Old Main

First-Generation Family Resources

Welcome to the Cardinal First Family

If your student is a first-generation college student, you may be feeling an especially strong sense of pride and accomplishment in their decision to attend North Central College. It can also be overwhelming to navigate the unknowns of your student's college journey and determining how best to support them. We want to partner with you to ensure your student's success, both in and out of the classroom. This page is designed to provide you with the resources and information necessary to both support your student's independence and provide the essential guidance for their successful educational journey. Welcome to the Cardinal First Family!

Cardinal First family

Cardinal First Conversations: Parent & Family Virtual Workshops

Our Cardinal First team created offering virtual workshops, designed to introduce you to some of the people and programs at North Central and answer any questions you may have about your students' experience. Each workshop features current first-gen students and members of our faculty and staff. These workshops are funded through a generous grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. Recordings of the workshops are available below with both English and Spanish captions.

Family Testimonials

We appreciate the importance of entrusting your student's education to North Central College and we take that responsibility seriously. We know that very few things compare to the pride of sending your student to college, and North Central is proud to have so many students realizing their dreams. As you read these stories from families of our first-generation students, you'll see why North Central can be a good fit for your student. 

Student and mom

Why North Central?

College is an exciting time for families, but we also know that given present circumstances, conversations about college sound a bit different these days. Rest assured that you and your family are in good hands with North Central College. Graduating from North Central will open doors to opportunities you didn't realize were possible. This is an investment in your student's future, and we want to partner with you to give you the greatest return. 

Students sitting on a bench

Schedule a Visit

Location really does matter and North Central's location is ideal. Campus is located in the heart of downtown Naperville, home to 150+ shops and restaurants. Naperville is ranked #5 on Niche's "Best Places to Live in Illinois" and named one of the "50 Safest College Towns in America" by SafeWise. Located just steps from campus is our local station which transports you to Chicago in just 30-minutes. Opportunities for internships, research and adventure are everywhere. Schedule a virtual or in-person tour to see for yourself. 

Students walking on campus

Contact us with Questions

The Office of First-Generation Programs and First-Gen Resources Center (located in Old Main) is here to answer any questions and support your student's personal and professional growth from their first day campus through graduation. Please contact us with any questions at 630-637-5155 or cardinalfirst@noctrl.edu.

First gen students