Campus Meets Community

Northern Illinois University is a place where campus meets community – to learn, work, have fun and grow together.

We’re proud to be a regional state university with close ties to DeKalb, Sycamore, Rockford and other surrounding communities.

This website is designed to show community members and local businesses all NIU has to offer, as well as to show current and future NIU students, parents, faculty and staff how we live, work, play and connect in DeKalb/Sycamore and the surrounding areas.

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DeKalb at a Glance

Located 60 miles west of Chicago, DeKalb County has a population of just over 100,000. It holds the cities of DeKalb, Sycamore, Sandwich and Genoa, as well as dozens of smaller towns, townships and unincorporated communities. The county seat is Sycamore, and the largest city is DeKalb, with a population of just over 45,000.

#ProudlyDeKalb

Northern Illinois University is proud to be located in the heart of DeKalb, IL, close to the thriving downtown and small businesses that are the heart of our community. We’re especially proud to be a community that comes together both when times are tough and when opportunities beckon.

Visit the #ProudlyDeKalb website for resources for living in or visiting DeKalb.

And check out the #Proudly DeKalb Facebook page for the latest news and events.

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