Quick Navigation

Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University

Photo of marching band

Fast Facts

Chartered in 1895, Northern Illinois University is a comprehensive teaching and research institution with a student enrollment of more than 25,000.

Location

  • DeKalb is 65 miles west of downtown Chicago and 45 minutes southeast of Rockford
  • main campus in DeKalb (population 40,000) spans 755 acres
  • NIU also operates outreach centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford and Oregon, Ill.

Programs of Study

  • seven degree-granting colleges
  • 55 undergraduate majors 
  • 75 graduate programs, including 10 Ph.D. programs, doctoral degrees in education and the Juris Doctorate

Student to Faculty Ratio

  • 17 to 1

Students

  • 91 percent from Illinois
  • 46 percent men, 54 percent women
  • 26 percent ethnic minorities
  • 862 international students from 88 nations

Faculty

  • 1,279

Class Size

  • The average class size is 28 students (18 in senior-level classes).

Academic Departments

  • 40

Libraries

Oldest Building

Newest Building

Athletics

  • NCAA Division I school (Division 1-A in football) 
  • NIU Huskies compete in the Mid-American Conference
  • colors are cardinal and black

Honors Program

  • Students in the University Honors Program take their education a step further by designing individualized programs of study, learning from NIU's top teaching faculty and exploring their interests in-depth.

Study Abroad

NIU is nationally known for its extensive study abroad experiences.

  • Students can earn academic credit that applies to their degree program while studying abroad for a semester, academic year or during summer and winter breaks.

Research Opportunities

Undergraduates at NIU enjoy remarkable opportunities for research.

  • The USOAR program allows students to construct their own projects in research or artistry and travel to any corner of the world to bring their ideas to life.
  • The URAP program enables selected undergraduates to develop research skills by offering them monetary and scholarly support and significant apprenticeships with senior faculty.

Child Care

Part-time as well as full-time child care is available to NIU students, faculty and staff.

  • NIU Campus Child Care offers quality care to children ages 2 months to 5 years (along with a summertime school-age program for children ages 6 to 8).
  • The program is licensed through the State of Illinois.
  • The program is housed in a facility designed specifically for young children.

Off-Campus Programs

NIU offers dozens of undergraduate- and graduate-level courses at its three regional centers, through partnerships with Elgin, Rock Valley and Waubonsee community colleges and through the Internet.

  • Courses from six of the university’s seven colleges range from accountancy to women’s studies.
  • Degree-completion programs also are available in seven high-demand areas.
  • Affordable classes are offered evenings and weekends, mostly part-time, providing flexible options for hard-working adults, regardless of where they earned previous college credits.

Accreditation