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School data & stats
Outcomes
Cost
Community
Overview
North Central College is a private college in downtown Naperville, Illinois, a walkable suburb with direct Metra train access into Chicago. It pairs a liberal arts core with strong pre-professional programs, giving it a more traditional college-town feel than most Chicago-area suburbs offer, since the campus and downtown Naperville are genuinely intertwined rather than separated by a commercial strip.
Academics
Business is a particular strength, with a well-regarded finance program built around hands-on trading and financial-markets coursework, alongside solid programs in education and the sciences. Class sizes are small, and the direct rail line to Chicago supports a strong internship pipeline into the city's finance, business, and cultural institutions.
Campus & student life
Naperville's walkable downtown, restaurants, shops, and the Riverwalk, gives North Central students an unusually lively setting for a suburban campus. Athletics compete in NCAA Division III in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, and Greek life and music ensembles are both a visible part of campus culture.
Getting in
Applications are reviewed holistically, and the college is known for generous merit scholarships that reward strong students without a separate application, which meaningfully shapes the net cost for many admits.
After graduation
Business and finance graduates place well into Chicago's financial sector given the direct commuter-rail connection, and many graduates stay in the Chicago suburbs or the city itself after finishing.
Worth knowing
The Metra line into downtown Chicago is a genuine, practical asset, not just a selling point, giving students real access to internships and city life without needing a car.
Admissions
Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)
Applying
northcentralcollege.edu ↗High school coursework
RequiredNo specific high school unit distribution required; online application and transcript only
Recommended4 years of English · 3 years of Mathematics (including algebra and geometry, one course beyond geometry preferred) · 3 years of Science (including 2 years of lab science) · 3 years of Social Studies · Multiple years of the same Foreign Language strongly recommended
Your fit, with your own numbers
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- Deadline countdowns where verified application dates are on file.
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