Acceptance rate
69.8%
Northern Illinois University
Admission Chances & Acceptance Rate
This public university in Dekalb, Illinois enrolls about 15,650 students and admits roughly 70% of applicants. In-state tuition is $27,822 annually. The school's strongest academic areas are Business & Marketing (18% of degrees), Health Professions (14%), and Education (10%). Graduates earn a median of $57,808 ten years after enrollment, though the 6-year graduation rate is 49%.
Enrollment
15,649
Test policy
optional
Grad rate (6-yr)
49%
Will you get into Northern Illinois University?
Enter your GPA, SAT & ACT and get your personal admission probability — free, no credit card.
Calculate my chances →◴ Admitted Student Profile
The middle 50% of admitted students (25th–75th percentile), self-reported by the school.
SAT (combined)
Not published
ACT (composite)
Not published
GPA
Not published
$ What You'll Actually Pay
Average yearly net price after grants & scholarships, by family income (federal cohort averages — not a personal quote).
$0–30k
$10,126
family income
$30–48k
$9,854
family income
$48–75k
$12,797
family income
$75–110k
$17,612
family income
$110k+
$21,834
family income
47% receive Pell grants
47% take federal loans
✦ Strongest Programs
The fields Northern Illinois University graduates the most students in — a signal of depth, faculty, and alumni networks.
Business & Marketing
18.0%
Health Professions
13.6%
Education
9.9%
Psychology
8.7%
Engineering
8.0%
↗ Outcomes
School-level averages across all students who enrolled (College Scorecard). Not a personal forecast.
Earnings (10 yr)
$57,808
Earnings (6 yr)
$46,113
Completion
49%
Retention
70%
Median debt
$22,162
? Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Northern Illinois University?
Northern Illinois University has an acceptance rate of 69.8%, making it relatively accessible.
How much does Northern Illinois University actually cost?
After grants and scholarships, the average net price for the lowest income band is $10,126 per year, rising to $21,834 for families earning $110k+. These are federal cohort averages, not a personal quote.
What are my chances of getting into Northern Illinois University?
Your odds depend on how your GPA and test scores compare to admitted students, plus factors like major, residency, and early decision. UniversityOdds calculates a personalized probability for free — enter your stats to see yours.
See your real odds at Northern Illinois University and ~50 top schools
UniversityOdds compares your profile to real admissions data — and tells you honestly when it's guessing.
Get my free odds →Data sourced from IPEDS, the Common Data Set, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Acceptance probabilities calculated by UniversityOdds are estimates based on published academic data and are not a guarantee of admission. Net price figures are federal cohort averages, not personalized quotes — run the school's official net price calculator for your own estimate.