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School of Music • DeKalb, Illinois
Quick Take
NIU's School of Music in DeKalb offers classical, jazz, and music therapy programs in performance, education, and technology with strong faculty and solid Midwest regional connections near Chicago. The school has a national reputation in music therapy and jazz, with active ensembles, competitive merit scholarships, and access to Chicago's world-class arts scene just 65 miles east of campus.
Northern Illinois at a Glance
| Program | |
| School / Division | Northern Illinois University School of Music |
| Setting | public |
| Program Size | medium |
| Genres / Styles | choral, classical, contemporary, folk, jazz |
| Primary Instrument | bassoon, cello, clarinet, double bass, flute, guitar, harp, horn, oboe, organ, percussion, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, viola, violin, voice |
| Areas of Study | composition, conducting, engineering/technology, jazz, music education, music therapy, performance |
| Musical Selectivity | selective |
| Admissions | |
| Academic Selectivity | moderately selective |
| Average GPA | 3.3 |
| Application Deadline | ? |
| Auditions | |
| Audition | is required |
| Audition Competitiveness | competitive |
| Audition Window | Jan–Mar |
| Prescreening | is not required |
| Location | |
| City / State | DeKalb, Illinois |
Always confirm deadlines and requirements directly with the Northern Illinois website
.
Program Overview
The music program at Northern Illinois is medium in size and a .
Music Genre/Style Strengths
Northern Illinois supports the following musical genres/styles: choral, classical, contemporary, folk, jazz. At some schools, students can explore multiple styles while developing strong technical and artistic foundations within their primary genre.
Visit the Northern Illinois website for more specific information on the music genres/styles it supports.
Primary Instruments
Students at Northern Illinois can pursue study across a range of instruments, including bassoon, cello, clarinet, double bass, flute, guitar, harp, horn, oboe, organ, percussion, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, viola, violin, voice. Students study privately with faculty on their primary instrument while participating in ensembles and collaborative performances.
Visit the Northern Illinois website for more specific information about their support for studies on specific instruments.
Music Studies Offered at Northern Illinois
Students at Northern Illinois can pursue degrees focused on composition, conducting, engineering/technology, jazz, music education, music therapy, performance. Music degree programs typically combine private instruction, ensemble participation, music theory coursework, and performance opportunities designed to prepare students for careers in music.
Visit the Northern Illinois website for more specific information on the programs of study it offers.
Acceptance
Musical acceptance at Northern Illinois is selective. Academically, it is moderately selective, with accepted students having an average GPA of 3.3. (Unlike academic programs, music admissions typically emphasize performance and artistic potential.) The application deadline for Northern Illinois is ? of each year.
Visit the Shenandoah website to confirm acceptance information and deadlines.
Auditions
An audition is required at Northern Illinois, and the school's auditions are considered to be competitive. The audition window is Jan–Mar of each year. A pre-screening video or portfolio is not required.
Visit the Northern Illinois website for more specific information on auditions.
Location and Music Scene
Northern Illinois is in DeKalb, a college town in the Illinois plains, with Chicago's world-class music institutions about 65 miles east and a strong regional university arts culture closer to home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northern Illinois hard to get into?
Admission to Northern Illinois is considered selective for music and moderately selective academically. At most schools, the audition carries significant weight. Admitted students need to demonstrate performance ability and artistic potential in addition to meeting academic requirements.
Do I need a prescreening video to audition at Northern Illinois?
A prescreening video or portfolio submission at Northern Illinois.
Prescreening requirements vary significantly from school to school, and sometimes by instrument or area of study, so it's worth checking directly with the admissions office to confirm what's expected for your specific application.
What instruments can I study at Northern Illinois?
supports study across a wide range of instruments, including bassoon, cello, clarinet, double bass, flute, guitar, harp, horn, oboe, organ, percussion, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, viola, violin, voice. Students typically study privately with a faculty member on their primary instrument while also participating in ensembles and collaborative performance opportunities.
Instrument availability and faculty depth can vary. If you play something less common, it's worth reaching out to the department directly to confirm faculty availability before you apply.
What GPA do I need for Northern Illinois?
Admitted students at Northern Illinois have an average GPA of 3.3. Keep in mind that this is an average. Some admitted students come in above it, some below, depending on the strength of the overall application and, especially, the audition.
Music programs tend to weigh audition performance heavily, which means a particularly strong musical candidate may be admitted even if their GPA is below the typical range. The reverse is also true. Academic strength alone won't compensate for a weak audition.
What is the application deadline for Northern Illinois?
The application deadline for Northern Illinois is ?, with live auditions typically held Jan–Mar. These dates can shift year to year, so it's important to verify directly with the admissions office well in advance.
Music school deadlines often arrive earlier than general college application deadlines, and audition slots can fill up quickly, especially at competitive programs. Getting your application in early is rarely a bad idea.
Information on this page is updated periodically. Always confirm details directly with the school's admissions office.
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