Contact your Admission Counselor regarding your interest in joining the Honors Program. They will walk you through the two-step application process, highlighting our Express Lane application program that features an exclusive honors visit opportunity for those who apply by November 15 and the opportunity to waive the application essay component for students who apply by January 15.
Current Students
If you are interested in applying to the Honors Program during your first or second year at North Central, or if you recently transferred from another institution, please contact our Honors Program Director, Sue Lafferty (slafferty@noctrl.edu).
2. Submit letter of recommendation from a teacher or professor. The letter of recommendation should describe your critical thinking, communication and leadership abilities, and give reasons for endorsing your application to the Honors Program. This letter of recommendation should be sent to honors@noctrl.edu.
Applications received after January 15 must also submit the essay component; the essay is waived for those applying via the Express Lane process, which requires an application before January 15.
When will I know if I’ve been accepted?
We begin reviewing completed applications in November. From there, applications are reviewed monthly. Please note, by applying and receiving acceptance to the Honors Program you are not committing to North Central College. Rather, you are giving yourself the opportunity to be a part of the Honors Program if you choose to join the Cardinal community.
Is there an application deadline?
To take advantage of our Express Lane application program that waives the essay requirement, please apply to the Honors Program by January 15. All applications received after January 15 require the essay component for consideration.
Academic Criteria for the Honors Program
Most Honors Program applicants have at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. For first-year students entering Fall of 2025, we provide a test-optional admission process. Submission of a test score is not required for admission to the Honors Program. Please note in the history of the program, the recent average composite test score of our applicants is a 1280 SAT or a 28 ACT.
