Northern Illinois University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Northern Illinois University

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Northern Illinois University is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 48%. Chartered in 1895 and located in Dekalb, Illinois, Northern Illinois offers over 100 areas of undergraduate study. NIU has a 13-to-1 student / faculty ratio, and high-achieving students might consider the University Honors Program which offers small classes and opportunities for independent research. Campus life is active with over 320 student clubs and organizations. In athletics, the Northern Illinois University Huskies compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference.

Considering applying to Northern Illinois University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Northern Illinois University had an acceptance rate of 48%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 48 students were admitted, making NIU's admissions process competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 15,709
Percent Admitted 48%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 25%

SAT Scores and Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, Northern Illinois will have a test-blind admissions policy. NIU will no longer review SAT or ACT scores for general admission and merit scholarship consideration. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 51% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 490 600
Math 480 590
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of Northern Illinois University's admitted students fall within the bottom 29% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to NIU scored between 490 and 600, while 25% scored below 490 and 25% scored above 600. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 480 and 590, while 25% scored below 480 and 25% scored above 590.

Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, Northern Illinois University will no longer review SAT scores for admission.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, Northern Illinois will have a test-blind admissions policy. NIU will no longer review SAT or ACT scores for general admission and merit scholarship consideration. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 30% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 18 25
Math 18 25
Composite 19 25

This admissions data tells us that most of Northern Illinois University's admitted students fall within the bottom 46% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to NIU received a composite ACT score between 19 and 25, while 25% scored above 25 and 25% scored below 19.

Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, Northern Illinois University will no longer review ACT scores for admission.

GPA

Northern Illinois University does not provide data about admitted students' high school GPAs.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

Northern Illinois University Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
Northern Illinois University Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Northern Illinois University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Northern Illinois University, which accepts fewer than half of applicants, has a selective admissions process. If you meet the school's minimum GPA requirement of 3.0 and you have completed the required high school coursework, you have a strong chance of being accepted.

The university requires applicants to have completed four years of high school English, three years of math, three years of science (including at least one year of lab science), three years of social studies (including U.S. History or U.S. Government), and two years of foreign language, art, or music. Note that students applying to the nursing program have more stringent prerequisite requirements.

In the scattergram above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. The majority of students admitted to Northern Illinois University had GPAs of about 2.5 or higher, an ACT composite score above 18, and a combined SAT score (ERW+M) above 950. Your chances of being admitted will be better if your grades are above these lower ranges.

If You Like Northern Illinois University, You May Also Like These Schools

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Northern Illinois University Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "Northern Illinois University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/northern-illinois-university-gpa-sat-act-786564. Grove, Allen. (2023, April 5). Northern Illinois University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/northern-illinois-university-gpa-sat-act-786564 Grove, Allen. "Northern Illinois University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/northern-illinois-university-gpa-sat-act-786564 (accessed March 28, 2024).