UNDERGRADUATE Profiles Publish Date 03/10/08

Northern Illinois University

Getting In

PROGRAM BASICS

Northern Illinois University, College of Business

Barsema Hall 201 ,
DeKalb , Illinois 60115

Public Institution

Program telephone number:

(815) 753-1325

AACSB accredited:

Yes

Accreditation other than AACSB:


Northern Illinois University is accredited through
North Central Association

Year in which the undergraduate business program was founded:

1961

Length of entire institution:

Four Year

Business program length:

Four Year

Degrees offered:


Degree/Program Name: BS in Accountancy, Business Administration, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Operations & Information Management

SCHOOL BASICS

Web site

http://www.cob.niu.edu/

Program e-mail address:

cobugrad@niu.edu

PROGRAM COSTS

Tuition (Resident):

$  6,150

Annual Tuition (Non-Resident)

$  12,300

Cost per academic credit (resident)

$  205

Cost per academic credit (non-resident)

$  410

Required fees

$  1,527

Books:

$  1,200

Room and board:

$  6,754

ENROLLMENT

Full-time undergraduate business student enrollment:

3710

Part-time undergraduate business student enrollment:

240

Distance undergraduate business student enrollment:

26

College enrollment for 2007-2008:

25254

ADMISSIONS

Required standardized tests for entire college:


ACT

Minimum SAT score for entire college:

870

Minimum ACT score for entire college:

19

Minimum high school GPA for entire college:

2.7

Interviews for entire college:

Not offered

Additional application requirements for entire college:


Upper-half of graduating high school class. International students: all application materials, including the application for admission, applicatioin fee, letters of recommendation, all transcripts and/or exam results, TOEFL/IELTS test scores. Transfer students: less than 60 transfer hours needs minimum 2.5 GPA, or AA/AS degree.

Application deadline for entire college:


Fall 2008: November 15, 2007
Spring 2009: November 1, 2008
Summer 2009: May 15, 2009

Freshmen admitted into business program:

Yes

Percent of freshmen admitted into business program:

45 %

Other requirements to earn degree:

Yes

Freshmen admitted by:

Indicate interest on university application

Internal transfers handled by:

Declare business major

Minimum requirements for business program:

Entrance exam requirement other than SAT/ACT for business program:

No

Interview to enter business program:

Not offered

Other requirements for business program:


The College of Business is competitive based on a student's overall GPA and performance in selected tool courses. All 100- and 200-level College of Business coure requirements with a C or better in ACCY 206, ACCY 207, MGMT 217, UBUS 223.

Minimum college GPA for internal business program transfers:

2.0

Additional requirements for internal transfers:


The College of Business is competitive based on a student's overall GPA and performance in selected tool courses. All 100- and 200-level College of Business coure requirements with a C or better in ACCY 206, ACCY 207, MGMT 217, UBUS 223.

Total number of full-time applications for entire college:

22568

Percent of international applicants for entire college, 2007-2008:

.6 %

Percent of female applicants for entire college, 2007-2008:

55 %

Percent of accepted full-time applicants (selectivity) for entire college:

63 %

Percent of full-time accepted applicants who enrolled (yield) for entire college:

37 %

Relative Importance of Application Elements:

Secondary School Record

Very Important

Class Rank

Very Important

Talent/Ability

Considered

Interview

Considered

Extracurricular Activities

Considered

Volunteer Work

Not Considered

Character/Personal Abilities

Considered

Application Essay

Important

Work Experience

Not Considered

SAT/ACT Scores

Very Important

Recommendations

Considered

High School GPA

Very Important

Admissions program managed by:

The business program office

Applicants enrolled in program (yield):

39 %

Applicants admitted (selectivity) to program:

67 %

Total undergraduate business program applicants:

4526

CLASS PROFILE

Demographic Breakdown:


Female: 35 %
International : 3 %

Entering students by age:


Mean: 18
Median: 18

Citizenship


U.S.: 97 %
Other countries: 3 %

Percentage of students who are:


African American: 17 %
Asian American: 5 %
Hispanic or Latino American: 6 %
Multiethnic/Multiracial : 0 %
Native American: 0 %
White (Non-Hispanic): 59 %
Chose not to report: 12 %
Other: 2 %

Students from the following region:


Midwest : 100 %

SAT Scores for full-time entering business students:


Mean: 1099
Median: 1095

SAT middle 50% range:


From: 1010
To: 1220


ACT Scores for full-time entering business students:


Mean: 22.3
Median: 22


ACT middle 50% range:


From: 20
To: 24


Percent of Students Who Were In:

Top 10% of high school class

8 %

Top 25% of high school class:

31 %

GPA of 3.75 or higher

n/a %

GPA of 3.5 to 3.74:

n/a %

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid handled by:

Central financial aid office at the university

Scholarship money distributed:

$  1,480,000

Scholarship money distributed in 2007-2008:

$  2,300,000

Scholarships awarded to students in the business program based on:

a combination of need and merit

Other scholarship considerations:


N/A

Students receiving scholarships for 2007-2008 academic year:

17 %

Undergraduate business students with full-tuition scholarships:

2 %

Percentage of need-based scholarships in 2007-2008 year:

6 %

Percentage of merit-based scholarships:

94 %

Scholarship consideration process:

unique scholarship application

School offers guaranteed loans:

Yes

Financial aid web site

http://www.fa.niu.edu/

Academics & Lifestyle

PROGRAM BASICS

Business students who graduate within four years:

28 %

Business students who graduate within 6 years:

51 %

Freshman retention rate:


Entire institution: 76 %
Business program: 75 %

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Credit hours required for graduation:


Degree: BS
Hours: 120
Degree: BS
Hours: 56

Other degree requirements:


60 - Non business hours 12 - Core competencies: Math/English/Coms 29 - General Education (electives if needed)

ACADEMICS

Average class size in required business courses:

47

Average class size in business electives:

26

Average class size in non-business courses required for admission to business program:

61

Class size:


Classes with fewer than 20 students: 10 %
Classes with 21 to 50 students: 80 %
Classes with more than 50 students: 10 %

CURRICULUM

Number of elective courses available in business program:

30

Electives added since June 2006:


Social Entrepreneurship
Executive Perspectives on Business

Year of the last major change to the business program's core curriculum:

2006

Leading areas of study:


Accounting
Finance
General Management
Marketing
Operations Management

Special programs for business students:


Experiential Learning Center, Business Careers House, Internships, Cross-functional core course work

Business program offers work study or co-op opportunities:

Yes


Work study positions available in College of Business department offices. Co-op opportunities are available through the University's Career Services Office.

Business program offers study abroad opportunities:

Yes

Study abroad program description:


International business seminars which include trips to international educational institutions and businesses in European cities. Sales specific study abroad in Ireland and Austria. Study abroad in China.

Volunteer work and community service opportunities:

Yes

Volunteer opportunities description:


Many of the student organizations in which business sutdents participate have a community service component to them.

Business clubs and extracurricular activities:


See wwwcobniuedu/organizations/ for a full list of
Business Student Organizations
See wwwniuedu/sa/organizations/alphashtml for a
full list of NIU Student Organizations

FACULTY

Faculty:


Full-time faculty : 92
Adjuncts and visiting faculty: 11
Permanent/tenured professors: 38
Percentage of permanent/tenured professors who are women: 13
Percentage of permanent/tenured professors who are underrepresented minorities: 3

Prominent faculty:


Gerald Jensen Finance
Pamela Smith Accountancy
Dan Weilbaker Marketing/Sales

STUDENT LIFE

Largest on-campus organizations for business students:


Beta Alpha Psi
Student Accountancy Society
Financial Management Association

Freshmen are required to live on campus:

No

Business students are grouped in learning communities:

Yes

TECHNOLOGY

Wireless network available:

Yes

Technological improvements made in the last three years:


Business program: Replaced PCs and peripherals throughout college and upgraded hardware/software, replaced classroom wireless presenting equipment, installed new multimedia tech lab & building surveillance system, establish marketing call center lab, made computer-based training software and podcasts available to all business students. University: Internet2, enhanced course management system, highspeed internet access and wireless access points in residence halls, GPS bus tracker system via Web.

Trading laboratory available:

No

COMMENTS


RE: Guaranteed Student Loans - NIU offers loans to students regardless of their nationality, but they must submit a FAFSA by the priority deadline. Guaranteed loan amounts are based on year of school; FR = $3500, SO = $4500, JR & SR = $5500 (per year). RE: Career Services - Employment info for whom we have numbers represent the Accountancy Program ONLY. RE: Trading Laboratory - NIU’s College of Business is currently in the early stages of exploring the feasibility of a trading laboratory.

Alumni Affairs & Careers

ALUMNI

Total program graduates since inception:

37518

Total living alumni:

36552

Percent of alumni who gave, 2006-07 academic year:

8 %

Mean alumni gift:

$  452

Median alumni gift:

$  100

Single donation in excess of $10 million?

No

Prominent alumni:


Name: Lyle Heidemann
Title: CEO and President, True Value Corporation
Name: V. James Marino
Title: President and CEO, Alberto Culver
Name: Thomas Hansen
Title: Vice Chairman of Board, Illinois Tool Works

CAREER SERVICES

Percent of 2007 graduates who provided employment information:

90 %


Seeking full-time employment in business: 48 %
Not Seeking full-time employment in business: 52 %

Number of companies recruiting undergraduate students:

134

Companies that posted full-time job offers/positions between July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007

979

Other activities and services provided for business majors:


Internship Fairs; Full-time Job Fairs; eRecruiting database; Workshops for resume preparation, etiquette dinners, job fair tips, interviewing skills, dress for success, job searching, etc.; Career counseling; Resume reviews; Perfect interview software program; Orientation sessions on participating in on-campus interviews; Assessment testing

Job offer results, class of 2007:

Top hiring firms 2006-2007:


Company Name/ No. Hired: KPMG
Company Name/No. Hired: Baxter International
Company Name/No. Hired: Hertz Corp
Company Name/No. Hired: McGladrey & Pullen
Company Name/No. Hired: Walgreens Corp.
Company Name/No. Hired: Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group
Company Name/No. Hired: HSBC
Company Name/No. Hired: Miller Cooper & Co
Company Name/No. Hired: Morgan Stanley
Company Name/No. Hired: Calamos Investments
Company Name/No. Hired: Caterpiller, Inc.
Company Name/No. Hired: Cintas Corp.
Company Name/No. Hired: Epic Systems
Company Name/No. Hired: Johnson & Quin
Company Name/No. Hired: Sears Holding Corp.
Company Name/No. Hired: Target Corporation
Company Name/No. Hired: PriceWaterHouse Coopers
Company Name/No. Hired: Reznick Group
Company Name/No. Hired: All State Insurance Co.
Company Name/No. Hired: Wells Fargo Financial

Graduate compensation:


Mean base salary: $  41704
Median base salary: $  41500
Mean signing bonus: $  3000
Median signing bonus: $  3000

Grads accepted jobs in following functional areas:

Grads accepted jobs in following industries:

Percentage of job acceptances, US and Canada:


US: 100 %

Grads accepted jobs in the following regions:

Number of companies recruiting interns on-campus, 2006-07 academic year:

100

Internship postings for 2006-2007:

602

Top internship recruiters:


Company/No. Hired: KPMG/8
Company/No. Hired: BDO Seidman LLP/7
Company/No. Hired: Crowe Chizek & Co., LLC/7
Company/No. Hired: Deloitte & Touche, LLP/7
Company/No. Hired: Miller Cooper & Co. LTD./7
Company/No. Hired: First National Bank of Marengo/6
Company/No. Hired: NIU Career Services/6
Company/No. Hired: Warady & Davis, LLP/6
Company/No. Hired: Ernst & Young, LLP/4
Company/No. Hired: Walgreen Co./4
Company/No. Hired: Baxter International/4
Company/No. Hired: Blackman Kallick/3
Company/No. Hired: Enterprise Rent a Car/3
Company/No. Hired: Grant Thornton, LLP/3
Company/No. Hired: Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)/3

Paid internships:

62 %

Mean internship compensation per week:

$  600

Median internship compensation per week:

$  595

Graduate Comments

The business school at NIU has a diverse population of people. It is visible that the people involved in NIU's school of business are there to learn and belong there. The program allows one to meet others and encourages group activites. Campus life is strengthened by the program.

As students are encouraged to particpate in class discussions, I can share and hear different perspectives about a subject or topic. This connects and makes students aware of the business world and how we need to be prepared to have something to share at meetings in our careers.

The dynamic range of subject material covered in all of my classes.

It has given me every tool I need to be successful in my life after graduation. The faculty has done a great job getting us ready for the real world. We have been given the opportunity to have hands on experience with conducting business meetings and meeting business professionals. The curriculum for business students is outstanding. We are all given the opportunity to study in all fields of the business world, as well as interact with many of the other majors with in the business college.

They bring real life experience into the classroom. Updated technology and superior knowledge make learning fun and worthwhile for future careers.

Sales program offers a Professional Certificate in Sales by taking specialized courses. More group projects and presentations than most other schools. Great focus on ethics as well as working on groups and teams.

The close relationship that it has with its students. Our courses are taught by professors not their GA's. The faculty in the business program care about our success and get to know us on a personal level so they can help us achieve a high level of success.

Unique mix of instructors, and a strong emphasis on collaboration throughout the functional areas of business.

The facility and the faculty make Barsema Hall special. Most of the professors have been consultants and all have had real business experience which challenges the students to think past the theories. I have been able to use concepts from lower-level classes during internships and the material has come full circle now that I am a senior and in strategic management, which forces me to use what I have learned over the years. I am confident in my abilities, skills, and knowledge because of what I have gotten out of the business program at NIU. Definitely worth the money, time, and effort.

The combination of teachers and the facility make this program awesome.

Recent Discussions

 

MBA Toolkit

Links to BusinessWeek B-school resources to help get you in, pay for it, and get a great job.

Getting In

B-School Life

 

Finding a Job

Paying the Bills