Admissions

Admissions and Transfer Center

The Admissions Office and Transfer Center are part of Enrollment Services (D-130) and assist prospective undergraduate and graduate students with the process of applying for admission and learning more about opportunities at Northeastern Illinois University. Admissions counselors review admission requirements and procedures, discuss academic programs, and explain how transfer credits apply toward university degree requirements. For more information, you may contact the Admissions Office at (773) 442-4071 or visit our website at  Admissions.

Graduate Admissions

Graduate Admissions is part of Enrollment Services (D-130) and assists prospective graduate students with the process of applying for admission and learning more about opportunities at Northeastern Illinois University. Graduate Admissions counselors review admission requirements and procedures and discuss academic programs. For more information, you may contact the Graduate Admissions Office at (773) 442-6001 or visit our website at  Admissions.

General Information

Factors considered in evaluating an undergraduate applicant for admission to Northeastern may include an applicant's GPA and standardized test scores.

Factors considered in evaluating a graduate applicant for admission may include GPA, letters of recommendations, and statements of goals. Graduate programs may require additional documents and/or have additional admission requirements. Visit the website for more information about graduate program requirements.

Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Applicants for admission at Northeastern Illinois University must:

  1. Apply online (preferred) or submit a completed paper application.

  2. Pay a non-refundable application fee or approved application fee waiver accompanying the application. The application fee can be paid online when completing the application using check or credit card. If submitting a paper application, please include a check or money order payable to Northeastern Illinois University. If paid in cash at the Student Payment Services Office, the receipt should be attached with the application package.

  3. Applicants applying to degree granting or certificate/licensure/endorsement programs must provide official transcripts and/or test scores, and other required documents based on their admission type. Once you apply, you may check your application status page to view a list of required checklists. Transcripts and examination scores must be official and received in an envelope sealed by the sending institution. Hand-carried transcripts will be considered official as long as they are delivered in the sealed envelope. Transcripts become the property of the University and cannot be released.

  4. Meet the admission requirements of your admission type (Click on Admission Type on left menu).

Refer to individual applications for specific instructions.

Application Processing

Applications are processed continuously throughout the year in accordance with published deadlines for each term. Applicants who send all required credentials well in advance of the term for which admission is being sought benefit by receiving earlier notification of admission decisions, and may be eligible to participate in Advance Registration.

International students who carry B1/B2, F, or J visas must complete their files by the published International student deadline for the term in which the student is applying in order to ensure proper processing of the I-20 form or DS-2019.

All transcripts and other documents submitted in support of a student’s application for admission become the property of the University. The Admissions Operations Office will retain these credentials for a period of one year from the time of initial application. At the close of this period, all such documents submitted by applicants who do not enroll at Northeastern will be destroyed.

The discovery of omitted previous post-secondary attendance may be cause for the student's admission to be rescinded and, if a current student, for the student to considered for dismissal from the University. An administrative hold will be put on the student’s record blocking further registration. Petitions to reenter will be reviewed by the Admissions Appeal Committee.

Applicants must be in good disciplinary standing at schools previously attended.  Applicants who are not in good disciplinary standing will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Admission by Appeal

Undergraduate applicants who are not granted admission will have the opportunity to appeal their admissions decision. Instructions on how to appeal and what required documents to submit are communicated to each applicant in the admission decision correspondence, which is available for view/download from the application status portal. Applicants who wish to appeal will complete the appeal form (link provided in the decision letter).  Admission portfolios will be reviewed by an Admissions Appeal Committee. All appeal portfolios must be received by the following deadlines:

  • Fall Appeals must be received by May 1
  • Spring Appeals must be received by August 1
  • Summer Appeals must be received by April 1

Undergraduate Admission to Major Programs

Undergraduate applicants are first approved for admission to the university. It is then the student’s responsibility to apply to the academic department in which he/she wishes to major, to the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education if pursuing a teacher education program, and to the College of Business and Technology if pursuing a business degree.

Students who are readmitted to the University must re-declare their major(s) and minor(s).

The University requires all undergraduate students to declare a major by the time they have earned a total of 45 credit hours. Students intending to major in business, education, or graphic design can declare a “Pre-major” until the program admission requirements to the College of Business and Technology, Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education, or the BFA program are met.