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North Central College is a private, independent, comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences located in Naperville, Illinois. Established in 1861, North Central College has come to be known as one of “America’s Best Colleges” (according to the U.S. News & World Report) and was recently included in The Princeton Review’s list of the “Best Midwestern Colleges” as well as one of the “Greenest” Colleges in the nation. North Central College is situated on a 68.5-acre campus in the beautiful Historic District of Naperville in a residential area. Naperville, a city of approximately 145,000 people, is located 28 miles outside of Chicago and a daily Amtrak train makes daily stops, allowing students to experience and benefit from the abundance social, economic, and cultural opportunities the nation’s third-largest metropolitan area has to offer.
Academic Programs
North Central College is dedicated to academic excellence and strives to be “a climate that emphasizes leadership, ethics, values and service; a curriculum that balances job-related knowledge with a liberal arts foundation; and a caring environment with small classes.” North Central College has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1914 and offers more than 55 undergraduate majors which culminate in a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science as well as Master’s degrees in six areas.North Central College’s students have access to more than 36 million items from over 80 colleges and university libraries across Illinois through the Oesterle Library, in addition to the 250,000-plus items which the College owns. North Central College also offers a number of unique opportunities to its students in order that they might practice intellectual and personal leadership and benefit from experiences which will help to define their futures. These opportunities include North Central College’s Scholars Honors Program; undergraduate student research; Richter Grants; the Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research; Leadership, Ethics and Values program; study abroad; Chicago Term; Model United Nations; and much more.
Student Life
North Central College has a total enrollment figure of just over 3,000, including more than 2,500 undergraduate students; the student body’s male to female ratio is split approximately 44% to 56%, respectively. More than 75 active student clubs, organizations, student government boards, and pre-professional groups are recognized by North Central College, providing students with ample opportunity to become involved and connect with fellow students and faculty outside of the classroom. Focuses of these groups include academics; community service and social action; honor societies; intercultural; faith and spiritual life; leadership; music, art and activities; media and publications; and sports and recreation.An NCAA Division III school, North Central College sponsors more than two dozen intercollegiate sports teams which compete in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. North Central College also sponsors and hosts a number of performing arts opportunities for students. More than 500 fine and performing arts performances are held at the College’s state-of-the art venues, which include the 617-seat Wentz Concert Hall, the 150-seat Madden Theatre, and the 239-seat theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, among others.