Transfer Students FAQs

Where do I send my application?

Northeastern Illinois University
Admissions Office
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL  60625-4699

Apply Online!

What is the application fee?

The application fee is $30.

• Online applications: check or credit card
• Mailed applications: check

You may also pay your application fee in person at the Bursar's Office located in Building D, Room 101 with cash, check or credit card.

How do I get an application fee waiver?

In order to receive an application fee waiver code, please send to tsteps@neiu.edu a copy of one of the following:

• Fee waiver request form from your community college (see your academic advisor or counselor):
• Proof of unemployment
• FAFSA student aid report where expected family contribution (EFC) = 0
• Department of Human Services or public aid paperwork: Unacceptable documents include LINK/SNAP cards and AllKids Medical Insurance card. 

Where do I send my Transcripts?

Transcripts can be sent electronically to Northeastern Illinois University. Go to the website of your previous school(s) and find the transcript request section. Most schools send directly to Northeastern Illinois University as a selection option. If an email address is needed, please use admissiondocs@neiu.edu. Transcripts can be mailed to Northeastern Illinois University, Enrollment Services, 5500 North St. Louis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625

How do I know how my transfer credit will be accepted at Northeastern?

We know how important it is to get credit for courses you have previously taken and not have to repeat any of them. Here is information that will help in understanding how Northeastern Illinois University will accept transfer credit:

Upon applying for admission and sending official transcripts from each college attended all students receive an official transcript evaluation. This is the best and only true indicator of how your credits will transfer.

If you will be coming to Northeastern with an Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) Model Associate of Arts degree all credits will transfer, general education requirements will be met, and no informal evaluation is needed. The revised Associate of Science degree for Fall 2016 and beyond may require an additional social and behavioral science and an additional humanities course as these areas were reduced in the re-construction of the degree to allow students to stay current with the science students at the transfer institutions.

Northeastern provides transfer guides and transfer course equivalencies guides to help in selecting courses at local community colleges that will transfer to Northeastern courses as well as how they meet general education requirements.

Additional transfer credit information

• We accept transfer credit from schools accredited by the Higher Learning Commission only.
• We accept college level courses only. Developmental and remedial type courses are not accepted.
• Science and education over 15 years old and business courses over six years old are not transferrable unless approved by the respective department.
• Up to 90 total transfer credits are accepted. Maximum of 64 from community college. AP and CLEP are accepted as community college credit.
• D grades are accepted but limited to two courses and six credit hours in general education coursework. D grades are not accepted in a student’s major or minor.

How many credits will transfer into major?

To be counted towards the major, courses transferred to Northeastern must be accepted by your major department. Specific majors and programs may have limits as to age of the credit as well as the number of transfer credits accepted.  

Can I have my transfer credits re-evaluated?

Students who have submitted transcripts for transfer credit evaluation may request a re-evaluation of transfer credits by completing the Transfer Credit Re-Evaluation Request Form.

It is important to review the transfer polices of your major. The following are general policies for each of Northeastern’s Colleges: 

College of Arts and Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours in courses at the 200 and/or 300 level in their major and a minimum of nine credit hours in their minor. 

College of Business and Management

The maximum number of transfer credits that may be applied toward a College of Business and Management major program is 24 credit hours, and the maximum number of transfer credits that may be applied toward a minor is nine credit hours. Business courses which are six years old or more are generally not applicable toward a Business and Management major. 

Goodwin College of Education

The maximum number of transfer credits that may be applied toward the Teacher Education Department or Teacher Certification Program is nine credit hours. Coursework must have been completed within five years of the time of acceptance with a grade of “B” or higher.

What happens once I am admitted?

Please see Admitted Students. Click on the Transfer Students tab. You will find comprehensive information on what to do once you have been admitted.

How will I know if I am admitted?

Once your file is complete, an admission decision generally takes two to three weeks. Upon admission, you will receive a congratulations email as well as next steps such as Transfer Orientation, Academic Advising and Registration. The application portal will also inform you of your acceptance status at each stage of the application process.  

Can I attend another college while attending Northeastern?

Dual Admission

Northeastern has signed agreements with many community colleges in the Chicago area, which allow for admission to the community college and Northeastern. Under the agreement, students have full access to Northeastern’s offices of Enrollment Services, Academic Advising, and Financial Aid. Students must maintain continuous full- or part-time enrollment with a 2.0 grade point average to remain eligible for the dual admissions program. Students who are interested in this program should contact the Admissions Office at (773) 442-4050.

Concurrent Enrollment

For students admitted to Northeastern, concurrent registration is available. Prior to enrolling at another college or university, students meet with their academic advisor to determine which courses are appropriate for the student’s progress toward graduation. Please refer to Concurrent Registration for important information regarding the transferability of courses and the concurrent registration process.  

Why should I get an Associate Degree?

Students graduating with an approved Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) Associate of Arts degree are granted junior standing and have fulfilled Northeastern’s General Education requirements. 

Please note: In addition to Northeastern’s General Education requirements, some majors and programs require specific general education course work for admission into or completion of their program. For more information, please see Northeastern’s Academic Catalog for your major.  

How do I know what classes to take before transferring?

If you are attending an Illinois Community College, you may also use the Transfer Course Equivalency Guides to help determine which courses meet the specific requirements for your intended major. Your community college counselor or academic advisor, as well as the Admissions Counselors at Northeastern, are an excellent resource for planning your course work. 

When should I apply if I'm currently enrolled in another college?

If you are currently attending another college you need to apply as soon as you know the semester you plan to start in at Northeastern. Complete the application and send your official transcripts even though you have courses in progress. This is needed in order to make the admissions decision. Resend the official transcript upon completion of courses to update your record. This allows you to receive the admissions decision early enough to allow for planning, registration, etc.