Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL · Public · offers Graduate degrees
70%Acceptance rate
$13,391Average net price / year
49%Graduation rate
$57,808Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$22,162Median debt at graduation
11,301Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $13,248
- Total cost of attendance
- $28,851
- Room & board
- $14,160
- Books & supplies
- $1,200
- Average net price
- $13,391
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $10,126
- $30–48k
- $9,854
- $48–75k
- $12,797
- $75–110k
- $17,612
- $110k+
- $21,834
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 69.8%
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 49%
- First-year retention
- 70%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $46,113
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $57,808
- Median debt (graduates)
- $22,162
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 47%
- Students with federal loans
- 47%
Programs: what graduates earn
77 of 140 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctoral degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 12 | $86,837 | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | — | $74,259 | $61,500 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 9 | $117,352 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 36 | $125,726 | — |
First professional degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 90 | $57,561 | $75,688 |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 11,301
- Graduate students
- 4,782
- Part-time
- 11%
- Women / men
- 53% / 47%
- White
- 42%
- Hispanic
- 26%
- Black
- 21%
- Asian
- 6%
- International
- 2%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 15:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $99,540 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 75%
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Website
- www.niu.edu
- Also known as
- NA
Most popular fields
- Communication & Journalism – 4% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 5% of degrees
- Education – 10% of degrees
- Engineering – 7% of degrees
- Family & Consumer Sciences – 3% of degrees
- Liberal Arts & General Studies – 3% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Northern Illinois University?
69.8% of applicants were admitted.
How much does Northern Illinois University cost?
The average net price after grants is $13,391 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $13,248 and the full cost of attendance is $28,851.
How much do Northern Illinois University graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $57,808 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
49% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in Dekalb
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debutantes School of Cosmetology and Nail Technology Dekalb, IL · Private for-profit · 99 students |
$12,133 | — | 63% | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.