chicago skyline

Chicago

Experience vibrant city life  

You’re living on a beautiful campus in a great town. What more could you ask for? How about a quick zip into one of the most vibrant cities in the world?

Immerse Yourself

Hop a train just a few blocks from campus. About 30 minutes later, you’ll be in the heart of it all. (If you’d rather hit the road, don’t worry – the highways are nearby and will take you there too.) Whether you go in for a day or enroll in a full Chicago term the city is a must-see for everyone. And at the end of the day, your North Central home will be waiting for you.

student at train station

Chicago as a living lab

  • Chicago term  – Treat Chicago like one of your classrooms! If you sign up for Chicago term, you’ll take courses, complete research and conduct internships downtown. You can either live in an apartment with classmates or commute from Naperville.
  • Internships are always an option in Chicago. Recent sites include the Chicago Bears, NBC, and Shedd Aquarium.
students in chicago

Fun and recreation

Where to begin? There is so much to do in Chicago – and a lot of it can’t be done anywhere else. If you do not get into the Windy City at least a few times during your years at North Central, then you are missing out on a big part of the College experience.

  • Arts and culture: Art Institute, Chicago History Museum, Field Museum, Joffrey Ballet, Museum of Contemporary Art, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium.
  • Sports: Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Fire; Lake Michigan swimming, beaches and boating
  • Theater: Broadway in Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre
  • Music: Chicago Theater, House of Blues, The Green Mill, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera, Ravinia, Pritzker Pavilion
wrigley field marquee

  • Shopping: Magnificent Mile, Wicker Park, Fulton Market District and more.
  • Ethnic neighborhoods: Bronzeville, Andersonville, Little Italy, Greektown, Logan Square, Pilsen, and many others with culturally diverse shops and restaurants.
  • Sightseeing: Architecture tours throughout the city, Grant Park, boat rides along the Chicago River, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower)
millennium park fountains
students in chicago

Use Chicago as your classroom

students in the train

Directions to and from Chicago