Northern Illinois University

Should You Attend Northern Illinois University?

Founded in 1895 in DeKalb, Northern Illinois University (NIU) sits on 800 acres and is roughly 65 miles from Chicago. This 4-year, public institution offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees. Read on to determine if this is the right school for you.

Pros

• Offers programs that are highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report
• Accepts advanced placement (AP) credits
• Endowment has grown by 29.5% between 2010 and 2011

Cons

• Total cost is $6,242 higher than the national average for residents at public, 4-year universities
• Acceptance rate is 11.3 percentage points lower than the national average
• Graduation rate is 14 percentage points lower than the national average
• High number of TAs teaching classes

Rankings & School Analysis

The cost of attendance at NIU is on the high side. In-state students paid $24,102 during the 2012-2013 school year for tuition, fees and living expenses, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This is higher than the national average of $17,860. If you are interested in getting a head start in college, you should know that NIU accepts AP credits. In 2011, NIU enjoyed a 29.5% increase in its endowment, according to data released by the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

U.S. News and World Report states that NIU accepted 52.5% of applicants in 2011, which is less than the national average of 63.8% for the same year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 17 to 1, which is slightly higher than the national average of 16 to 1. In addition, graduate assistants make up roughly 48% of the instructional faculty at the school, so you're likely to have numerous classes taught by TAs. The NCES reports that the 4-year graduation rate for full-time students was 26%, which is less than the national average of 40%. This figure increased to 56% over a 6-year period.

Undergraduate students can select from roughly 60 majors, while graduate students have access to over 80 master's degrees, along with a number of doctorate programs. U.S. News and World Report reveals that NIU's Division of Public Administration was ranked #46 in 2012, with programs in City Management and Urban Policy ranked #5 and Public Finance and Budgeting ranked #12.

Getting In & Financial Aid at Northern Illinois University

To apply to NIU, you must submit an application online or to the office of admissions. The application fee of $40 is payable at the time you apply, although NIU offers a fee waiver for eligible high school students, which requires the submission of an application fee waiver form. Achieving a grade point average between 2.85 and 3.47 on a 4.0 scale might improve your chances of admission. NIU requires that applicants submit their SAT or ACT test scores, and admitted students often achieve an ACT composite score of 20 - 25. During the Fall 2012 semester, 20% of students who were admitted chose to enroll, according to the NCES.

Student Life at Northern Illinois University

Students at NIU enjoy a range of enriching activities, including a film society, dance activities, symphony orchestra and campus ministries. In addition, athletically talented students can participate in Division I sports, including baseball, basketball and golf. While NIU offers a limited number of housing options, undergraduates living on campus can take advantage of fraternity, sorority and coed housing.

NIU offers students various special collections and museums, including an anthropology and history of education museum, a historic scenic collection and a Burma art collection. Even though NIU is roughly 65 miles from Chicago, students still enjoy many restaurants and gathering places that cater to the college crowd's taste.

Sources: *U.S. News and World Report, **The College Board, ***NCES College Navigator.

School Contact Information

• Address: Office of Admissions, Northern Illinois University, 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb, Illinois 60115-2828
• Phone: (815) 753-0446