Community College Initiatives

Our Office of Community College Initiatives collaborates with the university and external partners to optimize your experience. In addition to resources and support, we strive to provide you with a welcoming environment that allows you to connect with other transfer students and the campus community.

No matter where you start your studies, we’ll help you finish your education at NIU. We keep your success in mind in everything we do. Our policies maximize your number of credits applied toward degree requirements, and you’ll have a robust support network throughout your program.

Transfer Tools and Resources

Our goal is to make enrolling at NIU as seamless as possible. And we have a lot of experience in the area: About 68% of our transfer students have earned 60 credits from other institutions.

• The Guaranteed Admission Program makes it possible for you to be admitted to NIU if you currently attend a participating community college.
• As part of the Reverse Transfer program, credits successfully completed at NIU may be transferred back to your community college and used to fulfill remaining requirements for your associate's degree.
• Our transfer course equivalencies and major guides web app provides information on how your courses will transfer, as well as what courses to take for an intended major.
• Our transfer credit estimator gives a personalized overview of how credits apply to NIU.

Admissions Assistance

We offer one-on-one in-person appointments and virtual appointments with admissions counselors trained in working with transfer students.

Our online Transfers Get Information Friday (TGIF) sessions allow you to chat with admissions counselors and current NIU students at a time that works for you.

Scholarships

We offer a variety of scholarship opportunities:

• You're automatically considered for a transfer merit scholarship and considered for the Huskie Legacy Award.
• You're eligible to receive aid from our AIM High Transfer Achievement Award. We also offer AIM High Partnership Awards for Kishwaukee College and City Colleges of Chicago students.
• We partner with US, the nation's largest college and career success program for undocumented students, to provide scholarships.
• Transfer scholarships are available if you are a student at Illinois Valley Community College or McHenry County College, attending a University Center program
• Transfer scholarships are available if you are a current member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at your community college. Financial support is available if you are a Rock Valley College Rockford Promise Scholar.
• We offer a scholarship if you are an eligible Waubonsee Community College Gustafson Scholar.
• We offer a scholarship for undergraduate Illinois community college transfer students admitted to the College of Business.

Continued Support

We provide comprehensive programming to guide and assist you throughout your time at NIU, including:

• Transfer-specific orientation process featuring a pre-orientation program, an orientation session (in person or online) and our exciting Week of Welcome.
• Transfer2Transfer mentoring program that matches you with students who have successfully transferred, providing connection and guidance.