Mission Statement
National Louis University is an inclusive, innovative community providing educational opportunities that inspire and empower all learners as they prepare for and advance in meaningful lives and productive careers.
A Brief History
Nearly 140 years ago, National Louis University was founded on the principle that a quality education can transform lives, careers, and communities. In 1886, urban education pioneer and community activist Elizabeth Harrison had the then-revolutionary idea to create a school to train women to teach very young children with the aim of improving prospects for families and neighborhoods. From its beginnings as Miss Harrison’s Training School, the institution became the home of the modern American kindergarten movement and the National Congress of Mothers, later known as the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). In 1930, after three other name changes, the school became the National College of Education (NCE) and introduced the first four-year teacher-training course in the state of Illinois.
In 1986, Michael W. Louis provided a historic $30 million gift – among the largest ever granted to a college or university in Illinois. This contribution enabled the institution to greatly expand its programs. The university was renamed National Louis University in 1990 in honor of the Louis family gift.
In 2015, NLU launched a new undergraduate experience designed to reimagine higher education, with the goal of driving equity in bachelor’s degree attainment and employment for students historically marginalized in college and the workforce, and to do so by knocking down the most common barriers to postsecondary success.
In 2018, NLU acquired Kendall College, adding culinary and hospitality management programs. And in 2020, NLU formed two dynamic new colleges, the Graduate School of Business and Leadership and the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, as well as Accelerate U, an innovative program offering a rapid pathway to a full-time job that also builds toward a full bachelor's degree.
In 2023, NLU launched the School of Nursing to help address the national shortage of nurses and provide opportunities for students interested in healthcare careers. Also, in 2023, Washington Monthly, which ranks colleges based on their contribution to the public good, ranked National Louis University at number 30 overall nationally, 4th in the nation for social mobility, and number 1 in the Midwest for “best bang for the buck.”
Today, NLU is the outcome of and testament to the vision of our founders. A university that excels in creating learning communities where theory complements practice, NLU sustains a tradition of access to higher education for first-generation and urban university students who want to make a lasting impact in their lives and communities.
The University serves approximately 12,000 students annually at locations in Illinois, Florida, and online everywhere and is proud of the 100,000 living alumni using their NLU education to serve others. Nivine Megahed, Ph.D. is the institution's eleventh president. For more information visit www.nl.edu.
A Note from the President
Dear National Louis Student,
National Louis University is proud to offer a range of high quality, professionally-focused programs including business and technology, culinary arts and hospitality, education, health, nursing, human services, and social and behavioral sciences. The 60+ programs that NLU offers are detailed in this catalog, and we invite you to use this as your guide to finding the one that’s right for you.
Programs are offered at the certificate, associates, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels through our Undergraduate College, Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Business and Leadership, the National College of Education, Accelerate U, and Nursing. Whether you are seeking a graduate degree, undergraduate degree or non-degree certificate that will enrich your career options. National Louis has a program that will fit your lifestyle and help you achieve your goals. We offer programs in a variety of convenient modalities that allow you the flexibility you need to pursue your education on-campus, online, through our weekend center, and at partner sites.
For nearly 140 years, NLU has been proudly delivering holistic professional preparation and a compelling academic experience. Our mission is to prepare students to lead in their professions and communities, and we encourage excellence in the pursuit of career and personal goals. NLU students and graduates inspire us every day with their passion and dedication to bringing innovative ideas to their workplaces, their communities, and any place they see an opportunity to make a positive difference.
At National Louis we are most proud that we are able to drive economic and social mobility for our students through our support from education to employment. In turn our students, not only economically benefit but also are then empowered to go out into the world and make it a better place, not only for themselves, but for those around them. They make an impact in their community, and provide leadership in their profession. We welcome and encourage you to use our resources to achieve your goals within our programs.
We invite you to explore our catalog and our website at
www.nl.edu. Through these pages, you will learn about the richness of National Louis - its history, its programs, its people, and the diversity of experience and ideas that keep our community motivated and energized. Come join us at NLU, where you will gain the knowledge and skills to write your own success story.
Best wishes,
Nivine Megahed, Ph.D.
President
Locations
Illinois Locations
Downtown Chicago
122 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603-3032
888.658.8632
Gage Building
18 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603-3032
National Louis University’s main campus in downtown Chicago consists of space in two historic landmark buildings at 122 S. Michigan Avenue and 18 S. Michigan Avenue. These buildings house campus classrooms, developmental skills laboratories, computer labs, a library and the NLU gift shop. The offices of the President, Provost and other academic and administrative personnel are also located on this campus.
Programs in the National College of Education, the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, the Graduate School of Business and Leadership, the Undergraduate College, and the Kendall College are offered on this campus with classes scheduled during the daytime, evening and weekends. The P.A.C.E. program at NLU is also housed on this campus.
Lisle
850 Warrenville Road
Lisle, IL 60532
888.658.8632
NLU Lisle offers working adults upper-level undergraduate and graduate programs in the National College of Education, the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, and the Graduate School of Business and Leadership. It includes classrooms, administration and faculty offices, computer labs, student lounges and a library. The Reading Recovery Center is also housed in this location.
Wheeling
1000 Capitol Drive
Wheeling, IL 60090-7201
888.658.8632
Classes at the Wheeling location are easily accessible to adults who live and work in northwest Cook and Lake Counties, offering graduate programs in the National College of Education and the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, as well as programs for traditional students through the Undergraduate College. The Wheeling location offers classrooms, computer labs and student lounges. It also houses student records. Many university faculty, administrators and staff members have offices in Wheeling.
Other Locations
Florida Regional Center
6550 West Hillsborough Avenue, Suite 100
Tampa, FL 33634
888.658.8632
Serving a diverse Florida population, this NLU location supports class groups throughout the state and offers programs through the National College of Education, the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, and the Graduate School of Business and Leadership. The Florida Regional Center provides a full range of NLU services, including enrollment counseling, academic services, financial services, academic development, information and library support and student affairs. The Center offers classrooms, a computer lab, library support and a student lounge.
Note: NLU also teaches courses at offsite locations but only with HLC approval and after a thorough review process to ensure that the facility meets the requirements for academic learning. Please contact an enrollment specialist to learn more about other locations.
Accreditation and Approvals
Institutional Accreditation
National Louis University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Please visit Accreditation for more information.
Specialized and Programmatic Accreditation
Please click on the respective college names to learn more about their programmatic and specialized approvals, a high-level summary is provided below:
- The National College of Education meets all standards of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Select programs are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education for licensure of education professionals.
- Certain business and health-related programs in the Graduate School of Business and Leadership have earned professional accreditation from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
- The counseling programs in the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and the clinical psychology programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association.
- A few programs in Kendall College are accredited by the American Culinary Federation.
- The social work program in the Undergraduate College has initial accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education and select programs are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education for licensure of education professionals.
State Approvals
National Louis University is authorized to operate as a degree granting institution in the following states:
Illinois: The University is authorized to operate in Illinois by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
Florida: National Louis University is a not-for-profit organization registered with the Florida Division of Corporations to do business in Florida.
The University holds License by Means of Accreditation from the Florida Commission for Independent Education of the Florida Department of Education to operate as a university, to offer programs of instruction, and to award degrees. Additional information regarding NLU may be obtained by contacting the Commission for Independent Education at: 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400. Toll free phone number: 888.224.6684.
Credit and degrees earned from colleges in the State of Florida which are licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education do not automatically qualify the holder for a Florida teaching certificate. Any person interested in obtaining a Florida teaching certificate should contact the Office of Teacher Certification, Department of Education, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.
In the state of Florida, students need to graduate from a state-approved program and then pass the FELE in order to receive a certification from Florida DOE in Educational Leadership that enables them to hold leadership positions at the district and state levels. As a state-approved program, graduates of NLU's M.Ed., Ed.S., and Ed.D. in Educational Leadership will be awarded the degree which completes the first requirement needed to obtain a certification in Educational Leadership.
For additional information regarding programs that lead to licensure and/or certification please visit the NLU Public Disclosures for Licensure page.
NLU is also a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). As a SARA member, NLU is authorized to offer distance education to other SARA member states.