Character & Location
Opening its doors in 1895, NIU is a comprehensive teaching and research institution located in small, friendly town outside of Chicago that enrolls more than 21,000 students from over 116 countries. NIU is committed to making the university a top choice for high-performing students who desire an engaged learning experience.
The vision of Northern Illinois University is to be the premier student-centered, research-focused public university in the Midwest. NIU offers 63 fully accredited undergraduate majors and 100 graduate and doctoral level programs within seven colleges. The College of Engineering and Engineering Technology is ranked among the Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs by U.S. News & World Report. The College of Business has been recognized nationally for outstanding programs. NIU has been ranked in the top 4% of all American universities by the Carnegie Foundation, receiving the highest possible designation – “Doctoral/Research University Extensive.” NIU is also nationally recognized for their community service projects.
DeKalb, Illinois is a small college town with a general population of 45,000 and offers a good environment for studying. DeKalb has a low cost of living and lots of outdoor activities making it ideal for students with families. DeKalb is a welcoming community with both urban and rural roots that offering modern conveniences, shopping, dining, a historical downtown area, and public transportation.
Housing
Northern Illinois University offers on-campus residence halls with additional private housing in the vicinity of the campus. Northern has five attractive modern residence hall complexes with a combined housing capacity of over 6,000 students.
Each residence hall contains its own dining facilities; recreational, reception, and lounge areas; mail service; individual room telephones; TV/FM cable hook-ups; and laundry and pressing facilities. Most residence hall rooms house two students, but other options are sometimes available, including rooms for one or three students, and suites, which consist of two double rooms with a shared living area and bathroom. Special interest floors are available. A limited number of married student housing units also are available.