About Us
We Welcome You
Founded in 1867, ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø has a rich tradition of educational innovation and prides itself on preparing teachers and administrators who make a difference in Chicago. That tradition continues to this day and has expanded to include an array of academic disciplines, allowing the University to embrace fully the community in which it resides. ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø is regarded as the most diverse public comprehensive university in the Midwest and is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Diversity is an important factor in the character of ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø and in the social fabric of its student body. The University has an enrollment of more than 5,000 students; African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American students represent roughly 67 percent of the student body.
With the Main Campus located on 67 acres in an attractive residential area on the Northwest Side of Chicago, the University offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure and endorsement programs. The University has additional locations in the metropolitan area:
To not only envision your potential but to realize it — through invested faculty, mentorship and support, and applied learning that helps you creatively tackle challenges and impact the workforce in your chosen field.
Come chart your future at one of the Midwest’s most diverse colleges — and one with a tradition of tenacious innovation in pursuit of excellence. See what we’ve accomplished over the past 150-plus years and how we nurture the success of each student.
Facts & Figures
Totals students
Including 4,207 undergraduates and 1,549 graduate students
Of our student body identifies as African American, Hispanic, Asian or Native American.
Ranked public university for student diversity
And No. 8 for economic diversity, according to U.S. News & World Report
Student-to-faculty ratio
Get the support needed to succeed academically and professionally in small classes taught by faculty who are scholar-practitioners and lead their respective fields through innovative research.
Who We Are
Progress defines NEIU’s story — from our beginnings as a teacher’s college to one of the nation’s most diverse public universities.
Locations
We serve you and communities across the Chicago area through four easily accessible locations: our Main Campus in North Park, El Centro in Avondale, The Carruthers Center in historical Bronzeville and the University Center of Lake County.
Our History
NEIU opened in 1867 as a teacher’s training college for Chicago’s public elementary schools. While we have since expanded our program offerings, our steadfast commitment to educational excellence has never wavered.
HSI
The U.S. Department of Education awarded NEIU this designation in 1997. Today, we’re the Midwest’s longest-standing four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution.
Mission
Through leadership, service and an inclusive environment for all, we empower our students to direct their futures and uplift the city we call home in the process.
Academics
Building from our initial mission, we prepare professionals who make a difference in Chicago. Today, NEIU’s 40 undergraduate and 50 graduate, certificate, endorsement and licensure programs span education, psychology and social work to computer science, biology, business, the arts and more fields.
Break Barriers With Us
We embrace your dedication to achieving your dreams and driving change through scholarships and support services designed to guide your progress and help you reach your goals.
Meet Our Leadership
Persistence and determination shape our community and our impact at all levels.
The whole principle is that you see success is already on its way. This is how ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø transforms lives.
NEIU is truly an exceptional place to learn, teach, and contribute to the success of so many future leaders. I am humbled to serve alongside such talented, dedicated, and professionally qualified Board members. United by NEIU’s mission and our commitment to service, the Board wholeheartedly embraces the opportunities that lie ahead.
I came to NEIU to diversify my friend groups so that I could broaden my outlook on life. Coming from a community where I’m counted out from the jump and coming to NEIU, breaking barriers and proving that anything can be done given the right amount of commitment — that is the true satisfaction.
Explore the NEIU Community
Understand how we promote success and invest in you in and out of the classroom.
Our creative, compassionate faculty members enrich the NEIU experience.
Campus Life
Uncover a community embracing your uniqueness and prepared to foster your personal and academic growth.
Chicago Living
Build your future through Chicago’s resources and opportunities — from student teaching or interning in the city to its vast arts and cultural opportunities.
DEI Information
Learn more about how we foster a culture built upon diversity, inclusivity and equity at all levels.
Pedroso Center
The Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs encourages the success of historically underrepresented students while preparing them for leadership in a dynamic, multicultural world.
Learn More About NEIU
Come join us in striving for equitable educational excellence that serves the Chicago community on a broader scale.