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College Info
3 items available
At a glance
- Type
- private
Official website
www.niu.eduUSAQS #8 World📊 Live dataCatalogue complete
Northern Illinois University (NIU)
Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university located in DeKalb, Illinois, approximately 65 miles west of Chicago. Founded in 1895 as a teachers' college, it has evolved into a comprehensive doctoral institution that offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across seven degree-granting colleges. NIU is classified as an R2 High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is known for strong programs in business, engineering, education, health sciences, and the arts.
University agent data refreshed 8 days ago
Live portal snapshot
QS World #150 · 2025US News #180 · 2025Times Higher Education #200 · 2025NIRF #5 · 2024Outlook #100 · 2024Shanghai #120 · 2024
- Living Costs (estimated): $1,850
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Campus Vibe
Main campus in DeKalb, Illinois; approximately 800 acres; additional regional campuses in Naperville, Hoffman Estates, Rockford, and Oregon
SportyAcademicResidentialInternationally DiverseMid-Size Community
4/10
Diversity
7/10
Academic Rigor
7/10
City safety (heuristic)
9/10
Social scene
Weather: Mild, rainy winters
Living costs: High — budget £1.2k+/mo excluding tuition
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Career Outcomes
100% placement rate
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Student Life
16,500 students (1,500 international)
Campus: Main campus in DeKalb, Illinois; approximately 800 acres; additional regional campuses in Naperville, Hoffman Estates, Rockford, and Oregon
Climate: Mild, rainy winters
High — budget £1.2k+/mo excluding tuition
Founders Memorial LibraryHolmes Student CenterConvocation CenterNIU Recreation and Wellness CenterEngineering BuildingHealth Services BuildingResidence HallsStudent Center
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Application Insider
Acceptance rate: 87.4%
IELTS: Overall 6.5
When to apply: Dec–Mar for Fall; rolling varies by school
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting generic SOPs — tailor your story to 2–3 program-specific points
- Missing document certified translations where required
- Applying in the final round without buffer for visa timelines
- Ignoring conditional offers — respond before the deadline in the portal
💡IELTS requirement: Overall 6.5
💡Acceptance rate: 87.4%
💡Latest cutoff: GPA avg=3.91, p25=3.91, p75=3.91 (n=1)
💡Typical apply window for United States: Dec–Mar for Fall; rolling varies by school