North Central College

What is the history of North Central College?

North Central College is a private college founded in 1861 in Plainfield, Illinois. Originally called Plainfield College, it was established in the tradition of the Evangelical Association, a predecessor of today's United Methodist Church. The institution adopted the name North-Western College before moving to Naperville in 1870; it became North Central College in 1926.

That move established the college's lasting connection to Naperville. More recently, the addition of the Shimer Great Books School expanded its undergraduate offerings in discussion-based liberal arts study. Its history helps explain the combination of professional programs, liberal arts coursework, and continuing Methodist affiliation students encounter today.

What are the faculties and departments at North Central College?

North Central College offers undergraduate majors and graduate programs across the liberal arts, sciences, business, education, engineering, and health-related fields. Its academic organization includes the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, and the School of Education and Health Sciences; the Shimer Great Books School offers a distinct liberal arts pathway.

Undergraduates can explore subjects such as biology, computer science, economics, English, psychology, accounting, and teacher education. Engineering and graduate-level options broaden the range beyond a traditional liberal arts curriculum. Applicants should consult the current academic catalog for the credential and course sequence attached to a particular program: a major's name alone does not establish whether it leads to professional licensure or fits a four-year schedule without summer courses.

The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 13 to 1. That institution-wide ratio describes staffing relative to enrollment, not the size of every class or the availability of every course.

What is the location of North Central College?

North Central College's main campus is in Naperville, Illinois, near the city's downtown. The setting gives students access to local businesses and community organizations while remaining connected to the wider Chicago metropolitan area.

Naperville's Metra station, served by the BNSF Line, is useful for travel toward Chicago and for some commuters. A rail connection does not necessarily make a daily trip practical from every suburb, so prospective commuters should check their specific route and class schedule. First-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus, subject to the college's parking procedures.

What is the mission and vision of North Central College?

North Central College describes its educational mission in terms of liberal arts learning, preparation for careers and further study, and service to others. Its historical relationship with the United Methodist Church remains part of the institution's identity; that affiliation should not be confused with a requirement that students share a particular faith.

The stated approach pairs broad coursework with study in a major. For applicants, the practical question is how those aims appear in the current curriculum - for example, through general education requirements, experiential learning, and the courses required within a chosen program. Mission statements describe institutional priorities rather than independently measured student outcomes.