Engineering at Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University awarded 195 bachelor's degrees in engineering in 2023, 8% of its 2,445 graduates, which makes it the 5th most common field of study at the school. Across all 2,440 reporting institutions the field accounts for 5.94% of bachelor's degrees; at Northern Illinois University it is 1.3x that, more concentrated. 17% of those graduates were women.
Is engineering competitive at Northern Illinois University?
Colleges report one admission rate for the whole school; here is the bar you are actually measured against, and how the model treats this major.
Northern Illinois University admitted 17,033 of 24,177 applicants for fall 2023 (70%). Colleges report admissions at the school level, not by major, so there is no published acceptance rate for engineering at Northern Illinois University. CollegeCalcAI's published model treats "Engineering" as more competitive than Northern Illinois University's overall rate (multiplier 0.92 on the effective admit rate), so an applicant declaring this field is scored against a slightly higher bar.
How to apply to Northern Illinois University for engineering
What readers look for from applicants who declare this field, at any selectivity.
- Physics and calculus, ideally both at the highest level offered
- Evidence of making things: robotics, engineering clubs, a build you can describe
- A clear reason for engineering in the essay, not just strong STEM grades
- Run your odds with the major set: your estimate at Northern Illinois University for engineering →
Field guide: how admissions works for this major across schools.
Where else to study engineering
Other colleges in Illinois and at a similar selectivity that award bachelor's degrees in this field.
Every college ranked by engineering graduates: colleges that graduate the most engineering majors → · Engineering colleges in Illinois →
More majors at Northern Illinois University
The other fields Northern Illinois University graduates the most students in, 2023.
Questions about engineering at Northern Illinois University
How many students major in engineering at Northern Illinois University?
195 students earned a bachelor's degree in engineering at Northern Illinois University in 2023, 8% of that year's 2,445 graduates (IPEDS completions, first majors).
Is engineering competitive at Northern Illinois University?
Northern Illinois University admitted 17,033 of 24,177 applicants for fall 2023 (70%). Colleges report admissions at the school level, not by major, so there is no published acceptance rate for engineering at Northern Illinois University. CollegeCalcAI's published model treats "Engineering" as more competitive than Northern Illinois University's overall rate (multiplier 0.92 on the effective admit rate), so an applicant declaring this field is scored against a slightly higher bar.
What is the acceptance rate for engineering at Northern Illinois University?
There is no official major-level acceptance rate; Northern Illinois University reports one school-wide figure, 70%. Some programs (direct-admit nursing, engineering and business schools) select separately and can be more selective than the school overall. CollegeCalcAI's calculator applies its published per-major adjustment and shows your estimate for this school with the major set.
Is Northern Illinois University known for engineering?
By output, engineering is the 5th most common field at Northern Illinois University and more concentrated there than at the average U.S. college (8% of graduates versus 5.94% nationally).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 Completions (bachelor's degrees, first majors, CIP 2-digit series). Admissions counts: IPEDS 2023. Built 2026-09-19. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are not predictions or guarantees.