Northern Illinois Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Northern Illinois University is a public research university in Dekalb, Illinois, with about 11,301 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 69.79% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $57,808 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $13,248
- 2024 Average Net Price: $13,391 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 69.79% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 11,301 88.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 48.66%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 38.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 4.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 75.2%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 12,360
- Applicants (IPEDS): 24,177
- Room & Board: $14,160 annual estimate
Northern Illinois University: what the data shows
Common questions about Northern Illinois University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Northern Illinois University?
Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, IL (ZIP 60115-2828).
NCES locale classification: Rural remote.
Is Northern Illinois University public or private?
Northern Illinois University is a Public institution.
How much does Northern Illinois University cost?
Published tuition: $13,248.
Average net price after aid: $13,391.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $10,126 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,854 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,797 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $17,612 |
| $110,001+ | $21,834 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $52,992.
How hard is it to get into Northern Illinois University?
Admission rate: 69.79%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Northern Illinois University?
Total enrollment: 11,301 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 12,360 students.
Graduate enrollment: 4,066 students.
About 89% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Northern Illinois University?
150%-time completion rate: 48.66%.
First-year retention: 69.6%.
What do graduates of Northern Illinois University earn?
Median earnings: $46,113 six years after entry; $57,808 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $22,162.
47.32% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Northern Illinois University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Psychology, General (246 completions)
- Computer Science (233 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (207 completions)
- Information Technology (144 completions)
- Mechanical Engineering (137 completions)
- Accounting (130 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (124 completions)
- Management Science (116 completions)
- Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other (113 completions)
- Special Education and Teaching, General (112 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Northern Illinois University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 69.79%; completion rate 48.66%; median earnings $57,808 at 10 years; net price $13,391. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$13,248
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Northern Illinois University was $13,248.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$13,391
2024 Value
In 2024 Northern Illinois University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $13,391.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$53,564 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$13,391 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$52,992 4-Year Tuition
$14,160 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,200 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$28,608 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$114,432 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Northern Illinois University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
47.32% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
46.72% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Northern Illinois University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Northern Illinois University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $12,976 | $22,072 | $19,624 |
| 2014 | $13,505 | $22,784 | $18,899 |
| 2015 | $14,295 | $23,761 | $19,259 |
| 2016 | $14,204 | $23,670 | $19,944 |
| 2017 | $14,350 | $23,816 | $19,823 |
| 2018 | $14,617 | $14,617 | $23,140 |
| 2019 | $14,610 | $14,610 | $18,259 |
| 2020 | $12,352 | $12,352 | $13,956 |
| 2021 | $12,478 | $12,478 | $14,266 |
| 2022 | $12,662 | $12,662 | $13,484 |
| 2023 | $12,700 | $12,700 | $12,909 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
69.79% Acceptance Rate
24,177 Total Applicants
17,033 Students Admitted
2,202 First-Time Students Enrolled
12.93% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Northern Illinois University reported total enrollment of about 11,301 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (41.9%), Hispanic or Latino (25.8%), and Black or African American (21.0%). About 47.32% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 38.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
88.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Northern Illinois University in 2024 is 11,301 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 12,360 students. Graduate enrollment is about 4,066 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
69.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 41.9%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
29.38% 100% Completion Time
48.66% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 29.38% of students graduating from Northern Illinois University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Psychology, General: 24% male / 76% female
- Computer Science: 70% male / 30% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 58% male / 42% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Northern Illinois University.
Return on Investment
$22,162 Median Student Debt
$57,808 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
38.34% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
979.23% Return on Investment
3.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Northern Illinois University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 93 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Psychology, General: 246 completions
2. Computer Science: 233 completions
3. Business Administration and Management, General: 207 completions
4. Information Technology: 144 completions
5. Mechanical Engineering: 137 completions
6. Accounting: 130 completions
7. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 124 completions
8. Management Science: 116 completions
9. Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other: 113 completions
Most popular programs at Northern Illinois University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Northern Illinois University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Northern Illinois University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 75.2%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $11,060
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $14,474
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, IL, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Psychology, General, Computer Science, Business Administration and Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 11,301 students. Student body composition includes White (41.9%), Hispanic or Latino (25.8%), Black or African American (21.0%). The admission rate is 69.79%. The 150%-time completion rate is 48.66%. Approximately 47.32% of students receive Pell Grants. About 38.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Location
Dekalb, IL 60115-2828
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 93 distinct degree programs, Northern Illinois University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Northern Illinois University located?
Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, IL.
What is Northern Illinois University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Northern Illinois University is 69.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 24,177 applicants and 17,033 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Northern Illinois University cost?
Reported tuition is $13,248 and average net price is $13,391 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,160 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Northern Illinois University?
Northern Illinois University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 12,360 students, White (41.9%), Hispanic or Latino (25.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Northern Illinois University?
About 38.3% of students at Northern Illinois University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Northern Illinois University earn?
Median earnings are $46,113 six years after entry and $57,808 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Northern Illinois University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 48.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Northern Illinois University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,162.
Is Northern Illinois University public or private?
Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, IL.
Is Northern Illinois University an HBCU?
No. Northern Illinois University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Northern Illinois University a tribal college?
No. Northern Illinois University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Northern Illinois University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Northern Illinois University reports 25.8% Hispanic enrollment share.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Illinois college costs
- Illinois colleges by ROI
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Illinois
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.