49%
Graduation Rate
70%
Retention Rate
[updated for 2024-2025 graduation data]
At Northern Illinois University, the graduation rate is 49 % within 150% normal time, the retention rate is 70 %, as of August 31, 2025.
Its graduation rate is relatively lower than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 56.21% (public Research University with high research activity).
Graduation Rates in Reasonable Completion Time
For the academic year 2024-2025, 891 students out of 1,831 candidates have completed their courses within 150% normal time (i.e. in 6 years for 4-year BS degree) at Northern Illinois University.
By gender, 383 male and 508 female students graduated the school last year completing their jobs in the period.
| Candidates | Completers | Graduation Rates |
|---|
| Total | 1,831 | 891 | 48.66% |
|---|
| Men | 851 | 383 | 45.01% |
|---|
| Women | 980 | 508 | 51.84% |
|---|
Graduation Rate By Race/Ethnicity
The following table shows graduation rate by race and at Northern Illinois University.
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 75.00%
- Asian: 73.49%
- Black (Non-Hispanic): 31.05%
- Hispanic: 42.60%
- White: 63.43%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 100.00%
- Two or More Race: 43.08%
- Unknown: 0.00%
Graduation Rate by Gender
| Total | Male | Female |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 75.00%(3/4) |
66.67%(2/3) |
100.00%(1/1) |
|---|
| Asian | 73.49%(61/83) |
74.00%(37/50) |
72.73%(24/33) |
|---|
| Black (Non-Hispanic) | 31.05%(177/570) |
25.53%(60/235) |
34.93%(117/335) |
|---|
| Hispanic | 42.60%(164/385) |
34.86%(61/175) |
49.05%(103/210) |
|---|
| White | 63.43%(444/700) |
58.57%(205/350) |
68.29%(239/350) |
|---|
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 100.00%(1/1) |
- |
100.00%(1/1) |
|---|
| Two or More Race | 43.08%(28/65) |
44.00%(11/25) |
42.50%(17/40) |
|---|
| Unknown | 0.00%(-/1) |
- |
- |
|---|
Non-Resident Alien Graduation Rate
A non-resident alien student is not a US citizen/green card holder and studies with a student visa, such as an F visa, in the United States. At Northern Illinois University, 13 of 22 non-resident alien students completed their studies and the graduation rate was 59.09%.