Students
Who's on campus
A medium campus of 11,301 undergrads, where 47% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.
Race & ethnicity
Diversity index0.71
Economic access
Campus size
7% of undergraduates take every course online, and another 63% take some
Where first-years come from
1,991 first-time students
6.7% came from other states and 2.0% from abroad; 91% are from Illinois. Fewer from other states than at 78% of colleges.
- In-state (Illinois)91%
- Other states6.7%
- Abroad2.0%
Top home states
- Illinois(home state)91% 1,818
- Wisconsin1.6% 31
- Indiana0.8% 16
- Iowa0.7% 13
- Texas0.4% 7
From 29 states (counting DC).
Students starting college for the first time, by where they lived when admitted. Colleges report it every other fall.
Transfers in and out
Transferring in, fall 2024
1,461
new transfer students, 42% of new undergraduates. A larger transfer share than at 76% of colleges.
1,238 full-time, 223 part-time.
Going on to another college
22%
of students who entered in fall 2016 had left without a degree and were enrolled at another college 8 years later (about 916 students).
Federal data doesn't count students leaving in a given year; this follows one entering class.
Who they are
11% of undergrads study part-time.
53% women
Another gender: Not collected by this college.
Degree-seeking undergraduates. Men and women add up to 100% because federal data has colleges count each student of another or unknown gender as a man or a woman.
Campus life
Housing, sports, faith, Greek life, and LGBTQ+ life
Housing for 4,500 students.
Housing
Beds
4,500
About 40 for every 100 undergrads (median college: 59). Can include graduate housing.
First-years
Not required to live on campus
Many colleges still expect it, with exceptions such as for local students.
Meal plans
Up to 19 meals a week
Athletics & programs
Athletics
NCAA Division I FBS · Mid-American Conference
Of the four sports the federal survey asks about, it plays football, basketball, baseball, cross country/track.
How the Mid-American Conference comparesROTC
Army
Study abroad
Offered
Undergraduate research
A formal program
Calendar
Semesters
Student services
- Academic and career counseling
- Help finding a job while enrolled
- Job placement after graduating
- On-campus child care for students' children
- 5% of undergrads registered with disability services· Disability services office
Religious life
Faith communities · 2
- Catholic 1
- Nonreligious and secular 1
Nonreligious and secular
Northern Illinois University Secular Student Alliance
Greek life
Councils and chapters
2listedInterfraternity (NIC and IFC)Show chaptersHide
From each organization's own chapter list.
Theta Eta
LGBTQ+ life
Support on campus
Founded 1998
Policies
- Nondiscrimination policy covers gender identity or expression
- Chosen name and pronouns on campus records
- Gender-inclusive restrooms listed online
- Student health plan covers transition-related care
Listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse, read October 2026; not confirmed by the college.
Undergraduates of another gender, fall 2024
Not collected by this college.
Gender unknown: 0
First-year applicants of another gender, fall 2024
Not reported: the college records other genders but leaves these counts blank when any is under 5, for privacy.
Colleges record gender so differently that these counts can't be compared between colleges.
Sources:College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education), Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)