Northern Illinois University Acceptance Rate
Dekalb, Illinois · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 24,177
- Admitted
- 17,033
- Yield
- 12.9%
- Test policy
- Test-blind
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Northern Illinois University's acceptance rate has risen from 50.9% in 2014–15 to 70.5% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 19,814 to 24,177 (+22%) over that period.
Its 70.5% rate makes Northern Illinois University more selective than about 62% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 50 tracked Illinois schools, it is more selective than about 58%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (73.2% for women vs 66.7% for men, a 6.5-point gap). Northern Illinois University has been test-blind (scores not considered) since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 12.9% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 19,814 | 10,083 | 50.9% | 2,542 |
| 2015–16 | 17,099 | 8,610 | 50.4% | 2,259 |
| 2016–17 | 14,980 | 7,766 | 51.8% | 1,802 |
| 2017–18 | 14,641 | 7,806 | 53.3% | 1,852 |
| 2018–19 | 14,157 | 7,698 | 54.4% | 1,856 |
| 2019–20 | 15,693 | 7,588 | 48.4% | 1,897 |
| 2020–21 | 16,690 | 9,888 | 59.2% | 2,047 |
| 2021–22 | 22,602 | 15,922 | 70.4% | 2,285 |
| 2022–23 | 25,961 | 18,348 | 70.7% | 2,440 |
| 2023–24 | 24,177 | 17,033 | 70.5% | 2,202 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 13,971 | 10,231 | 73.2% |
| Men | 10,198 | 6,799 | 66.7% |
| Unknown | 8 | 3 | 37.5% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-blind (not considered).
How Northern Illinois University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Northern Illinois University's acceptance rate?
Northern Illinois University's acceptance rate is 70.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (17,033 admitted of 24,177 applicants).
Is Northern Illinois University test optional?
Northern Illinois University is test-blind: SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission.
How many people apply to Northern Illinois University?
Northern Illinois University received 24,177 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 17,033.
Is Northern Illinois University getting harder to get into?
Northern Illinois University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 50.9% in 2014–15 to 70.5% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.niu.edu/.