Fast Facts
At NIU, numbers tell only part of our story, but they're an important part. From our 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio to a community where more than half of our undergraduates are first-generation college students, these figures reflect who we are and what we value.
Our campus community brings together nearly 16,000 students from 45 states and 79 countries, creating an environment where future psychologists, engineers, artists and entrepreneurs learn alongside each other. With an average class size of 25 and faculty who are leaders in their fields, NIU offers the personal attention of a smaller college with the opportunities of a major research university.
Fall 2026
Total Student Enrollment: 15,811 (Fall 2026)
- 12,053 undergraduate students
- 3,402 graduate students
- 356 College of Law students, a record
- More than 4,500 students living on campus
Entering class profile:
- 2,301 new freshmen
- 3.43 average high school GPA, the highest on record
- 20% achieved 4.0 high school GPAs
- 37% earned GPAs of 3.7 or higher
- 56% first-generation college students
- 81% awarded merit scholarships
Academic Profile
- 1,023 instructional faculty
- 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- Average undergraduate class size: 26 students
- Seven degree-granting colleges
- Degree programs offered:
- 81 bachelor’s programs
- 56 master’s programs
- 27 doctoral programs
- Two specialist programs
- Study abroad opportunities in 80 countries
- Five career fairs annually, involving more than 500 employers
Academic Success
- 1,361 students in the University Honors Program
- 4,082 degrees awarded (August 2025 to July 2026)
- 2,696 bachelor’s degrees
- 1,119 master’s degrees
- 103 law degrees
- 164 doctoral degrees
Most Popular Undergraduate Degree Programs
- Psychology (B.A. and B.S. degrees)
- Health Sciences (B.S. degree)
- Business Administration (B.S. degree)
- Accountancy (B.S. degree)
- Mechanical Engineering (B.S. degree)
- Biological Sciences (B.S. degree)
- Nursing (B.S. degree)
- Pre-computer Science (B.S. degree)
- Marketing (B.S. degree)
- Finance (B.S. degree)
Conference Affiliations
- Mountain West Conference: football and women’s gymnastics
- Pac-12 Conference: wrestling, as an affiliate member
- Horizon League: all other varsity programs
- NIU competed in the Mid-American Conference for more than 30 years before the 2026-27 move
Huskie Athletics
- NCAA Division I
- 16 varsity sports
- Football competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision
- 87% Graduation Success Rate for student-athletes