Altgeld Hall, a stone building shaped like a castle, has overlooked NIU's campus since the university opened in 1899 as a teacher-training school. Northern Illinois University is now a public research university in DeKalb, about 65 miles west of Chicago among cornfields. Accountancy, engineering and computer science draw many international students. Costs are lower than in the city.
DeKalb, Illinois, United States
Official website: niu.edu
1895, opened 1899
Public research university
DeKalb, 65 miles west of Chicago
$17,000 – $25,000
International students, undergraduate and graduate, approximate
$12,000 – $15,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on niu.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Management Information Systems
Masters DegreeDuration
18-24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Accountancy
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Mechanical Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
An accountancy programme with strong CPA exam results.
Engineering and computing at lower cost than Chicago schools.
A large campus with lagoons and the castle-like Altgeld Hall.
Accountancy graduates join the Big Four and corporate finance teams in Chicago.
Engineering and IT graduates work across the Chicago region and the Midwest.
STEM master's graduates can apply for up to three years of OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
DeKalb is a college town surrounded by farmland, with the Kishwaukee River running past campus. Most students live on or near campus.
Rent is low. Chicago is about an hour and a half by car, close enough for weekend trips and summer internships.
Form I-20 issued by Northern Illinois University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
NIU reviews international applications on a rolling basis. Apply by about June for fall and October for spring to leave time for the I-20 and visa.
Students start in August for fall or January for spring. Some graduate programmes admit in fall only.
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, Northern Illinois University issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical engineering, management information systems, accountancy and mechanical engineering are popular. Graduate programmes need a relevant bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80; undergraduates need school transcripts and IELTS 6.0.
NIU offers merit scholarships to international undergraduates and assistantships for some graduate students. Ask your department about assistantships early.
