Applying to NIU as a Visiting or Post-baccalaureate Student
Whether you're looking to take a few courses or earn a second degree, NIU has admission options designed for your unique situation.
Want to take courses but not pursue a degree? Our visiting student options let you enroll without applying to a full degree program:
- Visiting students (college-level) can take up to 15 credit hours, perfect for exploring new fields, professional development or fulfilling requirements for another institution
- Visiting high school students can enroll in university courses while still in secondary school with proper recommendations and parental consent
Already have a bachelor's degree but need more undergraduate coursework? As a postbaccalaureate student, you can take additional undergraduate courses or even pursue a second bachelor's degree. This path is popular with career changers, students preparing for graduate school and those seeking teacher certification.
Requirements and Deadlines
Application Requirements
Your admission requirements and supporting documents depend on what type of student you are:
- Visiting students are not required to submit transcripts.
- Visiting students must reapply to NIU for each term they intend to enroll.
- Post-baccalaureate students must submit transcripts from all colleges attended.
Please note additional requirements for the following programs:
Undergraduate Application Deadlines
The completed application and all supporting documents must be on file in the Office of Admissions by the dates listed below. However, early application is strongly recommended. See deadline considerations.
| Term | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Summer | May 15 |
| Fall | August 1 |
| Spring | December 1 |
You'll need to apply earlier if you're a visiting student changing to degree status.
After You Apply
After submitting your admission application and required documents to NIU, you will receive an email from admissions@niu.edu with your NIU AccountID and the steps to take to activate it. Learn more about New NIU AccountID Activation and MyNIU Access for Applicants.
It usually takes us about two weeks to make an admission decision once a file is complete with supporting documents. Be sure to check the status of your application in MyNIU to see if anything is missing. Submit any missing items as soon as possible.
Campus Safety
Our students’ safety is extremely important to us. Visit the Department of Police and Public Safety for more information. You can also download our Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (PDF).
Additional file formats and information about the annual report are available on the NIU Clery website. To request a hard copy, please contact the director of Clery Compliance at clerycompliance@niu.edu or 815-753-9364.