Since 1861, North Central has been a place where new ideas lead to unlimited possibilities. North Central College is an independent college dedicated to the power of the liberal arts and sciences to transform students into leaders both in their careers and communities. North Central College has nearly 3000 students study across more than 65 undergraduate and graduate programs, with their education made richer by supportive faculty and staff, world-class facilities and countless opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

Building on the foundation of more than 150 years of excellence, North Central continues to grow with numerous new facilities, programs and initiatives in the works.

North Central College was founded in 1861, during the Civil War. North Central College was called Plainfield College then, and North Central College was one of the few colleges welcoming women as well as men. From the very beginning we set ourselves apart as an institution committed to wisdom as well as knowledge. NorthCentral College first president, A.A. Smith, an ardent abolitionist, said, “A college should be a great moral lighthouse, sending out a clear and steady light upon all subjects….”

Over the years, thousands of dedicated students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends have helped North Centra College thrive through the toughest challenges – wars, economic crises, social upheavals, and more – and build a future brilliant with hope and promise. North Central College has met the changing needs of students from Civil War veterans to millennial entrepreneurs. And North Central College always stayed true to our heritage of moral courage and forward thinking.

Today North Central College is a top-ranked private comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences. U.S. News & World Report counts North Central College among “America’s Best Colleges,” one of the top six schools in the Midwest for a “strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.” Students choose from more than 55 undergraduate majors and five graduate program areas.

Although the College originally discouraged organized athletics as a distraction from weightier matters, North Central's 26 intercollegiate sports in NCAA Division III make our athletic department the largest in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). North Central is proud of its 32 team national championships and 123 individual national champions.

Though affiliated with the United Methodist Church, we welcome and encourage students and staff of all faiths. North Central College is thoughtfully expanding their academic programs to respond to the needs of their ever-changing world, recently adding Middle Eastern and North African Studies, along with Arabic. And North Central College is transforming their facilities – most dramatically with a new interdisciplinary Science Center located at the corner of Brainard Street and Van Buren Avenue.

Use North Central College's interactive program finder to explore what North Central College has to offer. View programs by type, filter based on formats, subjects, careers, and experiences. Or type a keyword to get started.

North Central College invite you to join us to learn all about North Central and tour their beautiful campus with a current student. These are great opportunities to get a first introduction to the school in-person! This on-campus visit opportunity includes an hour long walking campus tour with a current student and a meeting with an Admission Counselor (30 minutes for incoming freshman and 1 hour for incoming transfers if you'd like a transcript evaluation). They have start times between 9am and 2:30pm every weekday. Use Event Category of "Individual Campus Visit" when registering below.

North Central College's 150 full-time