Thank you for your interest in Northern Illinois University. We are happy that you have chosen to apply for admission to our institution. The on-line undergraduate application requires you to create an account, complete the application, and submit on-line payment with a credit card. There is a $30.00 non-refundable fee payable with a Visa or MasterCard credit card number and expiration date. You only need to submit one fee for any of the semesters in the 2008 application year. You will need, however, to submit another application if you have changed your semester of enrollment. If you have previously enrolled at NIU as a degree-seeking undergraduate student, you are not required to submit this payment. You should not use this on-line application if you are a faculty or staff member of NIU since the fee is waived and filling out this application will require payment.
If you prefer to pay the application fee by check or money order, you must submit a paper application. The application can be downloaded from our website or you can request an application from our office. Please do not download the electronic application. Our address is:
Northern Illinois University
P.O. Box 3001
DeKalb, Illinois 60115-2857
e-mail: admissions@niu.edu
Freshman who meet the qualifications for an extreme hardship waiver are exempt from the fee. In order to qualify for the waiver, please fill out this application and indicate you want a fee waiver. All the information you need to see if you qualify for the waiver will be listed. The form can be found at: http://www.admissions.niu.edu/admissions/appfeewaiver.pdf. Only entering freshman are eligible for fee waiver consideration.
Please be aware that once you submit this application you should contact our office at (815)753-0446 or toll free at (800)892-3050 if there are any changes. Once submitted, you cannot change the application unless you apply for another semester.
Last updated: 4/10/2008 10:10AM PST
How to complete this application
Freshman applicants must submit the following:
- This online application completed as thoroughly as possible. When you are finished, click the 'SUBMIT' button on the left column of any application screen. There is a $30 nonrefundable application fee payable only by credit card so you will need your Visa or MasterCard credit card number and expiration date.
- An official high school transcript indicating class rank and courses completed, or an official GED score report. Official transcripts must be sent directly from each postsecondary institution attended, including transcripts from colleges from which courses were taken while enrolled in high school.*
- An official ACT score report (sent to NIU by ACT Inc.) or SAT score report (sent to NIU by the College Board). Northern's ACT code is 1102. Northern's SAT code is 1559. Applicants who have never taken the test and have been out of high school for more than three years may submit a written request for a waiver of this requirement.
Transfer applicants must submit the following:
- This online application completed as thoroughly as possible. When you are finished, click the 'SUBMIT' button on the left column of any application screen. There is a $30 nonrefundable application fee payable only by credit card so you will need your Visa or MasterCard credit card number and expiration date.
- Official transcripts sent directly from each postsecondary institution attended, including evidence of degrees earned. If you withdrew from an institution without earning any college credit, you must have that institution send an official transcript or official letter from the registrar verifying your withdrawal. An official evaluation of transfer course work will be available to students upon admission to NIU.*
- An official high school transcript indicating class rank and courses completed, or an official GED score report. (Not required for transfer applicants who have earned 24 or more semester hours of transferable college-level credit at the time of application.)
- Official ACT or SAT scores: Transfer applicants who have earned 24 or more semester hours of transferable credit are not required to submit ACT/SAT scores but are encouraged to do so for research purposes.
- U.S. military veterans should submit a DD214 form and verification of any courses or service schools completed.
Immigrant applicants must submit the following:
(Immigrant applicants are those who have received an official Permanent Resident card (I-551) from the Immigration and Naturalization Service, or have official approval stamped in their passports.)
- This online application completed as thoroughly as possible. When you are finished, click the 'SUBMIT' button on the left column of any application screen. There is a $30 nonrefundable application fee payable only by credit card so you will need your Visa or MasterCard credit card number and expiration date.
- Academic documents listed in the "Freshman/Transfer applicants" section on this page.
- A catalog match evaluation report of all International academic records prepared by Educational Credential Evaluators (www.ECE.org) at the student's expense.
- A clear photocopy of the front and back of your Permanent Resident card and/or other appropriate INS documentation. Additional documentation and/or review of original documents may be required. Until documentation is received and approved, immigrant applicants will be classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes.
International (nonimmigrant) students must submit the following:
- This online application completed as thoroughly as possible. When you are finished, click the 'SUBMIT' button on the left column of any application screen.
- $30 (U.S.) nonrefundable application fee payable only by credit card from an account which can transfer funds to the United States.
- Official English translations of academic records from secondary schools and all colleges and universities attended.
- All test scores, including the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), or if transferring from a U.S. institution, official transcripts.
- Documentation of financial resources A letter from your sponsor's bank, on bank letterhead, or an official bank statement, showing sufficient funds for your first year of study.
Federal and state financial assistance is not available for international undergraduate students.
International Student Application Deadlines
Spring 2008 October 1, 2007
Summer or Fall 2008 May 1, 2008
For further information, please contact the NIU International Student and Faculty Office, Williston Hall 406, (815) 753-1346, e-mail: isfo@niu.edu, Internet: www.niu.edu/isfo/, fax: (815) 753-1488.
*The admissions office and the International Student and Faculty Office do not perform transcript evaluations on a walk-in basis.
Additional Information
Document Retention
All documents submitted to Northern Illinois University for admission purposes become the property of the university. Documents will not be released to students nor will they be forwarded to other educational institutions or agencies.