International Undergraduate Applicants

Learn all you need to know about how to apply to earn your Bachelor's Degree at North Central. 

Congratulations! Learn how to pay your deposit, choose classes, apply for your visa, make travel arrangements, get connected, and attend orientation.

North Central is a nationally-recognized liberal arts university near Chicago, Illinois. Learn more in our international brochure or our international quick-facts sheet.

Naperville, Illinois is a safe, friendly city of 150,000 ranked as one of the "best places to live" in the United States by Money Magazine. North Central's beautiful 68-acre residential campus is just a two-minute walk from downtown's stores, banks, restaurants, parks and coffee shops. Easily reached by car, train or airplane, Naperville is just 45 kilometers from downtown Chicago (30 minutes by train) and only 30 minutes from Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Home to three million people from around the world, Chicago offers practically unlimited cultural opportunities - from world-renowned museums and theaters to annual events like the Chicago Jazz Festival. Students can participate in Chicago Term courses and internships as well as outings to Chicago's neighborhoods, sporting events, festivals and theaters. 

North Central makes admission decisions on a rolling basis starting on October 1 for the next academic year. While there is no set deadline, we recommend the following priority deadlines for full consideration and to allow time for visa processing:

• May 1 - for the semester beginning in August
• October 1 - for the semester beginning in January. 

Our academic year calendar consists of two semesters, and you can start your program in August or January. Most new students begin in August.  

• Submit a free online application form (preferred):
  • Freshman (students who are completing high school at the time of application) or
  • Transfer (students who have attended/are attending a post-secondary institution). 
• Submit your application through the Common Application.
• Submit your application through the Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success. 
• Download and complete a printable version of the undergraduate application.

Applicants who have attended university-level classes should also submit official transcripts/mark sheets for all university-level course work. Course descriptions are also required for any university-level courses taken at institutions located outside of the U.S.

• Click here for a Transcript Request Form.
• Please note: North Central does not consider emailed transcripts to be official transcripts.

Students who meet all academic requirements for admission but do not have the required level of English proficiency may be considered for conditional admission and enroll in North Central's English Language Institute. Simply:

• Complete the free online undergraduate application and mark that you would like to be considered for conditional admission
• Submit official transcripts, and:
• Submit a $100 English Language Institute deposit using the Credit Card Payment Authorization Form or flywire.

• A personal statement (1-2 pages) describing your degree and career plans and how North Central can help you achieve them. This can be mailed with your application or emailed to International Admissions. (Be sure to include your complete name and the semester for which you are applying.)
• One letter of recommendation from a teacher or instructor.

Once your application is complete, we can review your file and let you know your admission status and scholarship eligibility within approximately two weeks.

Students who will need an F-1 student visa to study at North Central will also need to submit:

• A 2021-2022 Declaration of Finances & Affidavit of Support Form.
• A bank letter certifying the amount of funding available for the first year of studies. Here's a sample bank letter format.
• A Transfer Verification Form only if transferring from another U.S. institution in F-1 student status.

Please Note: All admissions documents become a part of a student's official file and cannot be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another institution.