• TypeUniversities
• LocationDekalb, The United States
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Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois (United States), about an hour from Chicago. Chartered in 1895, it opened in 1899 as a teachers college. NIU has nearly 16,000 students, including 12,053 undergraduates, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is in the Carnegie category of research universities with high research activity (R2).

NIU offers more than 100 areas of study, more than 30 accelerated master's programmes, graduate degrees, a College of Law and a range of online undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates.

International first-year applicants need a secondary school diploma with grades equivalent to a U.S. C+ average and proof of English proficiency. International undergraduate tuition for full-time study in 2026-27 is US$11,010.78 per term, and admitted international students can be considered for merit and housing scholarships. About 4,000 students live on campus in residence halls and the Northern View apartments.

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1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., Dekalb, IL, The United States, 60115-2828

NIU offers more than 100 undergraduate areas of study, including computer science, engineering and nursing. Online bachelor's degrees and degree-completion programmes include:

• Health sciences (B.S.) and medical laboratory sciences (B.S.)
• Nursing (RN-B.S.)
• Political science (B.A.)
• Public service leadership (B.S.)
• Engineering technology: applied manufacturing technology (B.S.)
• General studies (B.G.S.)

NIU offers more than 30 accelerated master's programmes and a College of Law with a J.D. (including a new part-time J.D. in Naperville from fall 2027) and accelerated and dual-degree options. Online graduate programmes include:

• Business: M.B.A., accountancy, business analytics and AI
• Cybersecurity (M.S.)
• Public health (M.P.H.) and public administration (M.P.A.)
• Nursing (D.N.P.)
• Education: Ed.D. in educational leadership, Ph.D. in instructional technology

International first-year applicants apply online through Undergraduate Admissions and need:

• A secondary school diploma by the time they start at NIU
• Passing grades equivalent to a U.S. C+ average
• Secondary school records and/or exam results
• Proof of English proficiency at university level

Students who need an F-1 visa submit proof of financial ability after the admission decision to receive their immigration documents.

Undergraduate applicants prove English proficiency with one of the following:

• TOEFL iBT: 71, or 4 for tests taken after 21 January 2026
• IELTS: 6.0
• PTE Academic: 48
• Duolingo English Test: 105
• IGCSE, GCSE or GCE O/A-level English (grade C), or IB English A Standard Level (4)
• ELS level 112

A secondary school diploma from listed English-speaking countries, such as Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom, is also accepted.

International undergraduate tuition for the 2026-27 academic year (standard rate, fall 2026 to summer 2027): US$811.58 per credit hour, or US$11,010.78 per term for full-time study (12 hours or more). Computer science, engineering and nursing may have a differential rate. Student health insurance is US$1,419.50 per term (fall and spring).

The university's 2026-2027 estimated cost of attendance for a full-time undergraduate lists tuition of US$11,010, fees of US$3,390 and housing and food of US$15,046, for a total of US$33,872.

Admitted international first-year and transfer students can be considered for a merit or a housing scholarship, both renewable:

• International Freshman Merit Scholarship: GPA 3.5/4.0 or higher, US$5,000 to US$9,000 per academic year
• International Transfer Merit Scholarship: GPA 3.5/4.0 or higher, US$5,000 per academic year
• Housing Scholarship: GPA 2.75/4.0 or higher, US$2,000 per year towards a room in Neptune Hall in the first year

Merit scholarships are only for fully family-sponsored students.

About 4,000 students live on campus. Housing options are the Gilbert, Grant, Neptune, Patterson and Stevenson residence halls and the Northern View apartments, with residence hall communities for students with similar interests and meal plans. Some students are required to live on campus.

https://www.niu.edu/international-admissions/admissions/freshman/non-us.shtml