Admission

Since 1861, North Central College has attracted a diverse group of academically talented and highly motivated students. The College is proud of its long history of providing a wide range of academic, professional and cultural opportunities for students. North Central seeks students who will benefit from and be challenged by all that is offered here. Students are considered for admission on an individual basis, taking into consideration their overall academic preparation, character and potential for success at the College.

First-Year Admission

Admission is determined by each student’s individual potential as indicated by a minimum of 16 college preparatory units from an accredited secondary school, grade point average and score on the ACT or SAT if submitted. Students applying to one of the Shimer Great Books programs may submit their Classic Learning Test (CLT) score instead of the ACT or SAT. Students who are not not international may choose to apply test optional and not submit a standardized test score. Study of a foreign language is highly recommended but not required for admission. Students should offer any additional evidence to indicate they can benefit from and contribute to the North Central College experience including involvement in extracurricular activities. Admission is contingent upon receipt of your official final transcript reflecting graduation date and successful completion of coursework in progress.

Although applications for admission are accepted throughout the year, it is advantageous for students to apply early in their senior year. Early application ensures priority consideration for admission, financial aid and housing.

First-year applicants are considered for admission when the following materials are received by the Office of Admission:

• A completed application for admission, submitted no later than ten days before the beginning of the semester. Please note: incoming students cannot start in the second eight-weeks of a semester.
• An official secondary-school transcript or General Education Diploma (GED) test results.
• Official results from either the ACT or SAT. Official results from the CLT will be accepted for students applying to the Shimer Great Books programs. Scores included on an official secondary-school transcript are acceptable. Students who choose to apply test optional must indicate that option on their application for admission. Students may only submit one application for a term. If a student submits more than one application, their first application will be considered. Students who apply test optional and who enroll in the college will be encouraged to submit official standardized test scores at that point for statistical analysis.
• Additional information—such as a personal statement, admission interview, academic writing sample, additional course work and/or an updated standardized test score—may be requested once an initial review of a student’s application materials is complete.

Homeschool Students — North Central College welcomes the opportunity to serve the needs of students who receive their education in a(n) homeschool/online environment. Realizing that some of the standard tools used to measure a student’s ability to succeed at North Central may not be relevant, the Office of Admission may require the following:

• A review of the student’s portfolio and curriculum
• A writing sample
• An admission interview

Transfer Admission

Admission is determined by each student’s individual potential as indicated by previous college credit earned. To be competitive for admission, a transferable cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher is preferred. If a student has completed less than 24 transferable credit hours, high school transcripts are also considered. Students who were dismissed for any reason from their last institution attended are not eligible for admission. Admission is contingent upon receipt of your official final transcript including successful completion of any coursework in progress.

Transfer applicants are considered for admission when the following materials are received by the Office of Admission:

• A completed application for admission, submitted no later than ten days before the beginning of the semester. Please note: incoming students cannot start in the second eight-weeks of a semester.
• Official transcripts from all previously enrolled colleges and universities
• An official high school transcript (if a student has completed less than 24 transferable credit hours)
• Additional information—such as a personal statement, admission interview, academic writing sample, additional course work and/or an updated standardized test score—may be requested once an initial review of a student’s application materials is complete

North Central College participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) as a “receiving only” institution. Students completing an approved Associate of Arts, Associate of Science or the General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) at a full-participating college or university in Illinois automatically fulfill all of North Central’s general education requirements. The All-College Requirement (ACR) of Career Readiness is required of all students. Students with less than 28 transferable hours will need to complete CARD 110, a 1 credit transition course.

During a prospective student’s visit to North Central College, a transfer counselor may perform an unofficial transcript evaluation and will explain the curriculum. After the student is offered admission, North Central will provide an official evaluation. All transferable course work, regardless of the grade earned, is included in the North Central cumulative grade point average.

The maximum number of credit hours accepted from a two-year college is 64 semester hours or 96 quarter hours. There is no maximum number of credit hours accepted from a four-year institution. However, students must complete the last 32 of their their last 40 hours in residence at North Central to earn a North Central College degree.

International Admission

North Central welcomes applications from international students. Academic and campus life are enriched by the presence of this important group of students from around the globe.

International students should plan to apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships; however, students are encouraged to apply at least three months prior to the start of the semester to allow ample time for the visa application process. International students transferring from a U.S. institution are also encouraged to apply at least three months before the intended start semester to allow ample time for the transfer of student’s SEVIS record.. Although North Central accepts applications for admission throughout the year, early application ensures priority consideration for admission, scholarships and housing.

International applicants are considered for admission when the following materials are received
by the International Admissions Team:

• A completed application for admission
• Secondary school transcripts (for the most recent three years, with English translation)
• Official Transcripts for all university-level credit earned (with English translation)
• Applicants who attended a university located outside of the U.S. must submit a course-by-course evaluation for U.S. equivalency competed by an evaluation company affiliated with or recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or endorsed by the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE).
• Course descriptions for all university-level credit earned outside the U.S. (with English translation)
• Submit Documentation of English Proficiency. Every international applicant is required to demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency. Applicants can meet the English proficiency requirement in a variety of ways.

Option 1: Attend all years of secondary school in which English is the language of sole instruction AND complete secondary school in one of the countries listed below.

• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• British Virgin Islands
• Canada (except Quebec)
• Cayman Islands
• Dominica
• England
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Liberia
• Monserrat
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Northern Ireland
• Palau
• Scotland
• Seychelles
• Shetland Islands
• St. Kitts-Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Singapore
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• U.S. Territories including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands

Option 2: Submit test scores.Required Scores for Direct Admission with Excel Coursework. Students whose test scores fall within the ranges listed below are eligible for direct admission to  undergraduate study and will take Excel coursework during their first semester at North Central College. Excel coursework is advanced, credit-bearing, English language coursework.

• TOEFL iBT 60 – 78
• IELTS 5.5 - 6.0
• Institutional TOEFL 498 – 547
• Pearson’s English Test (PTE) 50 – 57
• Duolingo English Test (DET) 100 - 119
• Required Scores for Direct Admission
• TOEFL iBT - Minimum score of 79
• IELTS - Total score of 6.5 or higher and with sub-scores of 6.0 or higher
• SAT - Minimum score of 490 on the EBRW section
• ACT - Minimum score of 19 on the English section
• EIKEN - Minimum Grade Pre-1       
• Pearson’s English Test (PTE) - Minimum score of 58
• Duolingo English Test (DET) - Minimum score 120

Option 3: Coursework from one of the curriculums listed below.

• U.S. college/university English coursework: Grade of C or higher in two English composition courses
• Successful completion of the intermediate level of the Intensive English Program in North Central College’s English Language Institute
• International Baccalaureate (IB): Minimum grade of 4 (or letter grade equivalent) in English A: Language & Literature
• British Curriculum (I)GCSE (O levels): Minimum result of C or 4 in English First Language
• British Curriculum GCE (AS/A levels): Minimum result of C in English Language and/or English Language & Literature
• Attend and complete an American international school abroad earning grades of C or higher in English courses
• Attend and complete a U.S. high school earning grades of C or higher in English courses without EL support
• Complete intermediate level of U.S. high school EL coursework and interview with ELI staff

For questions or concerns about the accepted options listed above, please contact your admission counselor.

• Students must submit a personal statement responding to one of the prompts below in less than 250 words.

  • Explain how you will use your North Central College education to achieve your career goals. Consider how you will utilize your time at North Central (examples: participation in clubs and activities, on-campus employment, summer internships, athletics, etc.) to enhance your academic experiences while at North Central and prepare you for post-graduate life. Please provide one to two specific examples.
  • Tell us about your involvement in extracurricular activities in high school or university. Choose one to two activities that you were very involved in and explain how you will use your experiences in those activities to get involved and be a leader on North Central College’s campus.
• Students may submit 1-2 letters of recommendation
• Additional information – admission interview, academic writing sample, additional course work and/or an updated standardized test score – may be requested once an initial review of a student’s application materials is complete.

Conditional Admission: Students whose academic records qualify them for admission to an undergraduate degree program but whose level of English proficiency is lower than the current admission requirement may be offered conditional admission and begin their studies in North Central’s English Language Institute.

Applying for Student Visa: Applicants who are applying for a student visa (F-1) must submit evidence of financial support. This documentation must show the student has the necessary funds to cover expenses for tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, personal expenses and major medical insurance coverage. This documentation and a copy of the student’s valid passport identity page must be received before an I-20 Form (visa eligibility document) will be issued.

Non-Traditional Studies Program Admission

North Central College provides a variety of undergraduate educational opportunities through courses offered in the evenings and during the day. Students may complete a number of degree options, apply for a second bachelor’s degree or take classes as a student-at-large.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

Applicants who wish to earn a second bachelor’s degree must submit an application for admission and official transcripts from all previously attended colleges. Second degree students must meet the same admission criteria as those transferring in to earn their first degree. Please refer to the Transfer Admission section for more details about transfer of credit.

Student-At-Large

Those who wish to take classes as at-large students should submit an application for admission. If the courses desired have prerequisites, official transcripts may be required. An interview with an admission counselor may also be required, depending on the courses the applicant intends to take.

Readmission

Any North Central College or Shimer College degree candidate who left the College for any reason for more than one semester must apply to reenter. Students who withdraw for one semester may continue to use graduation requirements from the catalog which was in effect their first semester of attendance. Students who stop out for more than one consecutive semester (excluding summer) must use the catalog which is in effect when they reenter. Students-in-Residence-on-Leave (SIROL) are the only exception to this policy.

Applicants are considered for readmission if the minimum 2.00 GPA requirement is met, there are no holds on the student’s account and when the following materials are received by the Office of Admission:

• A completed application for admission, submitted no later than ten days before the beginning of the semester. Please note: incoming students cannot start in the second eight-weeks of a semester.
• Official transcripts from all previously enrolled colleges and universities other than North Central if gone for more than five years or attended another institution after leaving North Central
• Additional information —such as a personal statement— may be requested once an initial review of a student’s application materials is complete

If offered readmission to the college, a student will meet with a success coach to register for classes and complete an individualized transition plan.

Students who have previously earned degrees from North Central College or Shimer College and wish to earn a second degree or additional major or minor need to contact the Office of Admission (see Multiple Degrees  section). Students intending to earn a master’s degree need to contact the School of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Official Documents

Official documents must be sent in hard-copy form or sent through approved electronic transferring services, including the Common Application, directly from another institution to North Central for the College to take action and/or make decisions.  Documents received through other means are considered unofficial and may be used to advise and counsel students regarding admission, transfer of credit and financial aid but will not be acted upon by North Central.

Alternative Education

North Central College recognizes that candidates for admission may present alternative education credits, including but not limited to AP, CLEP and IB. These credits are reviewed and evaluated using policies of academic departments and divisions, as well as institutional admission standards.

Campus Visits

The Office of Admission encourages students to experience life at North Central by visiting campus. Prospective students may attend classes, meet with faculty, tour campus facilities, meet with coaches and speak with counselors in the Offices of Admission and Financial Aid. To arrange a campus visit, please contact the Office of Admission at 1-630-637-5800 or by e-mail.