The NIU College of Business has seen incredible growth this fall in its freshman class, with a 28% increase over last year’s first-year enrollment. This is the second-largest freshman class that the college has welcomed since 2014.
Overall enrollment in the College of Business also grew by 4% this fall, with the largest undergraduate enrollment in the college since 2019.
“We are thrilled to see that our enrollment is growing,” said Joan Phillips-Hernandez, dean of the NIU College of Business. “I believe this is a direct result of our college faculty and staff’s deep commitment to our students and our investment in supporting them. We listen to our students. We want them to be successful in and out of our classrooms, and we know the quality of the education they are receiving will speak for itself once they graduate.”
New transfer student enrollment in the College of Business grew by 16% this fall. It’s the college’s largest undergraduate new transfer enrollment since 2019.
“We’re excited to welcome so many first-year and transfer students to our college community,” said College of Business Associate Dean Sarah Marsh. “This reflects how students recognize the value of earning their education here. In our college, faculty are deeply committed to supporting students with their time, expertise and resources. Our classrooms are equipped with the latest technology, ensuring that our students are being prepared for data-informed decision-making so they can lead in the AI workforce of tomorrow.”
Always a point of pride for NIU, many of our students are first-generation college students, and this fall is no different. In fact, 51% of our newly admitted first-year students in the College of Business are first-generation students, meaning they are the first students in their immediate families to go to college.
The college’s enrollment numbers reflect a positive trend across the university. Total enrollment at NIU grew this fall, with the second-largest class of new freshmen since 2014. Transfer numbers also surged, along with strong reenrollment for continuing students, powering an overall increase of 663 Huskies.
An important contributor to NIU’s growing student population is reenrollment of continuing students. The reenrollment rate of first-time, full-time freshmen is the highest in five years; the combined reenrollment rate for freshman, transfers and continuing students is the highest in over 25 years of record-keeping.
“We are so proud to welcome our returning students back and to welcome so many new first-year students,” Phillips-Hernandez said. “What I want all our students to know is this: You have a network of supporters behind you. You have the faculty and staff. You have your academic advisors. We all want you to reach your goal, and we are here to help you do it. But there is more than that, too. There are thousands of Huskies who are business alumni, corporate partners with the college and donors to our programs who believe in your dreams as much as you do. I cannot wait to see what we can do together.”
