More selective than 63% of Illinois colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Share of students sending scores not reported.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Northern Illinois University over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
Northern Illinois University admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 70% | — | — | — | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 70% | — | — | — | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Northern Illinois University compared with other Illinois colleges?
Northern Illinois University has the 20th-lowest acceptance rate of 53 Illinois colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | University of St Francis | 65% | 67% | $13,006 |
| 17 | Eastern Illinois University | 65% | 47% | $12,786 |
| 18 | Millikin University | 67% | 55% | $21,989 |
| 19 | North Park University | 69% | 58% | $16,948 |
| 20 | Northern Illinois University | 70% | 49% | $13,391 |
| 21 | Knox College | 71% | 68% | $24,595 |
| 22 | Western Illinois University | 71% | 45% | $12,937 |
| 23 | Lewis University | 71% | 67% | $17,028 |
| 24 | McKendree University | 72% | 53% | $24,717 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Illinois colleges →
Who enrolls at Northern Illinois University
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Northern Illinois University admissions questions
What is the Northern Illinois University acceptance rate?
Northern Illinois University accepts 70% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 17,033 of 24,177 applicants were admitted.
Does Northern Illinois University require the SAT or ACT?
Northern Illinois University does not consider SAT or ACT scores (test-blind), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023.
How many admitted students enroll at Northern Illinois University?
13% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (2,202 of 17,033).
Is Northern Illinois University getting harder to get into?
Northern Illinois University accepted 70% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 70% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Northern Illinois University overview