North Central College central campus in the fall

First-Year Applicants

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We have YOU in mind

Finding the right college is a big job. After all, you're only looking for that special place offering the skills and confidence to take on the world. You could use a hand. That's why we're here - to help you manage this life decision.

Apply Today

Get your journey started by telling us about yourself. Start with your application. Plan a visit. Meet with your admission counselor. It's your story. We hope you'll share it. You may apply for admission throughout the year, although we encourage you to do so in the fall of your senior year. We review applications on a rolling basis. Once we have your complete file for admission, you’ll hear from your admission counselor in two to three weeks.

student and admission counselor
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Students in downtown naperville
students at football tailgate
students in car and gown before graduation

A complete file for admission consists of:

Online Application

 Select one of the following:

  • North Central Online Application: To start your application, you’ll need to create a North Central account if you don’t already have one. Then, select Start a New Application and select First-Year/Transfer for the application type. 
  • Common Application
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Transcripts

  • Send your transcripts from any previously attended schools. Unofficial transcripts are accepted for admission decisions. An official final transcript with your graduation date will be required before enrolling in classes.
  • To enroll as degree-seeking at North Central College, you need to have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent of a high school diploma*
  • North Central College does not accept degree-seeking students who only meet requirements to show an ability to benefit or who are only beyond the age of compulsory attendance in the state of Illinois
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Optional Items

Because we look at each application on an individual basis, we encourage you to contact your admission counselor to discuss your individual circumstances. While not required, you may wish to submit additional information such as:

Test Scores

student studying on their computer

Supplemental Documents

  • Writing samples
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Documentation of extenuating circumstances
students talking

Application Review

When will my application be reviewed and when will I receive a decision?

We begin reviewing applications the first week of October. Our rolling admission process means we’ll continue to review applications until summer or until the class is full. Once we receive all the necessary documents, we’ll review your application promptly and your admission counselor will contact you. We’ll notify you of our decision within two to three weeks.

To evaluate the validity of a student's high school diploma if the school or the Secretary has reason to believe that the diploma is not valid, the Office of Admission contacts the registrar or counseling office at the high school in question for confirmation of the diploma’s validity.  If the diploma was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education, the Office of Admission would require the student to provide alternate documentation showing they have a recognized equivalent of a high school diploma.  Student self-certification is not sufficient documentation, and if the Office of Admission is not able to validate the high school diploma, the applicant cannot appeal the decision not to validate the diploma.

Preparatory High School Classes

What high school classes should I take at my high school to prepare myself for life at North Central? To make your transition into college easier, we recommend you take the college preparatory curriculum offered at your high school. 

  • 4 years of English
  • 3 years of mathematics (including algebra and geometry, one course beyond geometry is preferred)
  • 3 years of science (including 2 years of lab sciences)
  • 3 years of social sciences
  • Multiple years of the same foreign language are strongly recommended. For more information about the foreign language graduation requirement for a bachelor of arts degree, please refer to the graduation requirement section.

 

How to Apply

We're thrilled you're interested in becoming part of the Cardinal family! To make the process easier for you, we want to provide you with all the information you may need to apply and give you an overview of what should be included in your application packet.

Students outside of Wentz Science Center