NIU eliminates out-of-state tuition premium

December 12, 2017

The College of Law will join the rest of NIU in eliminating out-of-state tuition rates, beginning in 2018.

The Northern Illinois University (NIU) Board of Trustees unanimously voted Dec. 7 to extend the university’s domestic tuition rate structure to the NIU College of Law so that all U.S. residents enrolled at the law school will pay the same tuition beginning in fall 2018.

Currently, law students from outside of Illinois pay double the rate charged residents of the state.

Mark Cordes, the interim dean of the law school, said that he was excited to see the change enacted.  “We have always prided ourselves on offering an excellent legal education at an affordable price. This change improves our value proposition for students outside of Illinois and this will allow us to better compete for the strongest students across the country,” he said.

The dean noted that the National Jurist Magazine has rated the school as a “Best Value” for the last four years. The magazine bases its rating on the school’s strong bar passage rates and employment numbers, as well as its reasonable tuition.

“Our graduates go on to succeed in all facets of law, from public interest to private practice to corporate law. We believe law students across the country will recognize that combination of quality and value, and will be eager join us,” Cordes said.

In October, the NIU board eliminated out-of-state tuition for undergraduate and graduate students other than those enrolled in the College of Law.  The elimination of out-of-state tuition premiums makes NIU unique, said Sol Jensen, NIU’s vice president for enrollment management, marketing and communications.

“This is a significant example of our continued commitment to making higher education accessible and affordable.”

Tuition and fees for the NIU College of Law will remain $915.81 per credit hour. Tuition is capped at $10,989.72 per semester for students taking 12 or more credit hours.