1. Undergraduate Admissions
  2. Choose Your Path
  3. First-year Students
  4. Application Requirements

First-year Application Requirements

Required High School Curriculum

Subject Requirement
English four years
Mathematics three years (algebra, geometry, algebra II, trigonometry or higher)
Science three years (at least one year lab science)
Social studies three years (at least one must be US history or US government)
Foreign language, art, or music two years

Up to one year of required coursework in science, social studies, foreign language, art or music can be distributed in any of the five subject areas listed above.

We are now able to accept your official transcripts as a PDF via email directly from your counselor's email address. Your counselor should send transcripts to admissions@niu.edu.

Test Scores and GPA

We no longer consider ACT or SAT scores for general admission or merit scholarships. We'll look at your high school GPA instead. Research shows that GPA is a better indicator of success in college.

If you have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher, you're guaranteed general admission. The exception to this is our limited-admission nursing program. Read more about admission to the nursing program.

If your GPA is below 3.0, we'll get to know you through a holistic application review process - a flexible, personalized review of your application and circumstances. We know high school grades don't always tell the whole story.

Undergraduate Application Deadlines

Term Deadline
Summer May 15
Fall August 1
Spring December 1

Other Important Info

Campus Safety

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.

Contact Us

Office of Admissions
Williston Hall
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-0446
800-892-3050
admissions@niu.edu
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