Graduate Student-at-Large (Non-Degree Seeking)

Reply to Offer of Admission

Let us know if you plan to attend NEIU! This will help us prepare for your arrival and guide you through the important next steps. Access the “Intent to Enroll” button by logging into your applications portal at neiu.edu/apply:

Access your Application Status Portal
Scroll down to the Application Checklist
Click on Reply to Offer of Admission
Select your response to the admission offer
Submit your response

Set Up Your NEIUport Account

First, activate your account in NEIUport, the University’s secure online portal, so you can access information, your Nmail, online tools, services and more. Once activated, explore the Current Student tab in NEIUport to learn how to:

Check the status of financial aid awards (if applicable).
Look up, register, and pay for classes.
Locate forms and academic resources information.
Inform the University about changes to your contact information.
View your academic profile, unofficial transcript, and any holds on your account.
Check your end-of-semester grades.
Use the Degree Evaluation tool to model how your credits will count towards fulfilling the requirements for any undergraduate degree program at Northeastern Illinois University.

Nmail is your University-issued email account. You will be provided with your Nmail address during the NEIUport activation process. The password you create for NEIUport will be the same password you will use to log in to your Nmail account.

Official University communications will be sent to your Nmail account. You will be responsible for reading and responding to these communications, so please be sure to check your Nmail daily.

N-Safe is the system the University uses to provide students, faculty and staff with security and school closure alerts. Sign up for N-Safe and choose how you'd like notifications to be sent to you – by email and/or text message.

After activating your NEIUport account, you can access additional University accounts and Student Computing Services (SCS) computer lab workstations at all Northeastern locations. Use your NETID/username and the password you created when you activate your NEIUport account to access the workstations and your other Northeastern online accounts.

Desire to Learn (D2L) is an online learning environment that houses syllabi, course materials and tools you will use for many of the courses you will take at Northeastern. D2L also enables you to communicate with the faculty members teaching your courses and your classmates. Familiarize yourself with D2L before your first day of classes.

Register for Classes

After meeting with your Graduate Advisor, peruse the class schedule and register for classes via NEIUport.

Provide immunization records

All students must provide documentation of immunization/vaccination history to Northeastern Illinois University Student Health Services. Instructions are available online. Discounted vaccinations and free immunization reviews are available at NEIU Student Health Services.

All students are required to provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination or a COVID-19 vaccination exemption form to the NEIU Health Portal. Students who are approved for a COVID-19 vaccination exemption are required to submit weekly test results. Return to Campus-Student Information has further details. Additionally, proof of other routine immunizations must be submitted to NEIU Student Health Services. Instructions are available online.

Additional Information

Deferring Your Admission

To request a deferral of your application or admission for up to one year, please log into your application portal and complete the Deferment Request of Application or Admission Form.

Guidelines and Procedures

Placement Test Basics

Placement testing at Northeastern Illinois University is conducted using Accuplacer, a computerized placement test. The test is given by appointment only and is not timed. It is used to make sure that you register into the highest-level Writing, Reading and/or Mathematics courses that you are qualified to take, based on your current skill level. If you are a new student who has not taken college level coursework in mathematics or English you will likely be required to complete one or more subject area placement tests.

Students taking the full assessment (Math, Reading and Writing) should allow 2-3.5 hours for testing. Please arrive with a photo ID approximately 10-15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. Students arriving more than 10 minutes after their appointment may need to reschedule. Please arrive on time.

Placement Test Registration

An online study guide from Accuplacer is available as well as a free interactive app. We encourage students to practice prior to taking or retaking the placement test.

Placement Tests

A 300-600 word essay (Writing)
A reading skills test
A mathematics test (Math)

Testing Room Rules

No cell phones
No coats
No hats (unless for religious or cultural purposes)
No outside calculators
No additional testing aides
No food or drinks
No children or visitors allowed
No talking

What Tests are Administered?

The placement testing policy requires entering and some re-entering students to take the following examinations except where stated exemption conditions have been met. SAT/ACT score validity (age of scores and requirements for submission) is defined by University guidelines.

Which Tests Do You Need to Take?

Students can meet placement requirements in a variety of ways. Make sure all your documents (transcripts, score reports, etc.) are submitted to Admissions at admissions@neiu.edu. If you are not sure if you need to take a placement test, you can log into the NEIU Application Management portal to view your admission checklist. Your advisor can also help you determine what tests you need to take. You may email advising@neiu.edu if you have questions.

Math Placement Test

All entering students are given two options for placement into a math course: SAT/ACT math score or the math placement test. Students who submit SAT/ACT scores to Northeastern can be placed directly into a math course solely based on their SAT/ACT math score. They also have the option of taking the math placement test, in which case Northeastern will use the higher of the two scores for placement into a math course. Since there is no penalty to taking the test, freshmen are strongly encouraged to do so, particularly if they took a math course in their senior year of high school.

All newly admitted and readmitted students who do not submit their SAT/ACT Math scores are required to take the mathematics placement test with the exception of the following:

Students with transcripts that reflect have earned a grade of “C” or better in a course equivalent to college level Intermediate Algebra;
Students who have completed a state approved quantitative transitional math course with a grade of C or better may enroll in Math 112 or 113.
Students who have completed a state approved STEM transitional math course with a grade of C or better may enroll in Math 112, 113, 149, 163, or 173.
Students who have met the Math/Quantitative Reasoning Requirement; or
Students with a score of three or higher on the Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus Test.

English Placement Test

The English placement test has two components: writing and reading. Entering students must take the Reading and Writing placement test.

Reading Placement Test

No entering student may register for a reading course before taking the reading placement test, with the exception of the following:

Students who submit their valid SAT/ACT reading scores will be exempt from taking the reading placement test and from taking READ 096 or READ 097 if they have an SAT score of 480 or greater or an ACT score of 20 or greater.

Writing Placement Test

No entering student may register for an English or English Language Program course before taking the writing placement test, with the exception of the following:

Students whose official transcripts reflect a grade of “C” or better in a course equivalent to ENGL 101 are not required to complete the Writing placement test.

Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations will be provided with advance notice for persons with documented disabilities. No variation of the assessment can be made without prior approval. Students requiring a disability-related testing accommodation must first contact Student Disability Services at sds@neiu.edu and follow intake procedures before signing up for placement testing.

Course Placement Based on Scores

Information for course placement based on Accuplacer scores and SAT/ACT math scores can be found on the Interpreting Your Test Scores page.

How to Submit ACT or SAT scores

Contact SAT or ACT to arrange for your test score to be sent electronically to the Admissions Office at admissions@neiu.edu or mail to:

Northeastern Illinois University
Admissions Office
5500 N. St. Louis Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625

Questions?

Contact Testing Services at testingservices@neiu.edu.