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Northern Illinois University

Ranked
DeKalb, United States
801–1000th in World University Rankings 2026
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About Northern Illinois University

Basic information and contact details for Northern Illinois University

institution

Northern Illinois University is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois. It was founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School in May 1985.

As well as the main campus is DeKalb, there are additional campuses in Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon.

There are seven colleges at the university including business; education; enginneering and engineering technology; health and human sciences; law; liberal arts and visual and performing arts. These are then organised further into 42 schools and departments.

There are over 300 student clubs and organisations at the university. There are also a range of sports clubs that students can join including football, baseball, tennis, softball and athletics. Sports teams at the university are known as Huskies.

Students and faculty in from the college of visual and performing arts host many art exhibitions, musical concerts and theatrical and dance productions throughout the year.

Students are able to participate in a study abroad scheme in one of 75 countries.

Rankings

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Key Student Statistics

A breakdown of student statistics at Northern Illinois University

gender ratio
Student gender ratio
54 F : 46 M (1)
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International student percentage
8% (1)
student per staff
Students per staff
14.7 (1)
student
Student total
13032 (1)

Based on data collected for the (1) World University Rankings 2026

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Subjects Taught at Northern Illinois University

See below for a range of subjects taught at Northern Illinois University

Arts and Humanities

  • Art, Performing Art and Design
  • History, Philosophy and Theology
  • Languages, Literature and Linguistics

Business and Economics

  • Accounting and Finance
  • Business and Management
  • Economics and Econometrics

Computer Science

  • Computer Science

Education Studies

  • Education

Engineering

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • General Engineering
  • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Law

  • Law

Life Sciences

  • Biological Sciences
  • Sport Science

Physical Sciences

  • Chemistry
  • Geology, Environmental, Earth and Marine Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Physics and Astronomy

Psychology

  • Psychology

Social Sciences

  • Communication and Media Studies
  • Geography
  • Politics and International Studies
  • Sociology