Welcome!

We think that choosing a college is all about reasons- the reasons that you think you'll fit in at a school...the reasons you think you'll succeed there.  Your college should fit who you are now-and the person you want to become.  More than 5,000 new students choose Northern Illinois University each year.  Their reasons for coming to Northern include outstanding academic programs and faculty, exciting campus life opportunities, dynamic career preparation, a great location, and affordability.

Welcome to Northern we're glad you're here!

Highlights

Barsema Hall
Northern alumnus Dennis Barsema and his wife, Stacey, donated $20 Million dollars to fund the construction of a new business facility filled with cutting-edge technology.  BArsema Hall will be the nation's premiere business school facility when it opens in fall 2002.  The Barsema's gift also provides more than $500,000 for scholarships and $250,000 to support specific programs.  To learn more about Barsema Hall click here.

NIU-in good company
Northern has become a member of the nation's most prestigious public higher education association- the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC).  Only five percent of all U.S. colleges and universities are NASULGC members.  NASULGC, the nation's oldest non-profit, higher education institution, is dedicated to supporting excellence in teaching, research, and public service.

The Carnegie foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recognizes Northern Illinois University as among the elite institutions of higher education, based in it breadth of research and academic programs.  Northern is among only four percent of all U.S. colleges and universities listed in Carnegie's most productive category: "doctoral/research university-extensive."  This distinction is given to schools offering a wide range of baccalaureate and graduate-degree programs.

Northern has also become a full member of the Universities Research Association (URA), a group of 89 top research universities from around the globe.  Illinois has only four members: University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign, University of Chicago, Northwestern University and Northern Illinois Univeristy.  Membership in URA places Northern among the top 4% of universities in the United States.