North Central College Honors Program

Designed to expedite your journey to becoming a Cardinal, our Express Lane admission program allows you to apply to the program by November 1 for a unique honors visit invite and by January 15 to have the essay component of your application waived.

Transfer Direct Admit Option: We are excited to offer a new pathway for transfer students currently enrolled in their institution’s honors program. Admitted transfer students who have completed at least 6 credit hours of honors coursework with a B average or higher will receive automatic admission into the North Central College Honors Program. Simply complete the honors-related questions on your general application to take advantage of this opportunity and continue your honors experience seamlessly at North Central!

After you’ve been admitted to the Honors Program, you can unlock an additional $250 Honors Advantage Award by engaging early and showing your commitment to North Central College.

To qualify, simply complete the following steps by February 15, 2026:

1. File the FAFSA.
2. Connect with the Honors Program by attending the Honors Program Holiday Gathering or scheduling an individualized campus visit to meet with the program director.
3. Submit your enrollment deposit to officially reserve your spot.

Friday, November 21

Celebrate the winter season and enjoy a campus visit focused on the outstanding opportunities within our Honors Program. You'll hear from our Honors Program Director and current students, as well as have the chance to tour the Honors Living-Learning Community. We'll treat you to a hot chocolate bar and a delicious spread of holiday-inspired treats.

You will be surrounded and supported by students who also enjoy discovering new concepts, examining contemporary topics from different perspectives and working to become leaders in their fields. The program is designed for students with the motivation to make the most of their college experience. We know the Honors Program is great, but you don’t have to take our word for it—we’ll let our students tell their stories.

The Honors Program is different from your high school honors or AP courses. Rather than taking an honors section of a chemistry or math class, honors courses at North Central are unique courses that will be spread out across semesters throughout the duration of your time here. The number of specific honors courses you take is smaller than the amount needed for a minor.

Your honors thesis is the capstone course for the Honors Program. You get the opportunity to work one-on-one with an expert faculty member on a project you design together. It might sound overwhelming, but it’s an incredible experience. You chart the course for this year-long independent study. Past areas of research include:

• Traditional research based on laboratory work
• Analysis of a piece of art or a significant text in your field
• Artistic performance
• Experimental social science study
• Extended business plan
• Community-based research project with a local organization

As an honors student, you have the option to live in a residence hall only available to students in the Honors Program. We call this a “living learning community.” The living learning community provides access to faculty, study spaces and specialized social and cultural programs. Honors housing is not traditional freshman housing, therefore, there may be a difference in cost. Traditionally, the honors living learning community is housed in Ward and Patterson Halls.

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