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Summary
Northern Illinois University is a public institution that was founded in 1895. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,306, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 800 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Northern Illinois University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 189. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,044 (2012-13); out-of-state tuition and fees are $22,510 (2012-13).
Northern Illinois University (NIU) is located about 65 miles west of Chicago in the city of DeKalb. Graduate students can choose from nearly 80 master’s degrees, including those offered by the colleges of business and law and the highly ranked Division of Public Administration. Undergraduates can choose from about 60 academic majors and participate in the Research Rookies program, which gives freshmen and sophomores a chance to conduct research in their field of study under faculty guidance. Many students at Northern Illinois University choose to study abroad, and the school offers programs for academic credit in about 75 countries.
On campus, Northern Illinois students can join more than 200 clubs and nearly 40 Greek-letter organizations. The university is also home to numerous varsity athletic teams, which compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference. The NIU Huskies teams weren’t always named as such, having been called the Teachers and Profs in the school’s early days as a teacher’s college, as well as the Cardinals and Northerners. Notable NIU alumni include Dan Castellaneta, who voices Homer Simpson and several other characters on the animated television show The Simpsons.
| School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school): | N/A |
General Information
| School type | public |
| Year founded | 1895 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2011 Endowment | $2,839,314 |
Applying
When applying to Northern Illinois University, it's important to note the application deadline is August 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due August 1. The application fee at Northern Illinois University is $40. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 52.5 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 52.5% |
| Application deadline | August 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | August 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Northern Illinois University is 17:1, and the school has 45.5 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Northern Illinois University include: Speech Communication and Rhetoric; Psychology, General; Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse; Accounting; and Elementary Education and Teaching. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 73.2 percent.
Student Life
Northern Illinois University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,306, with a gender distribution of 50.1 percent male students and 49.9 percent female students. At this school, 28.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 72.0 percent of students live off campus. Northern Illinois University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
| Total enrollment | 22,990 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
Northern Illinois University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. Northern Illinois University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc).
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Northern Illinois University, 71.6 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $7,657.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $13,044 (2012-13) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $22,510 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $11,036 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
