North Central is a four-year liberal arts university located near Chicago, Illinois. You can choose from over 90 programs and majors.

Support to Succeed

• International undergraduate scholarships of up to $34,000 per year
• Conditional admission to a degree program 
• Excel Program enables you to complete advanced English Language study and earn university credit 
• Local Friendship Family Program
• Access to a variety of support services, including: immigration advising, tutoring, gym and recreational facilities, career development services, and an on-campus wellness center
• On-campus housing with laundry and internet access included
• 75+ student organizations

Outstanding Academics

Strengths include North Central's School of Business and Entrepreneurship, School of Engineering, Health Sciences, and other STEM majors.

• Our small class sizes with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio let you get to know your professors and ask questions to better understand the course material. Faculty know you by name and you get to know all of your classmates.
• All courses are taught by faculty – not by teaching assistants.
• We have undergraduate research opportunities with faculty that will be valuable for your future education or first job.
• North Central College students are often accepted to present at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research.
• North Central College's Coffee Lab is one of only a few college-operated facilities in the nation dedicated to studying the craft of coffee, and the first to focus on the business of coffee.

North Central College Recognition & Accreditation

• Named among U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges" for 29th consecutive year in the Regional Universities Midwest category
  • Ranked No. 24 overall among "Regional Universities Midwest"
  • Ranked No. 11 among "Most Innovative Schools" Midwest
  • Ranked No. 33 among "Best Value Schools" Midwest
  • Ranked No. 6 among "Best Undergraduate Teaching" Midwest
• One of Princeton Review’s 2024 “Best Midwestern Colleges”
• Awarded one of America’s Best Colleges by Money, 2023 
• Ranked among "Top 60 International Business Colleges" by University HQ, 2022
• Designated a “Changemaker Campus” by Ashoka U—an initiative of Ashoka, the world’s largest and leading network of social entrepreneurs
• North Central is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
• ABET accredited Engineering programs

Safe, Convenient Campus Location

Enjoy access to the big city while living in a safe, beautiful, mid-sized city of 150,000 people. 

• Naperville ranked No. 1 among “Best Cities to Live in America” by Niche in 2024 and ranked No. 1 among “Best Places to Live in Illinois” by niche.com, 2024

• 30 minute car ride from Chicago O'Hare International Airport

• Walking distance to downtown Naperville

• Walk to the train station and be in Chicago in about 30 minutes

English Language Institute (ELI)

The English Language Institute offers two programs - the Intensive English Program and the Excel Undergraduate Program: College Credit for Advanced English Language Study. Both programs help students improve their English skills rapidly to get to their academic goals.

International Scholarships

North Central offers merit-based International Student Scholarships of $28,000 to $34,000 per year to qualified undergraduate international students. Conditionally admitted undergraduate students enrolled in the Intensive English Program can also qualify for up to 100% of their ELI tuition to be credited towards their undergraduate tuition through the ELI-To-Degree Scholarship.