About the College of Business
The NIU College of Business offers the close-knit community of a small college with the reputation and resources of a top-tier university. Ranked among the best in the nation for diversity and academic excellence, we provide high-quality instruction paired with hands-on, collaborative learning.
Our faculty and staff are committed to student success and supported by strong ties to more than 300 companies across Chicagoland and a powerful alumni network. Recognized by Poets&Quants as one of the top 100 undergraduate business schools in the U.S. — and No. 2 in Illinois — we prepare career-ready graduates who stand out in the business world.
Graduate Success
Our graduates have an advantage in the job market because our College of Business network is over 60,000 alumni strong. Wherever our alumni launch their careers, they're likely to find fellow Huskies in the workplace — particularly across Illinois.
On average, NIU College of Business alumni who earned their undergraduate degrees in 2023 are making a salary of $65,616 Data from Steppingblocks, July 2026 three years into their careers. Many of them hold roles with top employers like ALDI, KPMG, Amazon, PwC, Sherwin-Williams, Deloitte and Target.
Our Huskies are ready to go wherever opportunity leads. Looking farther back, our mid-career Class of 2006 alumni are leading in industries like finance, information technology, manufacturing, insurance and hospitality, earning an average of more than $107,000 Data from Steppingblocks, July 2026 after 20 years in the workforce.
Overall, NIU College of Business students bring highly sought-after skills to their roles, including organizational skills, project management, sales, customer service, data analysis, strategic planning, financial analysis, budgeting, marketing, logistics and process improvement. Data from Steppingblocks, July 2026
Denotes Data from Steppingblocks, July 2026
Hear It From Our Huskies
"I landed a strong role at UPS right out of college and was very intentional about leveraging my network, building leadership skills and being outspoken about what I wanted out of my career. Change is always hard, but I became comfortable being uncomfortable and learned to trust that my hard work would get me into the rooms I wanted to be in. I was fortunate to have great mentors along the way, and I approached each new opportunity with confidence, knowing that my education at NIU... combined with real world experience, would carry me through even moments of early self-doubt."
Lydell Curry, Jr., '19, senior manager of new business development, DoorDash
“Graduating without debt will greatly impact many of my decisions and opportunities post-graduation. My parents often worked two jobs while I was growing up so they could support my three siblings and me. I hope graduating without debt and receiving a bachelor’s degree will help me financially support my future family but also allow me time to be present at home.”
Lilly Klassen, '25, human resources generalist, Anchor Harvey®
"From the moment I stepped into Barsema Hall, I knew I made the right choice. The faculty and student body are full of growth-minded individuals, and the culture provided there allowed me to fail safely and make new friends along the way. NIU is a place that rewards hustle. If you were willing to put in the work and get involved, the doors were always open."
Devin Gonzalez, '24, sales development representative II, Qualtrics
"As a first-generation college student, navigating the college selection process felt daunting. However, upon researching various institutions, NIU stood out to me for its esteemed College of Business. I was confident that NIU could offer me the resources and support necessary to thrive academically and professionally."
Jasmin Kenzie, '24, email marketing coordinator, Milwaukee Bucks Inc.
