Apply to NIU As a Returning, Guest or Post-baccalaureate Student

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Apply to NIU for free. No test scores required.

Begin NIU Application

We are currently accepting applications for spring, summer and fall 2024.

Requirements and Deadlines

Application Requirements

Your admission requirements and supporting documents depend on what type of student you are:

At NIU, we won't consider your ACT or SAT score for general admissions.

Please see the Undergraduate Catalog for complete information about admission criteria and application procedures.

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 former NIU student applying for reinstatement
  • 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.

Contact Us

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

Campus Safety

NIU provides an 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 815-753-1649.

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