Welcome to NIU, home of the Huskies. As a nationally recognized public research university, we’re the perfect place to continue your education. No matter where you come from, our goal is to help you be who you want to be. College is the first chapter of your future and we’re here to help you write your story, your way.
Why NIU?
The search for the right college is a big decision full of promise. But let’s be real: it can also be stressful. To help, we’re providing some standout reasons why NIU might be the right school for you:
Easy Transfer Process
NIU makes the transfer process as seamless as possible for you. In fact, almost half of our students start as transfer students.
You’re not alone in this process — our counselors are experienced in working with transfer students. You can work together one-on-one to get the support you need to make your switch to NIU.
Apply for free and once you’re admitted, and we’ll provide you with a transfer credit report that shows how your credits have transferred to NIU.
Learn More about our transfer admissions process
Affordable
As a transfer student, you already know that college is a big investment. If you continue your studies here, you’ll graduate with less debt.
Flat-rate tuition
You can get your degree faster and for less money because you’ll never pay for more than 12 credit hours per semester. Even if you take 18 credit hours, your tuition remains the same.
Transfer scholarships
Apply as a transfer student and you’ll automatically be considered for a Transfer Merit Scholarship. 60% of new transfer students received a merit scholarship award in fall 2024.
90% of Huskies
Receive at least one type of financial aid. And, over 1/3 of our undergraduate students graduate from NIU with no student loan debt.
Innovative Academic Programs
We have the high-quality academic programs you want. We’re constantly expanding our catalog to prepare you for an exciting degree in a changing world. We offer over 100 different programs in just about everything you might want to study — from art and business to engineering and healthcare — with options to take classes on campus, online or closer to home at community college locations, making it easier to find a path that fits your interests and goals.
Learn More about our academic programs
Supportive Community
Half of our students come from other institutions, so you’ll fit in here. Our students are all ages and come from different communities, cultures and countries. No matter what your background, you're included and supported because we recognize our diversity as one of our strengths. We offer many transfer-specific resources, so whether you’re on or off campus, whether in your studies or in life as a Huskie, you will connect, succeed and feel at home. 
In fact, our commitment to transfer student success placed us among the top 25% of colleges and universities nationwide for creating a supportive, transfer-friendly environment (2025 Phi Kappa Transfer Honor Roll).
Learn More about our supportive community
Job-focused
At NIU, we offer advanced learning for advanced careers. Our academic programming makes it possible to apply what you learn here so you’re getting both the education and the experience you need to win the job you want.
We are one of just eight universities in the nation that has partnered with Braven, a career-accelerating experience that prepares college students — many of whom are people of color, from low-income backgrounds, and the first in their families to attend college — to secure a strong first opportunity after graduation.
We also work with employers in a multitude of industries in Chicago and across Illinois, so you’ll have the internships, connections and job-related opportunities to start your path to a great career even before graduation.
Learn more about our academic outcomes
