Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois, known for its strong teaching and education roots, hands‑on faculty‑student research, and spirited Huskies athletics. Students often rave about the welcoming campus community, many clubs and performing‑arts events, Division I sports energy, and the affordable, Midwestern‑style college experience with easy access to Chicago.

State

Illinois

Student Population

16,000

Acceptance Rate

70–71%

GPA Range

3.0–3.4

SAT Range

940–1170

Common Majors

business, psychology, education, biology and health sciences, criminal justice

“NIU feels like a close‑knit Huskie community where you can join lots of clubs, experience big‑game energy, and still get affordable, supportive classes that help you grow both personally and professionally.”

Team & Tuition

Divison

Division 1

Tuition (no scholarship)

$13,060

Conference

Mid‑American Conference

Scholarships Available

Yes. Both athletic and academic.

Avg Men's Scores

72.95

Avg Women's Scores

75.2

Men's Team Notes

Huskies men posted 291.8 averages over 25 rounds at Redbird Invitational (Weibring Golf Course) and Hawkeye-Great River Entertainment Hoosier Invitational (Red Tail Run GC), securing top-10 finishes with par-5 birdie strength. Steady Midwest play fueled contention on Illinois and Iowa layouts.

Women's Team Notes

Huskie women opened with record-setting 280 (-8) final round at Mid-American Challenge (Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club), winning by 3 over FGCU with Ingle's 208 (-8). Lauren Ingle/Ko's top-5s propelled dominance on Florida tracks.

Coaches

Men's Coach

John Carlson

Women's Coach

Kim Kester

Men's Email

jcarlson6@niu.edu

Women's Email

kmkester@niu.edu

Men's Coach Bio

John Carlson is Northern Illinois men’s head golf coach, leading the Huskies in the Mid‑American Conference. He has guided the program through a strong, competitive national schedule and helped the team win a MAC title in 2023 and qualify for the NCAA Championships. Carlson emphasizes fundamentals, scoring‑oriented play, and disciplined development, keeping NIU men’s golf among the top MAC programs and a consistent postseason‑level squad.

Women's Coach Bio

Kim Kester is Northern Illinois women’s head golf coach, directing the Huskies in the Mid‑American Conference. Since taking over the program in 2012, she has led the team to improved conference‑level finishes and a strong, player‑development‑focused environment. Kester stresses short‑game work, mental‑toughness training, and academic excellence, building a culture that aims to steadily raise the team’s national‑ranking and postseason‑eligibility profile within the MAC.