The Student Achievement Measure is supported by six sponsoring associations, working together to provide a more comprehensive and accurate picture of student progress and completion as students move across institutions and state boundaries.

Northern Illinois University

Located in one of the most dynamic regions of the country, NIU is a comprehensive teaching and research institution with a diverse student body of more than 16,000 offering approximately 70 fields of study for undergraduate students in the Colleges of Business, Education, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts.

Fall 2015 First-time Full-time Cohort

6-year outcomes for undergraduate bachelor’s-seeking students as of 2021

First-Time Full-Time

First-Time Full-Time Students Starting Fall 2015

Number of students: 2,235

roll over each bar for detail data

51%
12%
3%
8%
26%
WITHIN 6 YEARS
47%
9%
7%
11%
26%
WITHIN 5 YEARS
31%
6%
26%
15%
22%
WITHIN 4 YEARS
view detail data for graph »
Graduated: Reporting institution
Transferred & Graduated: Other Institution
Enrolled: Reporting institution
Transferred & Enrolled: Other Institution
Current Status Unknown

The SAM Full-time Bachelor's Degree model tracks a group of students who started a bachelor's degree program at Northern Illinois University in the Fall of 2015. The students' progress toward a degree is reported within 4, 5, and 6 years. The same group of students is included in the results for every year.

The sections of the SAM chart represent the proportion of students in the original group with the following five outcomes.

  • Students who started at and graduated from Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker purple bar with the solid black bar underneath (). (This section of the chart Within 6 Years is approximately the same as the federal graduation rate, but it may differ slightly for each institution.)
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and graduated from another institution are represented by the lighter purple bar with the white stripe underneath ()
  • Students who started at and are still enrolled at Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker aqua bar with two white stripes underneath ().
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and are still enrolled at another institution are represented by the lighter aqua bar with the bottom white stripe ().
  • Students from the original group whose status is unknown are represented by the green bar with the top white stripe (). These students may have graduated or still be enrolled somewhere, but their status could not be determined conclusively.

Northern Illinois University | Bachelor's Seeking Model - First-Time Full-Time

OUTCOMES FOR STUDENT STARTING AT
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IN FALL 2015 BY SUMMER 2021
 
2015-16
 
2016-17
 
2017-18
WITHIN 4 YEARS
2018-19
WITHIN 5 YEARS
2019-20
WITHIN 6 YEARS
2020-21
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 1% 31% 47% 51%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
= Total Graduated from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 1% 31% 47% 51%
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from another institution 0% 0% 0% 2% 5% 7%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from another institution 0% 1% 3% 4% 4% 5%
= Total Graduated from another institution 0% 1% 3% 6% 9% 12%
Enrolled at Northern Illinois University 98% 73% 61% 26% 7% 3%
+ view details
Enrolled at another 4-year institution 0% 3% 7% 6% 5% 4%
+ Enrolled at another 2-year institution 0% 11% 11% 9% 6% 4%
= Total Transferred and enrolled
at another institution
0% 14% 18% 15% 11% 8%
Current Status Unknown 2% 12% 17% 22% 26% 26%

Pell Grant Recipients Starting Fall 2015

Number of students: 1,074

roll over each bar for detail data

41%
10%
4%
10%
35%
WITHIN 6 YEARS
36%
7%
9%
13%
35%
WITHIN 5 YEARS
20%
5%
28%
15%
32%
WITHIN 4 YEARS
view detail data for graph »
Graduated: Reporting institution
Transferred & Graduated: Other Institution
Enrolled: Reporting institution
Transferred & Enrolled: Other Institution
Current Status Unknown

The SAM Full-time Bachelor's Degree model tracks a group of students who started a bachelor's degree program at Northern Illinois University in the Fall of 2015. The students' progress toward a degree is reported within 4, 5, and 6 years. The same group of students is included in the results for every year.

The sections of the SAM chart represent the proportion of students in the original group with the following five outcomes.

  • Students who started at and graduated from Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker purple bar with the solid black bar underneath (). (This section of the chart Within 6 Years is approximately the same as the federal graduation rate, but it may differ slightly for each institution.)
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and graduated from another institution are represented by the lighter purple bar with the white stripe underneath ()
  • Students who started at and are still enrolled at Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker aqua bar with two white stripes underneath ().
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and are still enrolled at another institution are represented by the lighter aqua bar with the bottom white stripe ().
  • Students from the original group whose status is unknown are represented by the green bar with the top white stripe (). These students may have graduated or still be enrolled somewhere, but their status could not be determined conclusively.

Northern Illinois University | Bachelor's Seeking Model - Additional

OUTCOMES FOR STUDENT STARTING AT
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IN FALL 2015 BY SUMMER 2021
 
2015-16
 
2016-17
 
2017-18
WITHIN 4 YEARS
2018-19
WITHIN 5 YEARS
2019-20
WITHIN 6 YEARS
2020-21
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 1% 20% 36% 41%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
= Total Graduated from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 1% 20% 36% 41%
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from another institution 0% 0% 0% 1% 3% 5%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from another institution 0% 1% 3% 4% 4% 5%
= Total Graduated from another institution 0% 1% 3% 5% 7% 10%
Enrolled at Northern Illinois University 99% 66% 54% 28% 9% 4%
+ view details
Enrolled at another 4-year institution 0% 3% 5% 5% 5% 4%
+ Enrolled at another 2-year institution 0% 14% 14% 10% 8% 6%
= Total Transferred and enrolled
at another institution
0% 17% 19% 15% 13% 10%
Current Status Unknown 1% 16% 23% 32% 35% 35%

Students of Color Starting Fall 2015

Number of students: 1,224

roll over each bar for detail data

43%
9%
4%
9%
35%
WITHIN 6 YEARS
38%
7%
10%
13%
32%
WITHIN 5 YEARS
21%
4%
29%
16%
30%
WITHIN 4 YEARS
view detail data for graph »
Graduated: Reporting institution
Transferred & Graduated: Other Institution
Enrolled: Reporting institution
Transferred & Enrolled: Other Institution
Current Status Unknown

The SAM Full-time Bachelor's Degree model tracks a group of students who started a bachelor's degree program at Northern Illinois University in the Fall of 2015. The students' progress toward a degree is reported within 4, 5, and 6 years. The same group of students is included in the results for every year.

The sections of the SAM chart represent the proportion of students in the original group with the following five outcomes.

  • Students who started at and graduated from Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker purple bar with the solid black bar underneath (). (This section of the chart Within 6 Years is approximately the same as the federal graduation rate, but it may differ slightly for each institution.)
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and graduated from another institution are represented by the lighter purple bar with the white stripe underneath ()
  • Students who started at and are still enrolled at Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker aqua bar with two white stripes underneath ().
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and are still enrolled at another institution are represented by the lighter aqua bar with the bottom white stripe ().
  • Students from the original group whose status is unknown are represented by the green bar with the top white stripe (). These students may have graduated or still be enrolled somewhere, but their status could not be determined conclusively.

Northern Illinois University | Bachelor's Seeking Model - Additional

OUTCOMES FOR STUDENT STARTING AT
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IN FALL 2015 BY SUMMER 2021
 
2015-16
 
2016-17
 
2017-18
WITHIN 4 YEARS
2018-19
WITHIN 5 YEARS
2019-20
WITHIN 6 YEARS
2020-21
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 0% 21% 38% 43%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
= Total Graduated from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 0% 21% 38% 43%
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from another institution 0% 0% 0% 1% 4% 6%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from another institution 0% 1% 3% 3% 3% 3%
= Total Graduated from another institution 0% 1% 3% 4% 7% 9%
Enrolled at Northern Illinois University 97% 68% 55% 29% 10% 4%
+ view details
Enrolled at another 4-year institution 0% 2% 6% 6% 5% 4%
+ Enrolled at another 2-year institution 1% 13% 12% 10% 8% 5%
= Total Transferred and enrolled
at another institution
1% 15% 18% 16% 13% 9%
Current Status Unknown 2% 16% 24% 30% 32% 35%
Full-Time Transfer

Full-Time Transfer Students Starting Fall 2015

Number of students: 1,559

roll over each bar for detail data

76%
8%
1%
3%
12%
WITHIN 6 YEARS
72%
5%
5%
6%
12%
WITHIN 4 YEARS
30%
2%
54%
7%
7%
WITHIN 2 YEARS
view detail data for graph »
Graduated: Reporting institution
Transferred & Graduated: Other Institution
Enrolled: Reporting institution
Transferred & Enrolled: Other Institution
Current Status Unknown

The SAM Full-time Bachelor's Degree model tracks a group of students who started a bachelor's degree program at Northern Illinois University in the Fall of 2015. The students' progress toward a degree is reported within 4, 5, and 6 years. The same group of students is included in the results for every year.

The sections of the SAM chart represent the proportion of students in the original group with the following five outcomes.

  • Students who started at and graduated from Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker purple bar with the solid black bar underneath (). (This section of the chart Within 6 Years is approximately the same as the federal graduation rate, but it may differ slightly for each institution.)
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and graduated from another institution are represented by the lighter purple bar with the white stripe underneath ()
  • Students who started at and are still enrolled at Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker aqua bar with two white stripes underneath ().
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and are still enrolled at another institution are represented by the lighter aqua bar with the bottom white stripe ().
  • Students from the original group whose status is unknown are represented by the green bar with the top white stripe (). These students may have graduated or still be enrolled somewhere, but their status could not be determined conclusively.

Northern Illinois University | Bachelor's Seeking Model - Full-Time Transfer

OUTCOMES FOR STUDENT STARTING AT
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IN FALL 2015 BY SUMMER 2021
 
2015-16
WITHIN 2 YEARS
2016-17
 
2017-18
WITHIN 4 YEARS
2018-19
 
2019-20
WITHIN 6 YEARS
2020-21
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 30% 61% 72% 75% 76%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
= Total Graduated from Northern Illinois University 0% 30% 61% 72% 75% 76%
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from another institution 0% 0% 1% 3% 4% 5%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from another institution 3% 2% 2% 2% 3% 3%
= Total Graduated from another institution 3% 2% 3% 5% 7% 8%
Enrolled at Northern Illinois University 95% 54% 18% 5% 1% 1%
+ view details
Enrolled at another 4-year institution 0% 3% 4% 4% 3% 2%
+ Enrolled at another 2-year institution 0% 4% 2% 2% 2% 1%
= Total Transferred and enrolled
at another institution
0% 7% 6% 6% 5% 3%
Current Status Unknown 2% 7% 12% 12% 12% 12%

Pell Grant Recipients Starting Fall 2015

Number of students: 745

roll over each bar for detail data

70%
9%
1%
4%
16%
WITHIN 6 YEARS
65%
6%
6%
7%
16%
WITHIN 4 YEARS
23%
2%
56%
9%
10%
WITHIN 2 YEARS
view detail data for graph »
Graduated: Reporting institution
Transferred & Graduated: Other Institution
Enrolled: Reporting institution
Transferred & Enrolled: Other Institution
Current Status Unknown

The SAM Full-time Bachelor's Degree model tracks a group of students who started a bachelor's degree program at Northern Illinois University in the Fall of 2015. The students' progress toward a degree is reported within 4, 5, and 6 years. The same group of students is included in the results for every year.

The sections of the SAM chart represent the proportion of students in the original group with the following five outcomes.

  • Students who started at and graduated from Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker purple bar with the solid black bar underneath (). (This section of the chart Within 6 Years is approximately the same as the federal graduation rate, but it may differ slightly for each institution.)
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and graduated from another institution are represented by the lighter purple bar with the white stripe underneath ()
  • Students who started at and are still enrolled at Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker aqua bar with two white stripes underneath ().
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and are still enrolled at another institution are represented by the lighter aqua bar with the bottom white stripe ().
  • Students from the original group whose status is unknown are represented by the green bar with the top white stripe (). These students may have graduated or still be enrolled somewhere, but their status could not be determined conclusively.

Northern Illinois University | Bachelor's Seeking Model - Additional

OUTCOMES FOR STUDENT STARTING AT
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IN FALL 2015 BY SUMMER 2021
 
2015-16
WITHIN 2 YEARS
2016-17
 
2017-18
WITHIN 4 YEARS
2018-19
 
2019-20
WITHIN 6 YEARS
2020-21
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 23% 52% 65% 68% 70%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
= Total Graduated from Northern Illinois University 0% 23% 52% 65% 68% 70%
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from another institution 0% 0% 2% 3% 5% 5%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from another institution 4% 2% 2% 3% 3% 4%
= Total Graduated from another institution 4% 2% 4% 6% 8% 9%
Enrolled at Northern Illinois University 96% 56% 22% 6% 2% 1%
+ view details
Enrolled at another 4-year institution 0% 4% 4% 4% 3% 2%
+ Enrolled at another 2-year institution 0% 5% 4% 3% 3% 2%
= Total Transferred and enrolled
at another institution
0% 9% 8% 7% 6% 4%
Current Status Unknown 0% 10% 14% 16% 16% 16%

Students of Color Starting Fall 2015

Number of students: 655

roll over each bar for detail data

70%
10%
1%
5%
14%
WITHIN 6 YEARS
65%
6%
6%
8%
15%
WITHIN 4 YEARS
24%
3%
53%
10%
10%
WITHIN 2 YEARS
view detail data for graph »
Graduated: Reporting institution
Transferred & Graduated: Other Institution
Enrolled: Reporting institution
Transferred & Enrolled: Other Institution
Current Status Unknown

The SAM Full-time Bachelor's Degree model tracks a group of students who started a bachelor's degree program at Northern Illinois University in the Fall of 2015. The students' progress toward a degree is reported within 4, 5, and 6 years. The same group of students is included in the results for every year.

The sections of the SAM chart represent the proportion of students in the original group with the following five outcomes.

  • Students who started at and graduated from Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker purple bar with the solid black bar underneath (). (This section of the chart Within 6 Years is approximately the same as the federal graduation rate, but it may differ slightly for each institution.)
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and graduated from another institution are represented by the lighter purple bar with the white stripe underneath ()
  • Students who started at and are still enrolled at Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker aqua bar with two white stripes underneath ().
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and are still enrolled at another institution are represented by the lighter aqua bar with the bottom white stripe ().
  • Students from the original group whose status is unknown are represented by the green bar with the top white stripe (). These students may have graduated or still be enrolled somewhere, but their status could not be determined conclusively.

Northern Illinois University | Bachelor's Seeking Model - Additional

OUTCOMES FOR STUDENT STARTING AT
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IN FALL 2015 BY SUMMER 2021
 
2015-16
WITHIN 2 YEARS
2016-17
 
2017-18
WITHIN 4 YEARS
2018-19
 
2019-20
WITHIN 6 YEARS
2020-21
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 24% 53% 65% 68% 70%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
= Total Graduated from Northern Illinois University 0% 24% 53% 65% 68% 70%
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from another institution 0% 0% 2% 4% 6% 7%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from another institution 4% 3% 2% 2% 2% 3%
= Total Graduated from another institution 4% 3% 4% 6% 8% 10%
Enrolled at Northern Illinois University 91% 53% 22% 6% 3% 1%
+ view details
Enrolled at another 4-year institution 1% 5% 5% 5% 3% 3%
+ Enrolled at another 2-year institution 0% 5% 3% 3% 3% 2%
= Total Transferred and enrolled
at another institution
1% 10% 8% 8% 6% 5%
Current Status Unknown 4% 10% 13% 15% 15% 14%

Students receiving veteran’s benefits Starting Fall 2015

Number of students: 44

roll over each bar for detail data

66%
11%
2%
2%
19%
WITHIN 6 YEARS
64%
2%
7%
11%
16%
WITHIN 4 YEARS
25%
5%
55%
7%
8%
WITHIN 2 YEARS
view detail data for graph »
Graduated: Reporting institution
Transferred & Graduated: Other Institution
Enrolled: Reporting institution
Transferred & Enrolled: Other Institution
Current Status Unknown

The SAM Full-time Bachelor's Degree model tracks a group of students who started a bachelor's degree program at Northern Illinois University in the Fall of 2015. The students' progress toward a degree is reported within 4, 5, and 6 years. The same group of students is included in the results for every year.

The sections of the SAM chart represent the proportion of students in the original group with the following five outcomes.

  • Students who started at and graduated from Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker purple bar with the solid black bar underneath (). (This section of the chart Within 6 Years is approximately the same as the federal graduation rate, but it may differ slightly for each institution.)
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and graduated from another institution are represented by the lighter purple bar with the white stripe underneath ()
  • Students who started at and are still enrolled at Northern Illinois University are represented by the darker aqua bar with two white stripes underneath ().
  • Students who started at Northern Illinois University and then transferred to and are still enrolled at another institution are represented by the lighter aqua bar with the bottom white stripe ().
  • Students from the original group whose status is unknown are represented by the green bar with the top white stripe (). These students may have graduated or still be enrolled somewhere, but their status could not be determined conclusively.

Northern Illinois University | Bachelor's Seeking Model - Additional

OUTCOMES FOR STUDENT STARTING AT
NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY IN FALL 2015 BY SUMMER 2021
 
2015-16
WITHIN 2 YEARS
2016-17
 
2017-18
WITHIN 4 YEARS
2018-19
 
2019-20
WITHIN 6 YEARS
2020-21
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 25% 50% 64% 66% 66%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from Northern Illinois University 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
= Total Graduated from Northern Illinois University 0% 25% 50% 64% 66% 66%
+ view details
Bachelor's degree from another institution 0% 0% 2% 2% 7% 7%
+ Associate and/or Certificate degree from another institution 7% 5% 3% 0% 4% 4%
= Total Graduated from another institution 7% 5% 5% 2% 11% 11%
Enrolled at Northern Illinois University 93% 55% 20% 7% 2% 2%
+ view details
Enrolled at another 4-year institution 0% 2% 5% 11% 5% 2%
+ Enrolled at another 2-year institution 0% 5% 4% 0% 0% 0%
= Total Transferred and enrolled
at another institution
0% 7% 9% 11% 5% 2%
Current Status Unknown 0% 8% 16% 16% 16% 19%