Northern Illinois University QS World Ranking and more!

About Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University, also known as the NIU, is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois, founded in 1895 as the Northern Illinois State Normal School. The NIU is one of the university’s satellite campuses, with the others located in Chicago, Oregon, Naperville, Hoffman States, and Rockford. The University of Northern Illinois has seven schools, 60 undergraduate majors, and 80 master’s degrees for graduate students. 

It follows a semester-based academic calendar. Engineering, business, visual and programming arts, and nursing programs have national accreditation for meeting high academic quality standards. Furthermore, NIU is one of two public universities in Illinois that compete at the highest levels in all sports in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Let’s find out more about Northern Illinois University’s QS World Ranking.

Why study at Northern Illinois University?

• Northern Illinois has 100+ undergraduate programs.
• 7266 NIU students received scholarships ($24.4 million in 2021-22).
• They have 200 student organizations for recreational purposes.
• The main campus is in Dekalb, and the 765-acre campus is an eclectic mix of architecture and beautiful natural spaces. It provides students with a traditional university experience.
• The Moscow Art Theatre School collaborates with the university’s School of Theatre and Dance.
• The Campus Life Building at the university caters to the student environment and leadership development, the campus activities board, the student association, and career services. It also has the Northern Star student newspaper, the counseling and student development center, and the Honors program. 
• There are over 200 student organizations at the university, including recreational sports clubs for ice hockey, lacrosse, swimming, volleyball, and rugby.

Northern Illinois University’s QS World Ranking

QS World Ranking	2021	2020
Rank	205-250	205-250

Ranking criteria as per QS World Rankings

Ranking criteria	Score
Research	38
Learning Experience	46.4
Diversity & Internationalisation	56
Employability	14.3

Times Higher Education ranking

Times Higher Education	2023	2022
Rank	801-1000	601-800

Times Higher Education ranking criteria 2023

Criteria	Score
Teaching	28.3
Research	16.7
Citations	47.1
Industry Income	37.6
International Outlook	51.2

Subject ranking by Times Higher Education

• Arts and Humanities 2023 ranking- 401-500
• Clinical, pre-clinical, and health 2023 ranking- 801+
• Engineering and technology 2023 ranking- 601-800
• Physical Sciences 2023 ranking- 401-500
• Social Sciences 2023 ranking- 501-600
• Business and Economics 2023 ranking- 501-600
• Psychology 2023 ranking- 301-400
• Education 2023 ranking- 301-400

US News and World Report

Ranking by	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
US News & World Report – Global Universities	656	671	671	703	840
US News & World Report – National University Ranking	230	230	293	298	299-440

Other rankings by US News and World Report

• National Universities 2023- 331-440
• Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)- 160
• Top Public Schools- 169-227
• Nursing (tie)- 247

Forbes ranking for Northern Illinois University

• Top Colleges 2021- 386
• Public Colleges- 183
• Research Universities- 218
• The Midwest- 79

Northern Illinois University ranking 2022-2023 (CWUR)

• World Rank- 882
• National Rank- 188
• Employability Rank- 779
• Research Rank- 791
• Overall Score- 71.4

College of Business rankings and recognitions

AACSB Accreditation

• The university is only a few business schools in the world with AACSB accreditation at all levels.
• Since 1969, they have maintained continuous AACSB accreditation.
• AACSB is the most prestigious and highest level of accreditation for business and accounting schools worldwide.

Best Undergraduate Business School

• 3rd rank nationally for business schools with the most diverse student body by Poets&Quants (2022, 2020).
• 30th rank nationally within an elite group of schools for best overall academic experience by Poets&Quants (2021).
• 55th rank nationally for attracting and retaining high-quality students by Poets&Quants (2022).
• 55th rank nationally for nurturing and improving soft skills in business by Poets&Quants (2022).
• 78th rank nationally and among the nation’s best for each year of this survey, since 2017 by Poets&Quants (2022).
• ‘A’ grade from alumni in terms of highly recommending the business program and for faculty availability by Poets&Quants (2022).
• ‘A’ grade from alumni for the strength of the degree, opportunities, and faculty engagement by Poets&Quants (2018, 2017).
• 4th rank for best in Chicago by College Choice (2017).
• Top 15% and among the nation’s best for nine years by Businessweek (2016).
• Top 15% in student satisfaction by Businessweek (2016).
• One of the nation’s esteemed business schools for 34 consecutive years, since 1987 by U.S. News & World Report (2022 ranking).

Best Academic Programs

• Evening MBA and EMBA rank in tier one of a global MBA survey by CEO Magazine (2018).
• Top 14 percent part-time MBA program and among the nation’s best for five years by U.S. News & World Report (2018 ranking).
• Among the best one-year MBA programs in Chicago by MetroMBA (2017).
• 47th rank for the best value nationally for Master of Taxation by Value Colleges (2017).
• 10th rank for the best Master of Accounting Science (Leadership) program by Online Accounting Degree Programs (2017-2018).
• 15th most affordable Master of Accounting Science program by Accounting Degree Review (2017, 2016).
• 25th best Master of Accounting Science program by Accounting Degree Review (2017).

Key takeaways

• Northern Illinois University has seven schools, 60 undergraduate majors, and 80 master’s degrees for graduate students.
• The university has over 200 student organizations.
• Since 1969, Northern Illinois University has maintained continuous AACSB accreditation.
• According to QS World Rankings 2021, the university ranks 205-250 worldwide.
• The US News and World Report rank it 840th in Global Universities 2022.
• The Times Higher Education ranks Northern Illinois University 801-1000 worldwide for 2023.

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FAQs

Q1. Do you have to live on campus at NIU?

Answer- It is completely your call. If you want to live on campus, you can do so. Undergraduate students should consider living in residence halls.

Q2. Is NIU Engineering accredited?

Answer- The Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology has accredited undergraduate programs in electrical engineering, industrial and systems engineering, and mechanical engineering (ABET).

Q3. Why do people want to live in Illinois?

Answer- Highlights of the cost of living include lower than average grocery bills, health care costs, and housing prices, as well as retirees paying no income tax on Social Security, pensions, and retirement savings accounts. Hence, people want to live in Illinois.