Northern Illinois University

What is the cost of studying for a year at Northern Illinois University?

For the 2024-25 reporting period, NIU's average full-time undergraduate tuition was $10,232, with $2,828 in required fees, for both Illinois residents and out-of-state students in the reported categories. Tuition and fees are only part of the annual cost of attendance.

• Reported undergraduate tuition and required fees: $13,060.
• Reported annual room and board charge: $14,680.
• Reported books and supplies estimate: $1,200.

Those three reported amounts total $28,940, but that subtotal is not a complete cost-of-attendance budget: transportation, personal expenses and any program-specific costs can add to it. Housing choices and enrollment patterns also change an individual bill. Published charges should not be confused with net price, which accounts for grant and scholarship aid.

IPEDS figures show an average net price of $9,854 for students in the lowest reported family-income band and $21,834 for those in the highest band. Those are group averages, not quotes for a particular applicant. NIU students may seek federal grants and loans, Illinois state aid for eligible residents, and institutional scholarships by completing the applicable aid applications and meeting program rules. The reported share receiving financial aid is high, but aid can include loans that must be repaid. Applicants comparing offers should separate grants from borrowing and use their own award notice and housing plans to calculate the remaining cost.

What are the work-study opportunities at Northern Illinois University?

NIU students may seek part-time campus jobs, and eligible students may receive Federal Work-Study as part of a financial aid offer. Work-Study is a need-based student-employment program, not a grant paid automatically or a guarantee of a job.

Students generally must complete the financial aid process, secure an eligible position and work the hours needed to earn wages. Other campus jobs may be open without Work-Study eligibility; availability, schedules and hiring requirements vary by department. Research assistance, office work and student services can offer experience relevant to a major, but a job's educational value depends on its duties.

NIU's career services also provide career exploration, individual counseling, résumé and interview help, employer events, job-search resources and networking opportunities. Those services support a search; they should not be read as verified placement or employment outcomes.