National Louis University (NLU) is a private, non-profit, non-denominational university offering more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of education, management, human services, counseling, public policy, culinary arts, hospitality, and others oriented toward career and professional development. NLU’s roots date back to 1886 when it first began providing educational access to adult, immigrant, and minority populations. As a federally-designated Minority-Serving ... Read More
National Louis University (NLU) is a private, non-profit, non-denominational university offering more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of education, management, human services, counseling, public policy, culinary arts, hospitality, and others oriented toward career and professional development. NLU’s roots date back to 1886 when it first began providing educational access to adult, immigrant, and minority populations. As a federally-designated Minority-Serving Institution, NLU provides an innovative, inclusive, and supportive educational experience for students of all backgrounds, and we are committed to the preparation of professionals who are driven to make a difference in their communities. Serving nearly 12,000 students from 48 states and 28 countries at locations in Illinois and Florida and online, we are proud of our alumni who are using their education to serve others.
In Academic Year 2023-24, NLU served nearly 12,000 students, about half undergraduate and half graduate. The average age of undergraduate students was 28, and 37 for graduate students; 77% of all students identified as female. 60% of undergraduate students are from low-income households, and 58% were the first in their families to attend college. The average NLU undergraduate tuition is $12,000 annually, meaning that students who qualify for the maximum state and federal aid can attend NLU for zero dollars out of pocket.
NLU advances our mission and vision by remaining laser focused on good jobs and economic mobility for NLU students as measures of our continued success, and by adhering to our core values of Innovation, Access, Excellence, and Equity. To help our learners achieve their dreams of higher education, NLU provides comprehensive supports and services including success and career coaches, learning support specialists, writing courses and tutors, scholarships and emergency funds, internships with a wide array of employer partners, an on-campus food pantry, mental health counseling, resources for veterans and military-connected families, and more.
NLU’s important work has been recognized widely, most recently by Washington Monthly which ranked NLU as #30 nationally for contributing to the public good, #14 for advancing our students’ social mobility, and #1 “Best Bang for the Buck” in the Midwest for our affordability.
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