Homecoming Court
Northern Illinois University is proud to celebrate its 118th Homecoming! Since 1903, NIU has held the oldest Homecoming tradition in the state of Illinois—and one of the oldest in the country.
- For alumni, Homecoming is about returning to a place you once called home and reconnecting with friends and mentors.
- For students, it’s a chance to build community, create memories and show Huskie Pride!
About Homecoming Court
As part of Homecoming festivities, the Campus Activities Board sponsors the Homecoming Court selection process Homecoming Court selection process. The Court honors students who have made meaningful contributions to the life and culture of the University.
- 10 students will be selected for the Court based on: leadership, academic excellence, service, campus involvement and school spirit.
- From this group, 4 students will be named Homecoming Royalty, determined by their NIU Homecoming Committee NIU Homecoming Committee application scores and student body votes.
Candidate Requirements
To be eligible for Homecoming Court 2025, candidates must:
- Be enrolled full-time (12+ hours undergrad)
- Must have a sophomore, junior, or senior standing
- Hold a minimum GPA: 3.0 undergrad
- Have completed at least one semester at NIU (if a transfer student)
- Be in good academic and judicial standing
- Submit a complete application with:
- Resume (showing campus/community involvement)
- Documentation of civic/community engagement
- Grant permission for Student Involvement staff to verify GPA and university conduct standing (this information will not be shared)
- Participate in a portrait session for an official photo used on the website and for promotion. Time TBA.
Timeline
- September 10, 2025 – Applications due (submitted via Huskie Hub by 11:59 PM)
- September 29, 2025 – Homecoming Court announced at the Homecoming Kick-Off
- September 29 at 12 PM to September 30 at 11:59 PM – Voting for Homecoming Royalty on Huskie Hub
- October 2, 2025 – Homecoming Royalty recognized at the Homecoming Block Party
- October 4, 2025 – Homecoming Royalty honored at the Football Game
Royalty Elections
- Voting: Open to all currently enrolled NIU students via Huskie Hub.
- Scoring: Student votes count for 50% of the total score; the remaining 50% is from Homecoming Committee application scoring.
- Results: The 4 students with the highest combined scores will be crowned 2025 NIU Homecoming Royalty.
Vote on royalty - Voting closes 9/30/25 at 11:59 p.m.
Need Help?
For questions or assistance, please email Campus Activities Board at cab@niu.edu.