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Northern Illinois University: tuition, cost and admissions

Dekalb, IL · Public university · Suburb (small)

11,408Undergraduates

71%Acceptance rate

$13,484Avg net cost / yr

See Northern Illinois University on the map → Official website

What Northern Illinois University actually costs

Item	Amount
Tuition & fees (in-state)	$12,662	Published rate before aid
Tuition & fees (out-of-state)	$12,662	Published rate before aid
Room & board (on campus)	$11,420	Annual
Books & supplies	$1,300	Estimated annual
Total sticker cost	$26,534	Everything, before aid
Average actual cost paid	$13,484	Average paid after grants and scholarships — an average, not a quote

Across all students, the average paid here was $13,050 less than the sticker price — about 49% off, once grants and scholarships are counted. Individual awards vary enormously, and many students receive nothing at all.

Do your own due diligence on cost. Every figure above is a historical federal average for all students at this college. No student pays the average. What you are charged depends on your family’s income and assets, your academic record, the year you apply, and what aid this college has available — and it changes year to year. Use these numbers to decide which colleges are worth investigating, never to decide what one will cost you. Run the college’s own net price calculator — every US college is required by law to publish one — then confirm in writing with its financial aid office before committing to anything. We are not financial, admissions or tax advisers and have no relationship with this college.

Most popular fields of study

Business, Management & Marketing — 20%

Health Professions — 16%

Education — 7%

Psychology — 7%

Engineering — 6%

Visual & Performing Arts — 6%

Communication & Journalism — 5%

Computer & Information Sciences — 5%

Share of degrees awarded, US Dept. of Education.

Varsity athletics at Northern Illinois University

Athletic association	D-I
Men’s varsity sports (7)	Football (143), Baseball (40), Wrestling (38), Soccer (27), Basketball (17), Tennis (11), Golf (9)
Women’s varsity sports (9)	Track & Field (37), Soccer (28), Softball (24), Gymnastics (20), Volleyball (18), Basketball (15), Tennis (10), Cross Country (10), Golf (8)
Softball conference	MAC
Head softball coach	Kathryn Gleason

Squad sizes in brackets, from the federal Equity in Athletics survey (2024–25). Filter by sport and division on the interactive map.

Plan a visit and compare

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Other colleges in Illinois

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · DeVry University-Illinois · University of Illinois Chicago · Illinois State University · College of DuPage · DePaul University · Loyola University Chicago · Chamberlain University-Illinois