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North Central College

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North Central College campus

Choosing the right college is not just about finding the school where you will get the best education. It’s about finding a place where you can build relationships, prepare for your career and discover new opportunities—on campus and beyond. At North Central, you’ll find all that and more!

Find out why we are a “Best in the Midwest College” in a location named “Best City to Start a Career After College.” We encourage you to explore our academic programs and schedule a campus visit as your next steps. 

If you have questions regarding a specific program or your next steps, please contact us at 630-637-5800 or admissions@noctrl.edu.
Accepts first-year applicationsMidwestPrivateSuburbanMedium (2,001 to 14,999)Co-Ed
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Academic programs

  • Design
  • Engineering
  • Research
  • Science
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Education
  • Nursing
  • Communication
  • Music
  • Art & Design
  • Economics
  • Finance/Accounting
  • Government/Political Science
  • Health Science
  • Performing Arts
  • Social Science
  • Visual Arts
  • Psychology
  • Computer Science
  • Pharmacy

Student experience

  • Athletics
  • Co-op/Internship Opportunities
  • Disability Services
  • Intramural/Club Sports
  • LGBTQIA Services
  • Military/Veteran Services
  • On-Campus Housing
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ROTC Program
  • Study Abroad
  • Undergraduate Research
  • Veteran Fee Waiver

Application information

First-year

You may apply for admission throughout the year, although we encourage you to do so in the fall of your senior year. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Once your application is complete with all required documentation, you can expect to hear from your admission counselor within just 10 days. Along with your application, official high school transcripts are required. Official SAT or ACT test scores are not required, but we will consider them if you choose to submit them. Interviews are not required, though we highly encourage students to visit North Central’s campus.

Transfer

We are currently accepting applications for fall, spring, and summer starts. Once your application is complete with all required documentation, you can expect to hear from your transfer counselor within just 10 days. Along with your application, transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities are required. If you have not earned 24 transferrable credit hours, your high school transcript will also be required (ACT/SAT scores optional).  We highly encourage you to visit North Central’s campus to meet with your transfer counselor for a transcript evaluation, to discuss your transfer goals, and to review your next steps.

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Additional information

Our beautiful campus is located in Naperville, Illinois, ranked the best place to live in America by Niche.com. We’re just blocks from a thriving downtown area, featured a Riverwalk and numerous shopping and dining venues. Our campus is a designated arboretum campus, providing a serene natural setting for your studies. In addition, DuPage County boasts 60 forest preserves for hiking, biking, running and water activities.  Our campus is also just a quick 30-minute train ride away from the vibrant City of Chicago. Think internships, jobs, unique class opportunities and more! It’s the best of both worlds.

Your education is about more than a diploma. At North Central, we offer undergraduate programs with a professional emphasis, including internships and innovative career preparation activities. You’ll be well-equipped for today’s ever-changing workplace and our dynamic world.

Visit us

One of the best ways to determine whether North Central College is the right fit for you is to visit. There are many ways to experience Cardinal life, and we look forward to arranging your time on campus. Choose among Campus Visit Days, individualized weekday visits, Saturday options and more. Please contact the Office of Admission at 630-637-5800 or admissions@noctrl.edu.

"Students get more excited when they are working on a real project and developing skills within a context that they are interested in. At the same time, they are helping research important questions that we don't know the answers to. We'll find out together."