North Central College’s Commitment to College Access and Affordability

A recent State of Higher Education Report by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation found that cost is the primary concern preventing U.S. adults from pursuing a college education. North Central College is committed to making a college degree affordable for all students. North Central recently launched its Cardinal Pledge, a program that assists eligible students by covering the full cost of tuition and standard fees through the use of federal, state, and institutional aid. The College also offers a wide range of financial assistance including grants, scholarships and special programs for first-year, transfer, graduate, first-generation, international, and undocumented students.

“Affordability is a significant and documented barrier to college access for many students and families,” said Aggie Hanni, vice president for enrollment management and marketing at North Central College. “We are committed to extending an opportunity for world-class education to all students, because a college degree remains the most reliable pathway to financial mobility for generations to come.”

Cardinal Pledge

The goal of the Cardinal Pledge program is to expand access to a North Central College education and to take the guesswork out of the financial aid process for students and their families. Those who qualify can graduate from North Central College debt-free. The Cardinal Pledge is available to both resident and commuter students who meet the following eligibility requirements:

• U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Illinois resident who attended and graduated from an Illinois high school
• Admitted first-year student at North Central College
• Enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program for at least 12 credit hours during fall or spring semesters
• Completed financial aid file
• Qualify for the Federal Pell Grant and State of Illinois MAP Grant
• Meet the Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) and other Title IV eligibility requirements

More information about the Cardinal Pledge is available at northcentralcollege.edu/cardinal-pledge.

TheDream.US

North Central College has partnered with TheDream.US to provide scholarships for undocumented students from Illinois to help make higher education more affordable and accessible. Undocumented youth, commonly referred to as DREAMers, often face substantial obstacles on their path toward a college degree, including lack of access to federal or state financial aid, and higher, out-of-state tuition rates based on their immigration status. TheDream.US scholarships aim to address these financial barriers.

More information about North Central’s TheDream.US partnership is available at northcentralcollege.edu/diversity-inclusion/undocumented-students.

Cardinal First

First-generation college students—those who are the first in their family to earn a college degree—often face more barriers than their non-first-generation peers when it comes to navigating the college experience. To counter this, North Central College’s nationally recognized Cardinal First program provides a supportive and welcoming community for first-generation college students and their families. Cardinal First promotes a campus culture that recognizes and celebrates first-generation student identity as an asset, and connects first-generation students to resources, information, and experiences that foster academic and personal success from enrollment through graduation. Additionally, Cardinal First program participants can earn at $1,000 renewable scholarship after one year of participation in the program.

More information about Cardinal First is available at northcentralcollege.edu/cardinal-first.

Additional Assistance

North Central College offers a variety of options to help students and their families with college affordability, including scholarships, grants, loans, and employment. More information is available at northcentralcollege.edu/tuition-aid. North Central College encourages anyone with questions to contact the Office of Financial Aid by calling 630-637-5600 or emailing finaid@noctrl.edu.

About North Central College

North Central College provides students with the confidence, instruction and direction they need to exceed their personal best inside and outside of the classroom and throughout their careers. Founded in 1861 and located just 28 miles west of Chicago in the Historic District of Naperville, Ill. — named among the nation’s “Best Places to Live” by Money magazine — North Central is home to more than 2,900 students and offers more than 90 undergraduate majors, 67 additional undergraduate minors and concentrations, and 24 graduate degree and graduate certificate programs. Visit northcentralcollege.edu to discover why U.S. News & World Report has named North Central a “Best in the Midwest” school for 30 years in a row, and to learn more about the College’s state-of-the-art facilities and distinctive programs, particularly in the sciences and business.