North Central College central campus in the fall

Freshman Applicants

Apply for Admission Meet your Counselor Explore our Programs

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
campus leaves fall
Students in downtown naperville
students at football tailgate
students in car and gown before graduation

A complete file for admission consists of:

Application

 Select one of the following:

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Official high school transcript and college work

  • Download our Transcript Request Form and send directly to your previously attended schools to request official transcripts.
  • 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
student studying in lounge

Official SAT or ACT scores (official scores on a high school transcript will be accepted)

student studying on their computer

Optional information we will consider:

  • Writing samples
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Documentation of extenuating circumstances
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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. This typically consists of:

  • 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.

Admission Requirements

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:

  • An admission essay
  • Updated transcripts
  • An admission interview
  • New ACT or SAT score
student visit at North Central College

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.

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