Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University is a public university in DeKalb, Illinois, USA. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), it offers quality programs and strong post-study job opportunities to Indian students. Northern Illinois Uni is recognised for its research by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Climate Change, Quantum Physics, Particle Accelerators, and Data Science are some key areas of research activity at the university. It is also part of the Top American Colleges in 2026, as per Forbes.

The Northern Illinois University Acceptance Rate is 70%. This suggests priority is given to academically bright students. NIU is divided into 7 colleges, one each for Business, Engineering, Education, Health and Human Sciences, Law, Visual and Performing Arts, and Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Northern Illinois University Information

Mentioned below are some interesting facts that are worth knowing about studies at NIU:

History

The university began as a teacher's college that went by Northern Illinois State Normal School, with John Wilston taking over as the first president. In 1900, the university honored its first graduates, while welcoming its first batch of overseas students in 1904. After the two world wars, the university began its expansion, starting the College of Business in 1961, while also offering its first doctoral degrees in the same year. 1985 saw the university start the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, followed by the opening of the NIU Convocation Center in 2002.

Also check: Study in USA for Indian Students in 2026

Check out the videos below to know more about student life at NIU:

• The deadline for admission to PG courses has passed.

Northern Illinois University is a public university in DeKalb, Illinois, USA. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), it offers quality programs and strong post-study job opportunities to Indian students. Northern Illinois Uni is recognised for its research by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Climate Change, Quantum Physics, Particle Accelerators, and Data Science are some key areas of research activity at the university. It is also part of the Top American Colleges in 2026, as per Forbes.

The Northern Illinois University Acceptance Rate is 70%. This suggests priority is given to academically bright students. NIU is divided into 7 colleges, one each for Business, Engineering, Education, Health and Human Sciences, Law, Visual and Performing Arts, and Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Northern Illinois University Information

Mentioned below are some interesting facts that are worth knowing about studies at NIU:

History

The university began as a teacher's college that went by Northern Illinois State Normal School, with John Wilston taking over as the first president. In 1900, the university honored its first graduates, while welcoming its first batch of overseas students in 1904. After the two world wars, the university began its expansion, starting the College of Business in 1961, while also offering its first doctoral degrees in the same year. 1985 saw the university start the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, followed by the opening of the NIU Convocation Center in 2002.

Also check: Study in USA for Indian Students in 2026

Check out the videos below to know more about student life at NIU:

NIU Illinois offers several merit-based scholarships to Indian students with strong academics. This includes financial rewards up to USD 9,000 (INR 8.4 Lakhs) per year. Mentioned below are some popular Northern Illinois University Scholarships for Indian Students:

How to get a Scholarship at the University of Northern Illinois?

• Should be an International Student, paying the overseas fee rate
• Maintain excellent academics, a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
• Should be fully family-sponsored
• Should have an admission offer in your desired course at NIU

1 USD = INR 93.39

As an Indian student, you can choose from more than 100 undergraduate and 80 graduate programs as part of the pool of Northern Illinois University courses. This includes degrees, graduate certification programs, and online courses. At NIU, you have the flexibility to pursue a program in both full and part-time formats.

Northern Illinois University Popular Majors

Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, Nursing, Liberal Arts, and Accountancy are among the popular courses pursued by Indian students at Northern Illinois Uni.

Northern Illinois University Online Degrees

There are 48 online courses for you to choose from across several popular industry-relevant streams such as Data Science, Digital Marketing, Arts and Design, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Business Administration, and Management.

Politicians, Actors, Writers, Engineers, Entrepreneurs, and Medical professionals make up the Notable Alumni at NIU. PJ Fleck (American Football Coach), Wood Harris (American Actor), and Anies Baswedan (Indonesian Politician) are among those to have studied at NIU. Mentioned below is more about them and some other notable names to have pursued their studies at the Northern Illinois Uni:

Name	Known For	Alumnus
Wood Harris	American Actor Known for Movies like Above the Rim and Paid in Full Graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts
Dan Castellaneta	American Actor and Voice Over Artist Gave voice to Homer Simpson of the Animated Series, The Simpsons Pursued a course in Art Education
Anies Baswedan	Indonesian Politician Former Minister of Education and Culture of Indonesia Got a PhD in Political Science
Maria Kanellis	American Professional Wrestler and Promoter Has wrestled as part of the WWE, TNA, AEW, and Ring of Honor

Northern Illinois Uni offers several career-support services for Indian students. This includes counselling, workshops, and searching for jobs that best match a student's profile. The university uses Steppingblocks, a 24/7 online platform, where one can take part in mock interviews, find jobs, and map out their career path.

Northern Illinois University Placement Rate

The university has not officially released placement-rate-related data, as of yet.

ROI After Education

NIU Illinois graduates tend to get a decent return, with average salaries after graduation going above the USD 70,000 mark. Here is how the average salary at NIU compares with the investment in tuition costs.

Source: NIU

1 USD = INR 93.39

Indian students planning for higher studies at NIU pay in the range of USD 10,490 and USD 53,550 (INR 9.8 Lakhs and INR 50 Lakhs) for PG courses. The Northern Illinois University Tuition fees for Indian students interested in UG courses range between USD 12,700 and USD 19,580 (INR 11.86 Lakhs and INR 18.3 Lakhs) per year, based on the course.

NIU Cost of Attendance for Indian Students 2026

Mentioned below is a breakdown of the average cost of living for Indian students at Northern Illinois Uni:

1 USD = INR 93.39

• The deadline for admission to PG courses has passed.

Indian students can apply via the official university website for NIU Admissions. Students will need to submit academic and personal documents, English proficiency scores, and good scores in competitive tests such as the GRE or GMAT (for some PG courses). The application can be submitted after paying the Northern Illinois University Application fee worth USD 60 (INR 5.6 K) for most PG courses. There's no application fee for UG courses.

Northern Illinois University Application Deadline

Mentioned below are the upcoming deadlines for Indian students at the University of Northern Illinois:

Northern Illinois University Eligibility Criteria for Indian Students

• Academic transcripts in English
• Prove English Proficiency
• Completed NIU Application
• Valid passport with a validity of an additional 6 months over the duration of studies
• Statement of Purpose
• Resume or CV
• Letters of Recommendation

Northern Illinois University Undergraduate Requirements for Indian Students

• High School Diploma or Class 12th Completion Certificate with a minimum grade C+ as per the academic standards in the US
• Minimum TOEFL-iBT score of 71, or an IELTS score of 6.0

Northern Illinois University Graduate Requirements for Indian Students

• UG degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
• Academic transcripts
• Strong scores in either the GRE or GMAT exam
• Minimum TOEFL-iBT score of 80 or an IELTS score of 6.5

Northern Illinois University ranks respectably in the latest university rankings given by Shiksha. The Northern Illinois University Ranking in the USA is #217. Globally, the university ranks #822. The university also performs reasonably well in the country-level subject rankings given by Shiksha, as mentioned below:

By Other Ranking Bodies

Platforms like US News and Times Higher Education have also ranked the university for the year 2026, as given below:

• US News ranks it #301 among National Universities in 2026
• Times Higher Education gives Northern Illinois University World Ranking of #801 in 2026

Indian student life at NIU is a mix of quality academics and research with a welcoming academic environment. The university takes good care of its students and provides every important student support service possible, academic or personal, as part of the Northern Illinois University Campus.

Northern Illinois University Campus Location

The main campus is based at 1425 W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, Illinois. The university also operates satellite campuses in Chicago, Rockford, Oregon, and Naperville.

Northern Illinois University Campus Life

• There are 200+ student organizations for Indian students across different areas of interest. Student Health Advocacy Group, Marketing Club, and the Criminology Club are some of the popular ones considered by students
• For Housing, the university maintains several residence halls and apartments. These are equipped with all essential facilities such as beds, desks, drawers, community kitchens, laundry, and bathrooms.
• There are plenty of retail dining halls, cafes, and catering services that serve vegan and non veg food to Indian students. Einstein Bros Bagels, Neptune Dining, Gilbert East Side Cafe, and Starbucks at the Holmes Student Center are some popular ones.