Northern Illinois University Rankings & Recognition
Nationally Ranked Programs
The College of Business is ranked consistently among the top schools in the country by Businessweek, Crain's Chicago Business and U.S. News & World Report.
The College of Engineering and Engineering Technology is ranked in the top 60 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs by U.S. News & World Report.
The College of Education was named by U.S. News and World Report to the 2012 Honor Roll for Online Graduate Education Programs. Only 14 programs in the nation were afforded that distinction.
Nationally Recognized for Community Service
NIU was named to the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community
Service Honor Roll. To be admitted to the Honor Roll, a school must demonstrate
that its students, faculty and staff are engaged in meaningful service that
achieves measurable results in the community.
In the 2009-2010 academic year, over 8000 students were regularly engaged in projects that benefited the community, including:
- NIU Cares Day
- Spring Break service trips
- Community after-school programs
- Mentor projects that focused on the development of young people
In all, NIU students spent over 60,000 hours
volunteering their time to serve others.
Ranked in the Top 150 Universities
NIU is ranked in the top 150 universities according to Washington Monthly's College Guide Rankings in the following categories:
- Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students),
- Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and
- Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).
Academic Prestige
NIU is a member of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), a non-profit association of public research universities, land-grant institutions, and state university systems. and the Universities Research Association (URA), an international consortium of 86 leading research oriented universities.
NIU is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in the category of Research Universities (high research activity), a designation reserved for universities that award at least 20 research degrees during the year.
NIU was also awarded an elective classification for Curricular Engagement and Outreach and Partnerships which recognizes institutions of higher education for their collaboration with their larger communities (local, regional/state, national and global).
U.S. News & World Report ranks NIU in its elite "National Universities" category; NIU is ranked third in Illinois in the magazine's High School Counselor Rankings of National Universities.
NIU's academic programs are nationally accredited (in business, engineering, nursing, visual and performing arts, and all teacher certification programs, among others) for meeting the highest standards of academic quality and rigor.
NIU has received thirteen ARRA funded awards, in addition to millions of dollars in outside funding for instruction, research, public service, and other areas.
Excellent Choice for Veterans
NIU received the 2010 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Veteran’s Education.
Named among top military friendly schools by G.I Jobs Magazine.
Ranked in the top 50 colleges in the country for veterans by Military Times EDGE Magazine in 2010, based on financial assistance, academic flexibility, campus culture, and support services.
Recognized as a Role Model for Diversity
NIU was awarded an honorable Diversity Award at the 11th National Role Models Conference in 2010, presented by Minority Access Inc.