UNDERGRADUATE Profiles Publish Date 2/26/09

Northern Illinois University

College of Business

Getting In

PROGRAM BASICS

Northern Illinois University, College of Business

Barsema Hall 201
DeKalb , Illinois 60115

Public Institution

Web site

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

Program e-mail address:

cobugrad@niu.edu

Program telephone number:

(815) 753-1325

AACSB accredited:

Yes

Accreditation other than AACSB:

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/Accountancy
BS/Business Administration
BS/Finance
BS/Management
BS/Marketing
BS/Operations and Information Management

PROGRAM COSTS

Annual Tuition (Resident):

$ 6,720

Annual Tuition (Non-Resident)

$ 13,440

Cost per academic credit (resident)

$ 249

Cost per academic credit (non-resident)

$ 498

Required fees

$ 1,804

Books:

$ 1,200

Room and board:

$ 7,270

ENROLLMENT

Full-time undergraduate business student enrollment:

3,546

Part-time undergraduate business student enrollment:

225

Distance undergraduate business student enrollment:

Total College enrollment for 2008-09:

24,397

ADMISSIONS

Minimum SAT score for entire college on 1600 scale:

870

Minimum ACT score for entire college:

Minimum high school GPA for entire college:

2.75

Interviews for entire college:

Not required

Additional application requirements for entire college:

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

Upcoming application deadlines for entire college:

Semester: Summer 2009
Deadline: 05-15-2009
Semester: Fall 2009
Deadline: 08-01-2009
Semester: Spring 2010
Deadline: 12-01-2009
Semester: Summer 2010
Deadline: 05-01-2010

Freshmen admitted into business program:

Yes

Percentage of business students admitted as freshmen:

60 %

Are the freshman admits to the business program required to complete pre-business courses before beginning upper-lever courses in the junior year?

Yes

Freshmen admitted by:

Indicate interest on university application

Minimum requirements for business program:

Minimum SAT score: 870
Minimum ACT score: 19
Minimum high school GPA : 2.75

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

Interview to enter business program:

Not required

Additional application requirements for freshman admits:

N/A

Minimum college GPA for internal business program transfers:

2.7

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 core requirements with a C or better in ACCY 206, ACCY 207, MGMT 217, UBUS 223.

Total number of full-time applications for entire college:

25,631

International applicants, entire college, 2008-09:

1 %

Female applicants, entire college, 2008-09:

55 %

Selectivity--applicants admitted to undergraduate business program, 2008-09:

61 %

Yield -- applicants enrolled in undergraduate business program, 2008-09:

36 %

Relative Importance of Application Elements:

Secondary School Record:

Very Important

Class Rank:

Very Important

Talent/Ability:

Considered

Interview:

Considered

Extracurricular Activities:

Considered

Volunteer Work:

Considered

Character/Personal Abilities:

Considered

Application Essay:

Considered

Work Experience:

Considered

SAT/ACT Scores:

Very Important

Recommendations:

Considered

High School GPA:

Very Important

Admissions program managed by:

The university admissions office

Total undergraduate business program applicants, 2008-09:

4,743

Applicants enrolled in undergrad business program 2008-2009:

43 %

Applicants admitted to undergraduate business program, 2008-09:

65 %

CLASS PROFILE

Class Profile:

Female: 31 %
International : 2 %

Entering students by age:

Mean: 18.3
Median: 18

Citizenship of Entering Students

U.S.: 97 %
Canada: 0 %
Other countries: 3 %
Unknown: 0 %

Percentage of US citizens in entering class who are:

African American: 20 %
Asian American: 5 %
Hispanic or Latino American: 8 %
Multiethnic/Multiracial : 0 %
Native American: 0 %
White (Non-Hispanic): 63 %
Chose not to report: 1 %
Other: 3 %

Entering students from the following region:

Northeast: .35 %
Mid-Atlantic: .35 %
South: .7 %
Southwest: .2 %
Midwest : 98. %
West: 0 %
Possessions and territories: 0 %

SAT Scores for full-time entering business students on 1600 scale:

Mean: 1006
Median: 980

SAT middle 50% range on 1600 scale:

From: 920
To: 1,080

ACT Scores for full-time entering business students:

Mean: 22
Median: 22

ACT middle 50% range:

From: 20
To: 25

Percent of Students Who Were In:

Top 10% of high school class

7 %

Top 25% of high school class:

30 %

HS GPA of 3.75 or higher

10 %

HS GPA of 3.5 to 3.74:

13 %

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid handled by:

Central financial aid office at the university

Institutional scholarship money distributed to undergraduate business students in previous academic year:

$ 1,800,000

Institutional scholarship money to be distributed to undergraduate business students in current academic year:

$ 1,800,000

Scholarships awarded to students in the business program based on:

A combination of need and merit

Scholarship consideration process:

Unique scholarship application

Other scholarship considerations:

N/A

Students receiving institutional scholarships for 2008-09 academic year:

17 %

Undergraduate business students with full-tuition scholarships 2008-09:

3 %

Percentage of institutional scholarship money distributed to business students based on merit, 2008-09 year:

11 %

Percentage of institutional scholarship money distributed to business students based on need, 2008-09:

89 %

School offers guaranteed loans:

Yes

Financial aid web site

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

Academics & Lifestyle

PROGRAM BASICS

Business students who graduate within four years:

36 %

Business students who graduate within 6 years:

53 %

Freshman retention rate:

78 %

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Credit hours required for graduation:

Degree: BS
Hours: 120

Other degree requirements:

12 hours University Core Classes; 29 hours General Education Classes; 45 to 50 hours in Major; Remaining hours are Electives

ACADEMICS

Average class size in required business courses:

Average class size in business electives:

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

Class size:

Classes with fewer than 20 students: 26 %
Classes with 21 to 50 students: 65 %
Classes with more than 50 students: 9 %

CURRICULUM

Number of elective courses available in business program:

Electives added current year:

Creativity Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship in Microfinance Organizations

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

2008

Leading areas of study:

Accounting

Finance

General Management

Marketing

Operations Management

Special programs for business students:

Experiential Learning Center, Certificate in Professional Sales, Certificate in Services Science, Business Careers House, Internships, Cross-functional 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. Other opportunities include: Sales specific study in Ireland & Austria, Operations Management in China, Management in Spain, and an opportunity for all business majors in France. One semester exchange program in Austria for all business students.

Volunteer work and community service opportunities:

Yes

Volunteer opportunities description:

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

Business clubs and extracurricular activities:

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

FACULTY

Faculty:

Full-time faculty : 92
Adjuncts and visiting faculty: 12
Permanent/tenured professors: 36
Percentage of permanent/tenured professors who are women: 31
Percentage of permanent/tenured professors who are underrepresented minorities: 8

Prominent faculty:

Gerald Jensen Finance
Pamela Smith Accountancy
Dan Weilbaker Marketing/Sales

STUDENT LIFE

Largest on-campus organizations for business students:

Financial Management Association (FMA)
Student Accountancy Society
Beta Alpha Psi
American Marketing Association
Delta Sigma Pi and Women In Business Professionals (tied)

Freshmen are required to live on campus:

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 peripheral throughout college & upgraded software, replaced classroom wireless presenting equipment, replaced classroom projectors, installed new multimedia tech lab & building surveillance system, established marketing call center lab, made computer-based training software available to all business students, installed digital distribution server for sales department and CPA Review department, upgraded digital signage system to a web based system, installed financial markets and world news ticker in COB atrium for students. University: Internet 2 fiber improvements and expansion, upgraded course management system, integrated online collaboration suite, wireless access points in residence halls, GPS bus tracker system via web.

Trading laboratory available:

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=$9500, SO=$10500, JR & SR=$12500 (all figures 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 number of undergraduate business program graduates since inception:

38,329

Total living alumni:

37,313

Percent of alumni who gave, 2007-08 academic year:

8 %

Mean alumni gift 2007-08:

$ 593

Median alumni gift, 2007-08:

$ 100

Single donation in excess of $10 million in 2007-08?

Prominent alumni:

Name: Lyle Heidemann
Title: President & CEO, TrueValue Company
Name: Michael J. McGrath, Sr.
Title: Owner, McGrath Lexus Group
Name: Russ Smyth
Title: CEO, H & R Block

CAREER SERVICES

Percent of 2008 graduates who provided employment information:

93 %

Seeking full-time employment in business: 43 %
Not Seeking full-time employment in business: 57 %

Number of companies recruiting undergraduate students on campus in previous academic year:

100

Companies that posted full-time job offers/positions on school job boards, previous academic year:

615

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, 2008 graduates:

Top hiring firms:

KPMG LLP
Caterpillar

Aerotek
BDO Seidman
Jewel-Osco
Kohl's Department Stores
McKesson Corporation
Abbott Laboratories; Baxter Healthcare Corp.
Crowe Horwath LLC; Diamond Marketing Solutions
Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Hewitt Associates
Mcgladrey & Pullen; Miller Cooper & Company
OfficeMax; PricewaterhouseCoopers
Target Stores; Unitrin

Graduate compensation:

Mean base salary: $ 42,212
Median base salary: $ 41,000

Grads accepted jobs in following functional areas:

Finance/Accounting: 100 %

Grads accepted jobs in following industries:

Accounting: 50 %
Consumer Products/Retail: 15 %
Consulting Services: 4 %
Financial Services: 11 %
Government/Education: 4 %
Pharma/Biotech/Health: 2 %
Manufacturing: 4 %
Real Estate: 4 %
Technology/Science: 2 %
Other: 4 %

Percentage of job acceptances, US and Canada:

US: 100 %

Grads accepted jobs in the following US regions:

Midwest: 100 %

Number of companies recruiting interns on-campus, 2007-08 academic year:

100

Internship postings on job boards, previous academic year:

615

Top internship recruiters, 2007-08:

KPMG LLP
Deloitte Touche Tomatsu
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Caterpillar
Kraft

Miller Cooper
Crowe Horwath LLP
BDO Seidman
Blackman Kallick
McGladrey & Pullen LLP
Warady & Davis LLP
Clifton Gunderson
Disney World Wide Services; Hartmarx
Lindgren, Callihan, VanOsdol; Resznick Group
ServiceMaster
Walgreens

Percentage of internships that were paid, previous academic year

75 %

Mean internship compensation per week:

$ 803

Median internship compensation per week:

$ 865

Graduate Comments

The access to business contacts is extensive. I interact with alumnus on a weekly basis and have opportunities to tour businesses regularly. Professors are also well connected in the Chicago business arena and are generally coming to teach with several years of real business experience to complement their educational accomplishments.

The teachers in the business program are all very knowledgeable. They are available during office hours, and can be very helpful and approachable.

The work is very demanding, but it's rewards are vast. The school really tries to prepare you for the work you will be expected to do once you have graduated.

Everyone has to go through a core 9 credit hour business class that focuses on Finance, Management, Marketing, and Operations Management & Information Systems. This class is taken before major classes begin. The final semester at NIU everyone also takes a capstone Management class that makes students simulate real business situations. We also have a beautiful building that looks more like a corporate office building than a school. It gives the feel of a very professional environment. The NIU College of Business wants to make sure that the students are not just focused on their specific major, but that they have an understanding of all business majors so they know how to work with those people in the workforce.

The professors invite CEO's , Presidents and high level executives into the classroom to talk about the business world. Most of the professors have real world experience that is brought in the classroom. The dean provides us with many opportunities to meet and talk with executives. Professors even look over your resumes, find jobs and even offer tips in finding jobs. I am proud to say that I was educated by the best at Northern Illinois University.

Every time I walk into the College of Business I feel like I am part of a big family. I feel really welcomed. The classroom sizes are not too small and not too big. I feel like all of the professors are very approachable and are willing to help out with everything. Most of our classes are also taught by actual professors and not TAs or GAs. We get that one-on-one interaction with someone who has expertise in the field of business. Some professors also have worked in the corporate world before teaching, so they have a lot of real life experiences to pass onto the students.

I think it's great that our programs offers a 9 credit hour course called UBUS 310 and a related course UBUS 311 with it. UBUS 310 combines finance, management, marketing, and operations management all in once course with 4 separate teachers. It really gets you ready to move into your major classes. UBUS 311 ties everything from UBUS 310 together with group work and having groups make many business decisions on how to manufacture a certain product in a certain country. The classes were very difficult, but well worth all the time and effort.

I had no clue that NIU's business college was so well known and respected in the Chicago area (I am from Central Illinois). I don't know how tuition is kept so low compared to other State Universities in Illinois and yet NIU is still able to attract extremely high quality faculty and have small class sizes. After looking at your ratings last year I think you need to incorporate a Value Meter because I know a lot of other people who pay five or six times what I do for classes and I am well ahead of them in internship experience, foreign study experience, and information systems knowledge. NIU would be #1 on a Value Meter in Illinois alone.

Love the use of technology- each floor has 2 computer labs with about 30 or more computers, ever class has a computer, projector and every desk in the class comes installed with laptop charger connection.

The only thing I disagree with is how much they push the public sector of accounting and disregard private, industry, government, and non-for-profits when talking about jobs available to us. To them we can choose either tax or audit and accounting has so many more options.

Upper level class sizes are too big. Intermediate Cost Accounting started with 36 and Accounting Information Systems started with over 40. The school has combined Business Finance, Intro to Marketing, Operations Management, and Business Management into one huge class worth 9 credit hours. Taught in an auditorium with approximately 350 students.

Every class has emphasized the importance of group work. I have had group work in all five of my classes this semester and from what I hear from fellow classmates in classes I will be taking next semester, it is more of the same. Professors communicate and have connections with working professionals and ask them what they think we need to be learning. They all emphasize groups as well. The professors are really hitting home the idea of group work and help us prepare for the real world very well.

I came to NIU as a Textiles, Apparel, & Merchandising Major, but quickly decided I needed to double major in business to put an edge on my degree. I feel that becoming a business major at NIU has extremely enhanced my experience. Since I have experience with another department on campus, I can definitely say that the College of Business is the most organized department at NIU. The communications between the college and the students is excellent. The college does a great job of bringing professionals in to talk to students about how things are really like in the business world, and how what we learn in class relates to what we will do after graduation.