Official Transcripts and Supporting Documents

Ready to complete your NIU application? Here's what you need to submit and how to do it.

Transcript Requirements

You'll need to provide official transcripts from schools you've attended.

  • If you're a high school student, you can work with your counselor to send your official transcripts to NIU through your school's transcript service. 
  • If you're a transfer student with 24 or more transferable credits, you don't need to submit high school transcripts.
  • If you earned a GED instead of a high school diploma, you can submit official GED scores instead of a transcript.

Your official transcripts must:

  • Be sent directly from your school
  • Be issued within the past year
  • Show all completed coursework

How to submit transcripts:

Electronic submission: Use your school's transcript service (Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, etc.)

Mail: Have your transcripts sent directly from your school to:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Northern Illinois University
1425 West Lincoln Hwy.
DeKalb, IL 60115

 

NIU Is Test Free

ACT/SAT scores are not required for admission or scholarships. We do not consider standardized test scores for general admission, merit scholarships or honors. We'll look at your cumulative high school or transfer GPA. Learn more about our test-free policy.


Credit by Examination Scores

Have you earned college credit by examination while in high school? Learn more about submitting credit by exam.

Other Required Supporting Documents

Immigrant Applicants

International (Nonimmigrant) Applicants

  • Official English translations of academic records from secondary and all colleges and universities attended
  • All test scores, including TOEFL
  • Documentation of financial resources

Undocumented Applicants

If applicable, provide a course-by-course match evaluation report of any and all international academic records prepared by Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or other National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) recognized service (at the student's expense).

Please refer to our Undocumented Student Resource Center for additional information about our application process.

Music, Nursing or Theatre and Dance Applicants

You may need to provide additional materials if you are an applicant to certain programs:

Applicants with AP, IB or CLEP credit

You should have your examination records sent to the NIU Office of Testing Services. Learn more about required scores and the course credit awarded for these and other credit by exam programs.

Name Changes

Name changes require Social Security card verification. If you are an applicant who previously applied to NIU under another name, or need to change/update your legal name in our systems after applying, you may be asked to supply a copy of your Social Security card to verify your current legal name. Securely upload your Social Security card.


Criminal Disclosure Information

As part of our commitment to campus safety, NIU requires students to disclose information about their criminal background and/or any misconduct that resulted in disciplinary separation from schools/universities they previously attended. Learn more about disclosing required information.


Document Retention

Please note that all documents submitted to Northern Illinois University for admission purposes become the property of the university. Documents will not be released to students nor will they be forwarded to other educational institutions or agencies.

Contact Us

Office of Admissions
Williston Hall
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-0446
admissions@niu.edu
transfercenter@niu.edu