Northern Illinois University (NIU)

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Northern Illinois University can be found in Dekalb, IL, a public college which focuses on only a select few programs offered. NIU has an enrollment of about seventeen thousand students.

Most of the students admitted to NIU had an SAT score between 940 to 1170, or got accepted with an ACT score in the range of 19 to 25. By applying sampled GPA data from over 150 schools, we are able to estimate that the NIU average GPA ranges from 2.98 to 3.33 for accepted students. NIU has an acceptance rate of around 48% with 25% of applicants deciding to continue on and enroll. Based on historical acceptance rate data, the projected NIU acceptance rate 2021 is estimated to be 48%. You can get more information from the admissions office website at niu.edu.

Overall NIU Acceptance Rate - Fall 2020

48.4%

The overall acceptance rate for Northern Illinois University was reported as 48.4% in Fall 2020 with over 15,700 college applications submitted to Northern Illinois University. Both in state and out of state applicants are included in these figures. We do not have data on transfer acceptance rates currently.

Accepted Applicants Profile

  • NIU ACT Scores: 19 - 25
  • NIU Average GPA: 2.98 - 3.33

How Hard Is It to Get into Northern Illinois University?

Applicant Selectivity: Medium

The applicant selectivity of Northern Illinois University is about average, as determined by collecting standardized test scores e.g. ACT/SAT and high school average GPA ranges of students who were granted admissions from previous years.

Historical Trend and Acceptance Rate 2024 Projection

The historical trend chart shows acceptance rates from the previous years, from which we have projected the acceptance rate for the 2024-2025 school year. The overall acceptance rate trend for Northern Illinois University has been slowly getting lower over the recent years.

Acceptance Rate By Year

  • 2016-2017: 51.8%
  • 2017-2018: 53.3%
  • 2018-2019: 54.4%
  • 2019-2020: 48.4%
  • Projected NIU Acceptance Rate 2024-2025: 47.9%

How Does NIU Compare?

48.4%
This School
56.7%
National Avg

The acceptance rate for Northern Illinois University is seventeen percent lower than the national average of all colleges which is around 56.7%.

Nearby Similar College Acceptance Rates

SchoolAcceptance Rate
Aurora University86.7%
Lewis University63.9%
Concordia University-Chicago74.7%
Northeastern Illinois University58.5%
Loyola University Chicago67.2%

Admissions Rates & Enrollment Rates - Details

General Recommendations & Requirements for Admissions

  • High School GPA Scores are Required
  • High School Class Rankings are Required
  • School Records are Required
  • College Prep Classes are Required
  • Standardized Test Scores (SAT,ACT,...) are Required
  • TOEFL Exam (Foreign Language Students) are Required

Number of Applicants, Percent Accepted, and Enrolled Students (Fall 2020)

TotalMaleFemale
Applicants15,68742.4%57.6%
Admitted7,58741.6%58.4%
Enrolled1,89746.4%53.6%

Average ACT/SAT Scores of Applicants to NIU (Fall 2020)

SAT® SectionScore Range
Critical Reading470 - 590
Math470 - 580
Total Score940 - 1170
ACT®Score Range
English18 - 25
Math17 - 25
Composite Score19 - 25
To learn more about the data and calculations that power this site, please visit our data discussion page.