Chartered in 1895, Northern Illinois University is a comprehensive teaching and research institution with a student enrollment of more than 25,000.

Located in one of the most dynamic regions of the country, with its main campus in DeKalb (just 65 miles west of Chicago), NIU also operates satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon, Illinois.

The university is composed of seven degree-granting colleges that together offer 52 undergraduate majors and 74 graduate programs, including 10 Ph.D. programs, doctoral degrees in Education and the Juris Doctorate.

NIU is a NCAA Division I school and the NIU Huskies compete in the Mid-American Conference.