First-year deadlines, 2026–27
| Plan | Entry term | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Regular decision The standard deadline, with answers in spring. Not binding. | Fall | August 1, 2026 |
| Priority deadline Apply by this date for the best chance at aid or a place; later applications may still be read. | Fall | July 15, 2027 |
Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean
Source: niu.edu · checked September 19, 2026
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price after grants, in-state students, by family income
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026
AP credit
Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit| Exam | Min score | Northern Illinois University course | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB | 3 | MATH 229 | |
| Calculus BC | 3 | MATH 229 | |
| Biology | 3 | BIOS 103 and BIOS 105 | |
| Chemistry | 3 | CHEM 110 | |
| Physics 1 | 3 | PHYS 210 | |
| United States History | 3 | HIST 261 | |
| Statistics | 3 | STAT 100 | |
| Computer Science A | 3 | CSCI 205 |
Show all 34 exams and every score level
| Exam | Min score | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB | 3 | MATH 229 | |
| Calculus BC | 3 | MATH 229 | |
| Calculus BC | 4 | MATH 229 and 230 | |
| Biology | 3 | BIOS 103 and BIOS 105 | |
| Biology | 4 | BIOS 208, BIOS 210, BIOS 209 and BIOS 211 | |
| Chemistry | 3 | CHEM 110 | |
| Chemistry | 4 | CHEM 210 and CHEM 212 | |
| Chemistry | 5 | CHEM 210, CHEM 211, CHEM 212 and CHEM 213 | |
| Physics 1 | 3 | PHYS 210 | |
| United States History | 3 | HIST 261 | |
| United States History | 4 | HIST 260 and 261 | |
| Statistics | 3 | STAT 100 | |
| Statistics | 4 | STAT 200 | |
| Computer Science A | 3 | CSCI 205 | |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | ECON 261 | |
| Microeconomics | 3 | ECON 260 | |
| World History: Modern | 3 | HIST 171 | |
| World History: Modern | 4 | HIST 170 and 171 | |
| Environmental Science | 3 | EAE 253 (begins on Aug. 21, 2023)) | |
| Environmental Science | 3 | GEOG 253 (ends on Aug. 20, 2023) | |
| Physics 2 | 3 | PHYS 211 | |
| European History | 3 | HIST 112 | |
| European History | 4 | HIST 111 and 112 | |
| Human Geography | 3 | EAE 205 (begins on Aug. 21, 2023) | |
| Human Geography | 3 | GEOG 201 (ends on Aug. 20, 2023) | |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | POLS 100 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | CSCI 205 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | CSCI 240 | |
| Art History | 3 | ARTH 282 | |
| African American Studies | 3 | HIST 364 | |
| African American Studies | 4 | HIST 364 and HIST 365 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | POLS 260 | |
| Computer Science AB | 2 | CSCI 205 | |
| Computer Science AB | 3 | CSCI 205 and 240 | |
| Cybersecurity | 3 | General Elective Credit, 3 hrs. | |
| Cybersecurity | 4 | CSCI 350 | |
| Drawing | 3 | Art Studio Elective, 3 hrs. | |
| English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition | 4 | ENGL 103 and 203 | |
| English Language and Compostion or English Literature and Composition | 3 | ENGL 103 | |
| Networking | 3 | General Elective Credit, 3 hrs. | |
| Physics B | 3 | PHYS 210 and 211 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | PHYS 273 | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | PHYS 253 | |
| Precalculus | 3 | MATH 110 | |
| Precalculus | 5 | MATH 110 and MATH 155 | |
| Research | 3 | General elective, 3 hrs. | |
| Seminar | 3 | General elective, 3 hrs. | |
| Studio Art: 2-D Design | 3 | Art Studio Elective, 3 hrs. | |
| Studio Art: 3-D Design | 3 | Art Studio Elective, 3 hrs. |
Source: niu.edu · checked September 19, 2026
Biggest majors
| Major | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Psychology | 213 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 124 |
| Computer Science | 120 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 119 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other | 112 |
| Marketing/Marketing Management | 109 |
| Accounting | 104 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies | 93 |
Show the other 53 majors
| Elementary Education and Teaching | 77 |
| Management Science | 75 |
| Biology/Biological Sciences | 65 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 63 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 61 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 58 |
| Human Development and Family Studies | 56 |
| Fine/Studio Arts | 54 |
| Business Administration and Management | 51 |
| Political Science and Government | 50 |
| English Language and Literature | 47 |
| Finance | 46 |
| Sport and Fitness Administration/Management | 44 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 43 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 43 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 41 |
| History | 40 |
| Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling | 33 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching | 32 |
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 28 |
| Environmental Studies | 27 |
| Sociology | 27 |
| Communication Sciences and Disorders | 27 |
| Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching | 23 |
| Music Performance | 23 |
| Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist | 22 |
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts | 22 |
| Chemistry | 22 |
| Art/Art Studies | 21 |
| Industrial Engineering | 19 |
| Art Teacher Education | 18 |
| Economics | 18 |
| Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering | 16 |
| Dietetics/Dietitian | 15 |
| Mathematics | 15 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13 |
| Criminology | 13 |
| Journalism | 13 |
| Spanish Language and Literature | 11 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 11 |
| Geography | 10 |
| Apparel and Textiles | 8 |
| Geology/Earth Science | 8 |
| Physics | 8 |
| Statistics | 7 |
| Human Services | 7 |
| Philosophy | 6 |
| Anthropology | 5 |
| French Language and Literature | 4 |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation | 2 |
| German Language and Literature | 1 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other | 1 |
| Music | 1 |
Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026
Ranked programs
Where Northern Illinois University ranks in the top 25 on our top-programs lists, best rank first. How we rank programs
- #25 for Medical laboratory scienceof 50 colleges
Sports and campus life
Men’s varsity · NCAA Division I, MAC
Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Wrestling
Women’s varsity · NCAA Division I, MAC
Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field (Indoor), Track and Field (Outdoor), Volleyball
ROTC
Air Force, Army
Faith groups
Cru, Hillel, InterVarsity, Newman Connection
Also
Honors college, Esports, Study abroad
Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), hillel.org · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026
The place
Setting
Suburb, small
Federal locale classification
Metro area
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
9,408,576 people
Big-city metro (1 million+)
Yes
More about the place
Nearest airport
Chicago/Rockford International (RFD)
Nearest hub airport
Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
Walkability
EPA walkability index 11.7 of 20
Elevation
855 ft
Time zone
Central
January low
13°F
July high
83°F
Annual snowfall
33.1 in
Days at 90°F or higher
13 per year
One-bedroom fair market rent
$1,110 per month
Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026
Colleges nearby
- Aurora University25 mi
- Judson University26 mi
- Rockford University27 mi
- North Central College34 mi
- Wheaton College35 mi
- Benedictine University36 mi
Straight-line distance between campuses
Similar colleges
Public, suburban campus, NCAA Division I, similar size
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