Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL
School Background
2022 Undergraduate Enrollment: 11,819
Graduate Enrollment: 4,400
Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Highest degree awarded:
Graduate
Religious Affiliation:
None
Campus Details
Suburb: Small (outside principal city, in urbanized area with population less than 100,000)
Four-year, large, primarily residential
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full-time, selective, higher transfer-in
Applicant and Admittance Traits
2022 Admission Rate: 70.45%
Male/Female: 47% / 53% (2017)
First generation college students: 38.3% (2017)
Percentage of students who are married when enrolled: 3.7% (2017)
Percentage of students who are veterans: 0.5% (2017)
Test scores for admission: Neither required or recommended
Appliants applying to 2+ schools: 65.5% (2017)
Appliants applying to 3+ schools: 44.6% (2017)
Appliants applying to 4+ schools: 32.5% (2017)
Appliants applying to 5+ schools: 23.7% (2017)
Ethnicity Information
White: 45.8%
Black: 20.3%
Hispanic: 22.0%
Asian: 6.1%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.2%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.1%
2+ races: 4.1%
Non-resident alien: 1.2%
Unknown race: 0.3%
Black: 20.3%
Hispanic: 22.0%
Asian: 6.1%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.2%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.1%
2+ races: 4.1%
Non-resident alien: 1.2%
Unknown race: 0.3%
Costs & Fees
2022 Average Tuition & Fees (Room/Board/Books): $26,275
In-State tuition: $12,478Out-of-State tuition: $12,478
Estimated books and supplies: $1,300 (2022)
Estimated on-campus room & board: $11,000 (2022)
Estimated on-campus other fees: $2,440 (2022)
Estimated off-campus room & board: $11,000 (2022)
Estimated off-campus other fees: $2,440 (2022)
Average Family Income: $65,391 (2017)
Median Family Income: $39,109 (2017)
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Percentage of students receiving Pell Grant: 42.8%Percentage of students with Federal Loans: 50.3%
Median federal loan debt at graduation: $22,162 (2021)
Median federal loan payment: $235 (2021)
| Household Income | Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0-$30k | $11,594 |
| $30k-48k | $12,005 |
| $48k-75k | $14,221 |
| $75k-110k | $17,912 |
| $110k+ | $21,046 |
Graduate Outcomes & Job Placements
4-year graduation rate: 31%6-year graduation rate: 51%
1 year post-graduation workforce participation: 96.5% (2020)
Loans
Median federal debt for graduates: $22,162 (2021)Median federal debt for non-graduates: $9,500 (2021)
Median federal debt for first-generation graduates: $16,750 (2021)
Median federal debt for Pell grant recipient graduates: $18,567 (2021)
Ability to Repay Loans
| Graduates, % of Loans in Repayment (Non-delinquent/default) |
Percentage |
|---|---|
| @1 Year | 71.1% (2015) |
| @3 year | 74.2% (2017) |
| @5 year | 82.4% (2017) |
1-year Graduate % of Loans being Repaid (Non-delinquent/default) - Pell Grant Recipients: 46.1% (2015)
1-year Graduate % of Loans being Repaid - 1st Generation Attendees: 52.4% (2015)
Earnings Power
Median earnings, 1 year post graduation: $43,293 (2020)Median earnings, 4 years post graduation: $54,063 (2020)
Popular Majors
| Type of Degree | Major | 2022 Graduates | Median Federal Debt | Median Monthly Payment | 1yr Median Earnings (monthly gross) | 4yr Median Earnings (monthly gross) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | Special Education and Teaching. | 46 | $21,452 | $223 | $43,374 ($3,615) | $49,485 ($4,124) |
| Doctoral Degree | Geography and Cartography. | 4 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Curriculum and Instruction. | 9 | $103,995 ($8,666) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | 30 | $26,625 | $236 | $29,936 ($2,495) | $42,069 ($3,506) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Communication and Media Studies. | 192 | $27,000 | $252 | $36,468 ($3,039) | $50,527 ($4,211) |
| Master's Degree | Communication and Media Studies. | 9 | $42,619 ($3,552) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Journalism. | 26 | $25,750 | $240 | $31,970 ($2,664) | $38,341 ($3,195) |
| Master's Degree | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 91 | $276 | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Computer Science. | 150 | $22,966 | $223 | $63,983 ($5,332) | $79,236 ($6,603) |
| Master's Degree | Computer Science. | 72 | $85,110 ($7,093) | |||
| Master's Degree | Education, General. | 12 | $342 | $49,933 ($4,161) | ||
| Master's Degree | Curriculum and Instruction. | 8 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Educational Administration and Supervision. | 73 | $320 | $59,105 ($4,925) | $53,754 ($4,480) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Educational Administration and Supervision. | 16 | $143,908 ($11,992) | |||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Educational Administration and Supervision. | 19 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Educational/Instructional Media Design. | 32 | $262 | $69,898 ($5,825) | $62,919 ($5,243) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Educational/Instructional Media Design. | 12 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Economics. | 36 | $25,879 | $265 | $42,038 ($3,503) | $63,359 ($5,280) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Engineering Technology, General. | 98 | $27,274 | $289 | $61,365 ($5,114) | $74,294 ($6,191) |
| Master's Degree | Engineering-Related Fields. | 12 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | 35 | $21,250 | $222 | $36,244 ($3,020) | $49,420 ($4,118) |
| Master's Degree | Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | 1 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | 124 | $31,000 | $318 | $31,328 ($2,611) | $38,803 ($3,234) |
| Master's Degree | Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | 15 | $370 | $43,642 ($3,637) | $55,371 ($4,614) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Apparel and Textiles. | 10 | $34,722 ($2,894) | $50,572 ($4,214) | ||
| First Professional Degree | Law. | 85 | $861 | $54,663 ($4,555) | $65,443 ($5,454) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | English Language and Literature, General. | 63 | $25,375 | $239 | $31,662 ($2,639) | $42,120 ($3,510) |
| Master's Degree | English Language and Literature, General. | 14 | $31,831 ($2,653) | $57,680 ($4,807) | ||
| Doctoral Degree | English Language and Literature, General. | 3 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | 75 | $30,839 | $265 | $29,671 ($2,473) | $48,131 ($4,011) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Human Services, General. | 27 | $27,000 | $286 | $31,908 ($2,659) | $39,783 ($3,315) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Biology, General. | 118 | $23,630 | $239 | $35,452 ($2,954) | $48,556 ($4,046) |
| Master's Degree | Biology, General. | 15 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Biology, General. | 6 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Economics. | 5 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Geography and Cartography. | 15 | $36,233 ($3,019) | $56,375 ($4,698) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Mathematics. | 60 | $25,044 | $245 | $45,900 ($3,825) | $59,728 ($4,977) |
| Master's Degree | Mathematics. | 9 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Mathematics. | 3 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Applied Mathematics. | 6 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Statistics. | 9 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | 1 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | 74 | $27,418 | $268 | $32,498 ($2,708) | $43,029 ($3,586) |
| Master's Degree | Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | 26 | $41,046 ($3,421) | $58,643 ($4,887) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Philosophy. | 13 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Philosophy. | 8 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. | 15 | $26,500 | $60,731 ($5,061) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Chemistry. | 44 | $23,023 | $241 | $40,552 ($3,379) | $56,116 ($4,676) |
| Master's Degree | Chemistry. | 3 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Chemistry. | 10 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | 13 | $54,646 ($4,554) | |||
| Master's Degree | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | 7 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | 1 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Physics. | 9 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Physics. | 4 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Physics. | 7 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Psychology, General. | 187 | $24,194 | $227 | $28,527 ($2,377) | $41,119 ($3,427) |
| Master's Degree | Psychology, General. | 17 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Psychology, General. | 18 | $64,533 ($5,378) | $76,857 ($6,405) | ||
| Master's Degree | Public Administration. | 45 | $347 | $63,472 ($5,289) | $67,394 ($5,616) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Anthropology. | 14 | $36,731 ($3,061) | $28,981 ($2,415) | ||
| Master's Degree | Anthropology. | 12 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Geography and Cartography. | 3 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Political Science and Government. | 73 | $27,000 | $270 | $28,394 ($2,366) | $53,370 ($4,448) |
| Master's Degree | Political Science and Government. | 6 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Political Science and Government. | 5 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Sociology. | 75 | $27,000 | $286 | $34,563 ($2,880) | $43,474 ($3,623) |
| Master's Degree | Sociology. | 7 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | 27 | $27,000 | $286 | $22,771 ($1,898) | $33,587 ($2,799) |
| Master's Degree | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | 17 | $16,443 ($1,370) | $33,907 ($2,826) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Fine and Studio Arts. | 77 | $25,781 | $239 | $26,081 ($2,173) | $37,003 ($3,084) |
| Master's Degree | Fine and Studio Arts. | 11 | $35,007 ($2,917) | $39,327 ($3,277) | ||
| Doctoral Degree | Fine and Studio Arts. | 1 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Music. | 31 | $29,000 | $289 | $39,471 ($3,289) | $25,600 ($2,133) |
| Master's Degree | Music. | 28 | $25,968 ($2,164) | |||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Music. | 8 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | 41 | $22,500 | $175 | $33,642 ($2,804) | $47,528 ($3,961) |
| Master's Degree | Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | 24 | $507 | $56,505 ($4,709) | $61,647 ($5,137) | |
| First Professional Degree | Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | 8 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | 16 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. | 29 | $23,750 | $191 | $57,443 ($4,787) | $63,491 ($5,291) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Health/Medical Preparatory Programs. | 172 | $27,000 | $239 | $29,453 ($2,454) | $47,850 ($3,988) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. | 55 | $29,804 | $295 | $36,894 ($3,075) | $48,777 ($4,065) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Public Health. | 34 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Public Health. | 22 | $55,438 ($4,620) | |||
| Master's Degree | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | 11 | ||||
| First Professional Degree | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | 30 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. | 58 | $27,000 | $239 | $26,616 ($2,218) | $48,703 ($4,059) |
| Master's Degree | Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. | 12 | $53,884 ($4,490) | $64,125 ($5,344) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | 136 | $31,000 | $265 | $63,389 ($5,282) | $71,507 ($5,959) |
| Master's Degree | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | 22 | $501 | $102,285 ($8,524) | $104,614 ($8,718) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 178 | $22,500 | $223 | $48,895 ($4,075) | $63,809 ($5,317) |
| Master's Degree | Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 206 | $375 | $87,169 ($7,264) | $111,286 ($9,274) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Accounting and Related Services. | 167 | $18,500 | $163 | $57,126 ($4,761) | $73,170 ($6,098) |
| Master's Degree | Accounting and Related Services. | 110 | $233 | $65,568 ($5,464) | $81,321 ($6,777) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Finance and Financial Management Services. | 78 | $19,500 | $162 | $55,549 ($4,629) | $66,930 ($5,578) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | 82 | $21,600 | $212 | $49,121 ($4,093) | $60,593 ($5,049) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Marketing. | 163 | $23,875 | $228 | $47,968 ($3,997) | $59,336 ($4,945) |
| Master's Degree | Taxation. | 17 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | History. | 58 | $22,500 | $237 | $29,854 ($2,488) | $47,669 ($3,972) |
| Master's Degree | History. | 5 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | History. | 2 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Special Education and Teaching. | 46 | $302 | $54,001 ($4,500) | $57,447 ($4,787) | |
| Master's Degree | Student Counseling and Personnel Services. | 40 | $570 | $46,104 ($3,842) | $60,873 ($5,073) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Student Counseling and Personnel Services. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | 112 | $25,250 | $260 | $40,289 ($3,357) | $43,091 ($3,591) |
| Master's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | 7 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | 23 | $26,746 | $239 | $42,833 ($3,569) | $46,351 ($3,863) |
| Master's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | 118 | $283 | $54,170 ($4,514) | $59,876 ($4,990) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | 81 | $25,000 | $239 | $69,686 ($5,807) | $79,921 ($6,660) |
| Master's Degree | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | 18 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | 3 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Mechanical Engineering. | 170 | $25,000 | $245 | $65,271 ($5,439) | $78,194 ($6,516) |
| Master's Degree | Mechanical Engineering. | 43 | $85,581 ($7,132) | $87,635 ($7,303) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Industrial Engineering. | 28 | $23,750 | $252 | $57,263 ($4,772) | $76,872 ($6,406) |
| Master's Degree | Industrial Engineering. | 55 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Economics. | 8 |
Campus Resources
Average faculty salary: $85,995Full time faculty: 73%
Undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio: 15.0
School's endowment start of year: $75,990,238 (2022)
School's endowment end of year: $103,524,309 (2022)