Northern Illinois Admission Requirements
- 6/10 Overall Rating
- 4 Year
- Dekalb, IL
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Northern Illinois Admission Overview
Northern Illinois admission requirements are moderately competitive. Last year Northern Illinois admitted 69.8% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen typically had about a 3.3 GPA (B+). Northern Illinois is test-free. SAT and ACT are not used for admission. Those figures describe last year's class, not a score you must hit.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Northern Illinois is test-free. SAT and ACT are not used, even if you send them.
Northern Illinois Acceptance Rate
Admission Rate & Difficulty
Acceptance rate Share of applicants offered admission last year.
Admission Standards Measure of enrolled testers' SAT/ACT scores vs. other colleges.
Applicant Competition Measure of this school's acceptance rate vs. other colleges. A low acceptance rate indicates high competition.
Low
Admission difficulty for Northern Illinois University
Acceptance Rate
The Northern Illinois acceptance rate is 69.8%. Last year, 16,505 of 23,651 applicants were admitted. That is the 22nd lowest acceptance rate in Illinois.
Admission Selectivity
How hard is it to get into Northern Illinois and can you get accepted?
Northern Illinois is a moderately competitive school to get into, admitting a large majority of applicants. You have a strong chance of acceptance if you meet last year's profile.
Northern Illinois University typically attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.3. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top half of their high school class. 12% of those admitted chose to enroll.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Northern Illinois GPA
GPA of enrolled freshmen
Avg. High School GPA The average high school GPA for incoming freshmen on a 4.0 scale.
3.3Typical High School Grades Letter grade on a 4.0 scale for last year's average, not a cutoff.
B+Average GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.3
Average GPA
Enrolled freshmen at Northern Illinois typically have around a 3.3 GPA (B+) on a 4.0 scale. That is last year's class average, not a cutoff. Enrolled students typically have above average high school grades. Northern Illinois is test-free, so GPA is the main academic number in the file.
The school ranks #38 in Illinois for highest average GPA.
See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.3 GPA range.
Competitiveness by GPA Ranges
Share of last year's freshmen in each GPA range, compared with the rest of the class.
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2024
Northern Illinois SAT Scores
SAT scores of enrolled freshmen
SAT Range The middle 50% of enrolled testers from the last year SAT scores were reported. The maximum score is 1600.
940-1170Freshmen who sent SAT Share of enrolled freshmen who submitted SAT scores, from the last year SAT scores were reported.
51%25th Percentile Scores
- Reading 470
- Math 470
- Composite 940
75th Percentile Scores
- Reading 590
- Math 580
- Composite 1170
Average SAT
Enrolled testers at Northern Illinois typically score around a 1060 SAT (middle 50% 940–1170) out of 1600. These figures are from the last year SAT scores were reported, not a cutoff. SAT is not used for admission, even if you send it. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 51st percentile nationally. Northern Illinois ranks #30 in the state of Illinois for highest average SAT composite score.
SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 940 to 1170
View other colleges which accept students in the 1060 SAT score range.
SAT scores are from the last year they were reported to IPEDS. They are not used for admission.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Northern Illinois ACT Scores
ACT scores among enrolled freshmen
ACT Range Mid-50 ACT composite among enrolled testers in the last year ACT scores were reported. The scale tops out at 36.
19-25Freshmen reporting ACT Percent of enrolled freshmen who reported ACT, from the last year ACT scores were reported.
30%25th Percentile Scores
- English 18
- Math 17
- Composite 19
75th Percentile Scores
- English 25
- Math 25
- Composite 25
Average ACT
Incoming testers at Northern Illinois typically have around a 22 ACT (mid-50 19–25) on the 36 scale. These numbers come from the last year ACT scores were reported, not a minimum for admission. ACT is not considered, even if you submit it. That average sits near the 63rd percentile of ACT takers nationwide. Northern Illinois places #30 among colleges in Illinois for highest average ACT composite.
ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 19 to 25
See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 22.0 ACT score range.
ACT figures reflect the last year they were reported to IPEDS. They are not used in admission.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
High School Class Rank
Class Rank of Admitted Students
72% of Northern Illinois University freshman are in the top half of their high school graduating class and 36% are in the top quarter.
Data Source, Peterson's Data
Estimate How You Compare
Compare your GPA with last year's enrolled class and this school's acceptance rate. SAT and ACT are not used.
Open the Northern Illinois chances calculatorApplying
Admission Statistics
Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Northern Illinois University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Fall 2027 Application Deadline
Applications Due
Aug 1, 2027Days left to Apply
335Applicants have 335 days left until the Fall 2027 term applications are due on Aug 1, 2027.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Northern Illinois University is $0. The school is free to apply to.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Credits Accepted
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Admission summary
Northern Illinois is test-free for 2024-25. Last year it admitted 69.8% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen typically had about a 3.3 GPA (about an B+ average). Mid-50 scores, where shown, are enrolled testers, not cutoffs.
Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025
Other Colleges to Apply To
Students applying to Northern Illinois University often consider these colleges
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=147703.
GPA calculator: Northern Illinois University GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026