fall | 15ᵗʰ Mar - 15ᵗʰ Jul 2024 |
Spring | 1ˢᵗ Oct 2023 - 1ˢᵗ Oct 2024 |
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
Q: How to apply for a USA visa?
You can follow the steps below and apply for US visa:
- Identify which type of visa you need for the USA, such as a tourist visa, student permit, or work permit.
- Check if you meet the requirements to travel to the USA.
- Ensure you have all the necessary documents to comply with the latest COVID-19 travel restrictions imposed by the USA Government, including any required travel exemptions.
- Apply for your USA visa online by registering on the official website of the USA Immigration Services.
- Upload all the required documents for your USA visa application.
- Fill out the visa application form and pay the applicable USA visa fee.
- Arrange an appointment with a USA visa application center in India for your visa interview and biometrics submission.
- Wait for your USA visa application to be processed. Typically, the processing time for Indian nationals applying for a USA visa is around 47 days.
Q: How many international students are studying in Northern illinois University?
According to Northern illinois University data from 2020-2021, a small portion of the student body consists of international students, showcasing a wide range of diversity. Specifically, Northern Illinois University had a total of 735 international students enrolled, with 173 of them pursuing undergraduate degrees. Northern Illinois University has a moderate level of selectivity. Once all the applications are in, the university evaluates them one by one. The average ACT score for admitted students is around 22. To secure a spot at the university, students need to demonstrate exceptional abilities and achieve high scores. In some cases, students may need to provide work portfolios or essays as part of their admission process. Gaining admission to this university is a challenging endeavor.
Q: Can an average indian student from tier 2 / tier 3 indian student join Northern illinois University?
Getting admission to Northern Illinois University or any other prestigious university requires students with passion, commitment and diligence. With sincerity, any student who can afford to study abroad can join Northern Illinois University. However, students must fulfil the eligibility criteria of the programme they are seeking admission into. Indian students seeking admission at Illinois University are required to have a minimum education of high school from a recognised board, with English, mathematics, Science and social Science as compulsory subjects. Furthermore, they are also required to show their English Language Proficiency by qualifying for any of the exams such as TOEFL iBT/ TOEFL PBT/ IELTS and others.s If an Indian student from tier 2/ tier 3 manages to satisfy the eligibility criteria, then she/he can surely join Northern Illinois University.
Q: What are the admission requirements for international students at Northeastern Illinois University?
International students willing to take part in UG and PG programs at Northeastern Illinois University must fulfill the basic eligibility criteria and submit the documents required by the university. The admission requirements for international students at Northeastern Illinois University are given below:
Undergraduate requirements:
- Students must hold a high school Diploma degree
- Official transcripts
- English language requirements
Graduate requirements:
- Students must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- 2.75 undergraduate GPA (on a 4.0-point scale)
- Unofficial transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- Proof of English proficiency
Q: How do I apply for admission at Northern Illinois University?
To be admitted to Northern Illinois University, international applicants must adhere to the procedures listed below:
Step 1: Select a program: International students can select from 90 undergraduate, 58 master's, and 27 doctorate programs, and review the requirements for each programme before applying.
Step 2: Complete the application form: Before the NIU deadline, international students may apply online using the university application portal and submit the necessary paperwork, which includes essays, certificates of relevant experience, academic transcripts, English language proficiency, and more.
Step 3: Pay the application fee: International students must pay USD 50 (INR 4K) for undergraduate studies and USD 60 (INR 5K) for postgraduate studies. (On August 30, 2024, USD 1 = INR 83.87)
Step 4: Await a response. After reviewing the applications, NIU will send out an offer letter to those who wish to enroll in the UG or PG programme in a matter of weeks.
Step 5: Pay tuition: The amount that international students must pay will depend on the course that they have selected. For undergrad programs, the tuition costs range from INR 19L to INR 23L, while for graduate programs, they range from INR 11L to INR 23L.
NIUStudents Ratings & Reviews
- Friendly
- Liberal
- Academically oriented
- 0% students never faced discrimination in this university
Jobs Outcome
Northern Illinois University is recognized for having the highest placement rate across the USA. Northern Illinois University placement rate is 88%, for CEET graduates. The University placement rate attracts international students the most. Also, the university graduates are in high demand worldwide. The placement highlights at the university are listed below:
- The University graduates work for top companies such as Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Salesforce, Chief, Amazon, etc.
- Northern Illinois University graduates work in top sectors such as Business Development, Engineering, Information Technology, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and more.
- The graduates are highly skilled in Leadership, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Marketing, and others.
- Top courses that are chosen by university alumni include Computer Science, Accounting, Marketing, Psychology, Information Technology, and more.
Alumni Statistics: Sectors Placed
ROI After Education Northern Illinois University
The average salary of a Northern Illinois University graduate is USD 60,000 (INR 50.44 L) annually.
Top Employers
Some of the top employers at the Northern Illinois University are given below:
- Amazon
- Microsoft
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Salesforce
- Chief
- PwC
- United Airlines
- CDW
- McDonald’s
- AbbVie
- Discover Financial Services
Commonly asked questions On Placements
Q: How is the placement for M.A. at Northern illinois University?
The Placement opportunities at Northern Illinois University are quite good. The Placement rate varies according to the courses. The Placement rate for M.A is usually 76%. The average Placement lies between 3.4-3.6 LPA and the high Placement lies between 6.6-6.9 LPA. The University also provides ample of Internship opportunities or summer training to the students to enhance their skills and boost their knowledge.
Q: Which companies are the top employers of Northern Illinois University graduates?
Northern Illinois University is among the top universities for international students in Canada. The University is known for having the highest placement rate. Moreover, university graduates are consistently in high demand worldwide. Also, the graduates work in top sectors such as Business Development, Sales, Engineering, Information Technology, and more. A few of the top employers at Northern Illinois University are listed below:
- Amazon
- Microsoft
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Salesforce
- Chief
- PwC
- United Airlines
- CDW
- McDonald’s
- AbbVie
- Discover Financial Services
Ranking 2025
Northern Illinois University is a premier university in the United States. When it comes to NIU rankings, it ranks among the top universities in the major global and national rankings. According to the Shiksha Grading, Northern Illinois University has an overall ranking of B grade. As per renowned ranking authority, the university is ranked #273 under Best Colleges is National Universities 2025. Also, as per another ranking body, NIU is ranked #800-1000 under the World University Rankings 2025. Furthermore, the top programs at NIU that are ranked by Shiksha Grading are listed below:
Top Courses |
Shiksha Grading |
---|---|
Business Economics |
C++ |
Physics |
C++ |
MBA/PGDM |
C++ |
MS |
C |
MIM |
C++ |
NOTE: What makes Shiksha Grading stand out is that the website uses the aggregate of all the publicly available university and course rankings from top-ranking publishers and maps it into 9 buckets - A++, A+, A, B++, B+, B, C++, C+, and C. In this method, universities are graded by country, and courses are graded by availability at the college in a particular country.
Commonly asked questions On Rankings
Q: Is Northern Illinois University good?
Northern Illinois University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. The university is consistently ranked among the top universities globally and nationally. Check below Northern Illinois University ranking by major ranking bodies.
Ranking Body | Rank |
---|---|
THE World University Rankings 2025 - Global | #800-1000 |
US News and World Report 2025 - National | #273 |
Q: Is Northern Illinois University good for business?
Northern Illinois University offers a number of business and management programs including MBA programs through its College of Business. The courses offered by NIU business school are highly ranked and top-rated all over the world. The global and national rankings of business and management courses offered by Northern Illinois University are given below:
Ranked By | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|
THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Business and Economics | 501-600 | 501-600 |
US News & World Report - UG Business | 190 | 190 |
Study in the USA
Key Facts About USA
Insights on education, demographics & weather.Commonly asked questions On Study in Country
Q: How to apply for a USA visa?
You can follow the steps below and apply for US visa:
- Identify which type of visa you need for the USA, such as a tourist visa, student permit, or work permit.
- Check if you meet the requirements to travel to the USA.
- Ensure you have all the necessary documents to comply with the latest COVID-19 travel restrictions imposed by the USA Government, including any required travel exemptions.
- Apply for your USA visa online by registering on the official website of the USA Immigration Services.
- Upload all the required documents for your USA visa application.
- Fill out the visa application form and pay the applicable USA visa fee.
- Arrange an appointment with a USA visa application center in India for your visa interview and biometrics submission.
- Wait for your USA visa application to be processed. Typically, the processing time for Indian nationals applying for a USA visa is around 47 days.
Northern Illinois University FAQs
Q: What is the opinion of those who have gone to Northern Illinois University (NIU) for engineering and business majors?
Northern Illinois University's College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (CEET) has a good reputation for its programs in various engineering fields, including mechanical, electrical, and industrial engineering. The CEET is accredited by ABET, which is a well-known accrediting agency for engineering programs. In general, Northern Illinois University is a good choice for students who want to earn a degree that will look good on their resumes, especially in the fields of engineering and business. However, it is important to note that the value of a degree ultimately depends on various factors, such as the student's academic performance, work experience, and networking skills, among others.
Q: What is it like to attend Northern Illinois University?
As per one of the former Northern Illinois University graduates; It is a fairly good University, its Education is one of the top schools in the States. I enjoyed my years there. I found many good friends above all many great professors.
Q: Which is the better university for M.A. in USA, Northern illinois University or Illinois State University?
The Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, IL while Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL. Northern Illinois University is ranked 412 Nationally while Illinois State University is ranked 467 Nationally. Illinois State University is 20% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois University and the admission standards are easy in Northern Illinois Universilty while the admission standards are moderate in Illinois State University.
Q: Can students apply for Part-time jobs while studying at Northern illinois University?
Certainly, students at Northern Illinois University can seek employment opportunities while pursuing their studies. If a student is in their last year, they are eligible to apply for internships or jobs. Throughout the semester, the University permits students to work up to 20 hours per week on campus, and during breaks, full-time work is allowed. In-campus placement is offered to students who possess advanced skills and technical knowledge.
NIU
Student Forum
Answered 2 months ago
Northern Illinois University and the University of Illinois Urbana Campus are the most esteemed universities in the United States. Both universities offers something unique for their international and domestic students. When choosing a university, students must consider some crucial factors. A few c
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 months ago
International students whose first language is not English are required by Northern Illinois University (NIU) to demonstrate their English competency. Tests like the Duolingo English Test, IELTS, and TOEFL are acceptable. IELTS demands a minimum score of 6.0, whereas the TOEFL iBT requires a minimum
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 months ago
As per the unofficial source, the strongest academic programs at Northern Illinois University are Psychology, Nursing, Health/Medical preparatory programs, Computer Science, and Marketing/ Marketing Management programs. The alumni's starting salary with the percent of graduates taking part in these
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 months ago
The Northern Illinois University acceptance rate is 71%. The moderate acceptance rate shows that the university follows a moderate selection procedure and getting NIU admission is not that hard. Students must fulfill the basic eligibility criteria including having a Diploma or bachelor’s degree for
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 months ago
Northern Illinois University provides one of the best programs in Mechanical Engineering. The programme is based on understanding manufacturing, energy conversion, and solid/fluid mechanics. Students will get an idea about designing and manufacturing devices to make people’s lives better and gain ha
A
Contributor-Level 10
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Which is a better university among Northern Illinois University and University of Illinois (Urbana Campus)?