North Park University

Private · Moderately Selective · IL

Photo: Rputera (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationIL · Midwest

SettingUrban

Undergrads1,818

Student:faculty12:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate44.2%

6-yr grad rate57.7%

Drop-out rate38.3%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$37k

Out-of-state tuition$37k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity71.6%

Gender diversity56%

International12.2%

IdentityEvangelical Covenant Church of America

Overview

North Park University is a private university on Chicago's North Side, in the Albany Park/North Park neighborhood, affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church. Its campus sits in one of the city's most ethnically and linguistically diverse neighborhoods, which shapes both the student body and the university's identity as an urban, mission-driven school.

Academics

Nursing, business, and ministry programs are central to the curriculum, reflecting both career-oriented demand and the university's Covenant Church roots — North Park also houses a seminary, giving undergraduates exposure to theological study beyond a typical religion department. The city itself functions as an extended classroom, with internships and coursework regularly built around Chicago's institutions and neighborhoods.

Campus & student life

The walkable North Park neighborhood offers an urban, transit-connected setting quieter and more residential than downtown Chicago, while still giving students full access to the city. Faith is present in campus life through chapel and Covenant-affiliated programming, though the university's diverse student body and neighborhood give it a less insular feel than some faith-affiliated schools.

Getting in

Applications are reviewed holistically, and the university is known to be genuinely welcoming to students from a range of faith backgrounds and international students, not only those from Covenant Church congregations.

After graduation

Nursing and business graduates place well across the Chicago metro area, aided by the university's location and internship connections throughout the city.

Worth knowing

The neighborhood itself is a distinguishing feature — Albany Park/North Park's diversity is a real part of the educational experience here, not incidental to it.

northpark.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate68.5%

Enrolled mid-50%1180

Test policynot used

Rec letters1

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying