Located just over an hour drive west of Chicago, Northern Illinois University enrolls more than 15,000 students, including about 12,000 undergraduates. Chartered in 1895, the university began as a teacher’s school in 1899 with an inaugural class of 146 women and 27 men. Now, the public university boasts seven degree-granting colleges offering a wide range of majors, from dance and sport management to public health and journalism.
More than half of undergrads are the first in their family to go to college, according to the school. With a student faculty ratio of 14:1 and programs like Research Rookies — in which students who are new to research learn foundational skills by working on an individual project under the guidance of a faculty mentor — NIU provides personalized attention to help them navigate life on campus.
In Money’s analysis, NIU scores well for its relative affordability. Our team estimates the cost of a degree (not counting state and federal aid) is about $118,000 for in-state students, placing the university in the top quarter of more than 700 on our list. Outside the classroom, Huskies have access to an NCAA Division 1 athletics program and more than 200 student organizations.
