A year after experiencing a 10-percent growth in student enrollment, NIU’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology has climbed by another 2.3% for the Fall 2026 semester.
At the 10-day census, there were 1,501 engineering students overall, 34 more than last year’s population. The figure is CEET’s highest since 2019. As in years past, the department with the most undergraduate students is mechanical engineering. Of the 150 graduate students, the bulk are in the department of industrial and systems engineering (68) and mechanical engineering (58).
CEET also has 19 doctoral students, a new record high, spanning the departments of industrial and systems engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.
CEET Dean Dave Grewell said the continued growth “speaks to the quality of our programs, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the strong interest students have in engineering careers.”
One consistent recruitment initiative that has proven successful are Open Houses held on several Saturdays throughout the year. In those sessions, prospective students hear from alumni, industry leaders and current engineering students, tour labs and campus spaces, and get a brief overview of CEET’s six departments and programs: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial and systems engineering, engineering technology, mechatronics engineering and biomedical engineering.
Openings are still available to register for the next open house, scheduled for Saturday, October 24.
Another strength is CEET’s commitment to supporting our approximately 20 student organizations that offer project-based learning as well as other opportunities to engage directly with industry leaders. Clubs such as Robotics, Mars Rover, Supermileage and Huskie Motorsports design, build, and compete nationally—a vast arena for developing leadership, communication and technical skills.
The college is also known for its focus on developing career pathways through a variety of initiatives. For example, over 75% of industrial and systems engineering students complete at least one internship, with half completing two or more—often converting into job offers before graduation.
Annually, CEET holds two Job and Internship Fairs, exclusively for engineering students and alumni. The next one, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22, has attracted over 60 companies seeking to recruit students.
“Students are choosing CEET because they can see a clear path from the classroom to a meaningful career,” Grewell said. “When prospective students visit campus and see employers actively recruiting our students, it reinforces the value of an engineering degree from NIU.”
Overall, Northern Illinois University’s enrollment has remained stable, serving 15,811 students this year compared to 16,078 a year ago.
This fall’s enrollment across NIU is the second highest total over the last five years.
