North Park has served five generations of students and continues to grow in diversity, academic relevance, and Christian commitment. Our Chicago location is a great asset that reflects the School’s global reach and outlook.
After 125 years, we’ve learned how to streamline the process of helping qualified applicants seek admission to North Park and find affordable ways to attend. If you don’t see what you’re looking for on our website, please contact us directly!
North Park offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Classes average 17 students. 84% of our faculty have terminal degrees. Academics here are rigorous and results-oriented.
North Park Theological Seminary prepares you to answer the call to service through theological study, spiritual development, and the formative experiences of living in a community with others on a similar life path.
The Office of Alumni Engagement fosters lifelong connections by engaging alumni with the university and one another in activities, programs, and services that support the university’s mission and alumni needs.
North Park senior Jessica Torres, majoring in elementary education with an ESL, Bilingual, and Special Education Endorsement, will be recognized for her excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois.
North Park senior Jessica Torres, majoring in elementary education with an ESL, Bilingual, and Special Education Endorsement, will be recognized for her excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. During the November 10th virtual ceremony, Torres will be honored as a top student among Illinois’ colleges and universities, along with a congratulatory statement made by Governor J. B. Pritzker and members of The Lincoln Academy.
Nominees meet the criteria of being a senior in a college of Illinois exemplifying leadership characteristics of Abraham Lincoln: courage, empathy, honesty, and integrity.
When learning about the nomination, Torres felt a great honor to have been selected by her professors in the School of Education. “As a first-generation Hispanic college student, I am reminded of all who have encouraged, prayed, and stood by my side these past four years,” said Torres.
Torres will receive a letter and certificate of merit signed by Gov. Pritzker, a Lincoln medallion, a challenge coin, and a $500 check from The Lincoln Academy. Student Laureates are selected by their individual schools. “I strongly believe this award is the result of hard work and commitment to my studies and community involvement on and off campus. It is an honor to have been selected out of the many candidates and to be representing this institution,” said Torres.
Torres plans to return to North Park and pursue a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. “With my graduate studies, I plan to make a difference in our school system, carry-out essential duties for student achievement, and shape young children into future leaders,” said Torres.
Dr. Peter K. B. St. Jean, North Park Sociology and Criminal Justice Professor, researches and actively works with students and the community to upgrade the age-worn paradigm focus on violence to one of making peace profitable.
Sociology and Criminal Justice Professor Peter St. Jean Upgrades Paradigm from Violence to Peace
şÚÁĎłÔąĎ, rooted in the Christian faith, engages its talented faculty to educate an intercultural student population on the importance of a peaceful society.
Dr. Peter K. B. St. Jean
Dr. Peter K. B. St. Jean, North Park Sociology and Criminal Justice Professor, researches and actively works with students and the community to upgrade the age-worn paradigm focus on violence to one of making peace profitable.
Focusing mainly on solutions to violence, St. Jean works directly with participants who have been conditioned, and rewarded, throughout their lives to concentrate their energy on violence. Instead, St. Jean shifts the attention in a positive direction, demonstrating a pathway towards living a life of peace.
Make a Living Out of Peace Rather Than Crime
“Violence has been made profitable through the costs of crime,” said St. Jean. Through teaching and outreach efforts, says St. Jean, there is a noticeable paradigm upgrade away from participating in an economy of violence to being involved in building an economy of peace — making peace profitable.
“Promoting the profits of peace — by showing disenfranchised communities that peace is a way of life — there is potential to realize a more peaceful Chicago, and world by extension,” said St. Jean.
St. Jean operates his research and leads students in community outreach efforts through the Urban Peace Lab within the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at şÚÁĎłÔąĎ.
In the sum of its three distinctive attributes — Christian, city-centered, and thoroughly intercultural — şÚÁĎłÔąĎ finds its unique value, its competitive advantage, and its opportunity to emerge as the model for Christian higher education in 21st Century America.
Since 2015, the North Park Research Experience for Summer Students (NPRESS) has been strengthening students’ relationships with North Park faculty as well as their research skills over the course of eight weeks.
Since 2015, the North Park Research Experience for Summer Students (NPRESS) has been strengthening students’ relationships with North Park faculty as well as their research skills over the course of eight weeks. While the presentations were delivered virtually on August 18th this year, the NPRESS tradition continued, providing the cohort of seniors with graduate-level research experience.
NPRESS offers undergraduates the opportunity to engage as one would in a graduate setting—requiring each research proposal to demonstrate merit, defined goals, and commitment.
This year’s NPRESS student cohort of seniors included:
Emmanuel Carrillo, Fine Art and Philosophy
Miakala Rath, Business Management
Gabrielle Rigg, History
Donna Shergarfi, Political Science and Communications
Emmanuel Carrillo
Emmanuel Carrillo
Titling his project “Nostalgia of the Present: Art and Design in Response to Cultural Hauntology,” Emmanuel Carrillo, a Fine Art and Philosophy major, explored the philosophical idea of hauntology through art. Carrillo said, “My mentor really helped me think about how art can respond to ideas from the academic world in various ways, which led me down interesting avenues. I ventured forth from my comfort zone in painting and drawing to more experimental work in performance and video art,” said Carrillo on his work with Professor Kelly VanderBrug.
Miakala Rath
Mentored by Dr. Mark Gavoor, Miakala Rath, presented “Quality Transformation in Higher Education.” Rath, a senior Business Management major, studied metrics and quality transformation models to measure improvement in higher education.
Gabrielle Rigg
Gabrielle Rigg
Gabrielle Rigg, who is majoring in History and will be graduating this fall, collaborated with Dr. Sarah Doherty to present “Unlikely Neighbor: The Relationship between Anglo and Japanese Farmers in the Central Valley of California during World War II.” Inspired to continue her project, Rigg said, “The online NPRESS experience required Dr. Doherty and I to adapt our original aims of this project, but I am thankful I was able to conduct remote interviews and I will hopefully continue this research in the future.”
Donna Shergarfi
As a senior majoring in Political Science and Communications, Donna Shergarfi conducted research of the appropriation of Black culture under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel White Hodge. During the virtual event, Shergarfi presented “Keeping up with the Kim: An Ethnonarrative of the Kardashian Empire.”
North Park’s NPRESS graduates have applied their research experience, moving on to a range of graduate studies including STEM, sociology, and philosophy.
şÚÁĎłÔąĎ jumped 22 spots in the 2021 Midwest regional rankings, U.S. News & World Report announced today. The nearly 3,000 student campus community on Chicago’s near northside — with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio moved from 61 up to 39 this year out of 87 schools.
şÚÁĎłÔąĎ Rankings Jump in 2021 U.S. News & World Report
Midwest Regional Rankings Climb 22 Spots
Chicago, Illinois — September 14, 2020 — (North Park) jumped 22 spots in the 2021 Midwest regional rankings, U.S. News & World Report announced today. The nearly 3,000 student campus community on Chicago’s near northside — with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio moved from 61 up to 39 this year out of 87 schools.
In the sum of its three distinctives — Christian, city-centered, and thoroughly intercultural — North Park finds its unique value, its competitive advantage, and its opportunity to continue this upward trajectory and emerge as the model for Christian higher education in 21st Century America.
The Midwest regional rankings also measured: Campus Ethnic Diversity, Social Mobility, and Best Undergraduate Teaching.
Campus Ethnic Diversity
North Park tied for third most diverse institution in the region. “North Park is a thoroughly intercultural institution fully committed to the success of every student,”  said North Park President Mary K. Surridge, “and we were encouraged to recently be named a Hispanic Serving Institution.”
The University’s Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life helps students of all backgrounds feel welcome and included. “Cultural clubs, student success programming, and advocacy are just a few ways we support students in our missional commitment to prepare them for lives of significance and service,” Surridge said.
College-bound students who seek a diverse environment will appreciate North Park’s thoroughly intercultural campus.
Social Mobility
North Park ranked 14th out of 87 in Social Mobility — as measured by graduated students who received federal Pell grants.
“North Park’s active recruitment of promising Pell-eligible students compels our responsibility to support them in achieving their goals, preparing them to contribute to their families, the workforce, and their faith communities,” Surridge said.
Best Undergraduate Teaching
North Park was one of only 17 schools recognized for Best Undergraduate Teaching, based on responses to a 2020 U.S. News peer assessment survey of college presidents, provosts, and admissions’ deans.
“At şÚÁĎłÔąĎ, our talented and committed faculty embraces the extraordinary opportunity to educate a thoroughly intercultural student population, in the world-class city of Chicago, at a University deeply rooted in the Christian faith,” Surridge said.
ABOUTÂ NORTH PARK UNIVERSITYÂ
is city-centered, intercultural, and emerging as the model for Christian higher education in 21st Century America.
şÚÁĎłÔąĎ (North Park) has been recognized for its honorable commitment to engaged, experiential education by Colleges of Distinction, which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary as a one-of-a-kind guide for college-bound students.
Chicago, Illinois—June 12, 2020
(North Park) has been recognized for its honorable commitment to engaged, experiential education by , which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary as a one-of-a-kind guide for college-bound students. Colleges of Distinction boasts its longstanding support for student-centered schools that traditional rankings often overlook. As an institution whose primary goals are based on student success and satisfaction, North Park confirms its honor as one of the renowned Colleges of Distinction.
Founder Wes Creel traces Colleges of Distinction’s beginnings back to when he was helping his eldest daughter search for schools. The institutions that dominated the rankings were drowning out all the others, and not speaking to what the student experience would be like. He then created Colleges of Distinction to draw more attention to schools like North Park whose student-centered education prevails in applying theory to practice while fostering a dynamic learning community.
While higher education has changed over the last 20 years, Colleges of Distinction’s selection process has stayed consistent—conducting in-depth research and detailed interviews with the schools themselves about each institution’s freshman experience and retention efforts alongside its general education programs, career development, strategic plan, student satisfaction, and more—and accepting only those that adhere to the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes. Overlaid in the last few years have been a look into High-Impact Practices. This model prioritizes the opportunities institutions have for students that make for a fulfilling, individualized college experience.
“Each school is different, just as every student is different,” said Creel. “There is no number-one college for everyone, so we never rank those in our cohort.” North Park’s inclusion is informed by the unique ways it commits to achieving success.
Creel and his colleagues found that the most pervasive ranking systems rely on metrics like peer reputation, size of endowment, and alumni salaries. They knew instead that most critical to the student experience were the kinds of engaging experiences that are found at şÚÁϳԹϒs experiential-based learning programs (Catalyst 606), service-learning programs, diversity and global learning programs, living-learning communities (CRUX), study abroad programs, and internships.
Creel continued, “It’s inspiring to see North Park commit to the learning styles and community involvement that will best allow their students to thrive.”
About Colleges of Distinction
Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been committed to honoring schools throughout the U.S. for true excellence in higher education. The member schools within the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through their dedicated focus on the undergraduate experience. Its website provides dynamic college profiles, customized tools, and resources for students, parents, and high school counselors. For more information, and to learn how to become a College of Distinction, visit .
Tips from current students for your first move-in day.
North Park students all have different experiences while moving in. As part of North Park culture, all of your RAs and some other current students will be on the curb to greet you with sweaty t-shirts and smiling faces. They’re just as excited about moving in as you are, and they’ll help you get all of your things into your new room.
Here are some comments from people around campus who recall the first time they moved in and want to give you an advantage they didn’t have before moving in:
“Get a mini-fridge. It will keep your drinks cold and give you more versatile options for snacking.” – Male, Class of 2019
“Don’t over-pack; and be nice to your parents, they’re really trying to help.” – Female, Class of 2018
“Box fans, box fans, box fans.” – Male, Class of 2018
“Organize your belongings in boxes while moving out of your house, that way you know where everything is once you move in.” – Female, Class of 2018
“You don’t need everything you think you need.” – Male, Class of 2018
“Don’t be afraid to leave your door open to invite people in.” – Male, Class of 2019
It’s the second day of class. We had our introduction exercises in our first class, and the syllabus was presented too. We won’t be wasting any more time; the real deal starts today. My roommate comes in sweaty; of course, they woke up to meet the gym as it opened. Maybe you’ll get a roommate like that too.
10 am: Coffee
Starbucks or Einstein’s Bagels & Co.? Luckily neither is a difficult choice as the former is across the street and the latter in the Johnson Center. I prefer the snack variety at Einstein’s.
12 pm: Lunchin’
I ordered ahead of time to get my pack lunch at Einstein’s, it does cost a meal swipe, but this way I can sit outside or find a quiet spot in the Johnson Center to call my family, because they call. Every. Single. Day.
2 pm: Catalyst 606__
Some of my friends already have their Catalyst class session now. There are two every semester per afternoon class. I’ve got one of mine next week. We’ve got U-Passes, that means we have unlimited travel on the CTA, Chicago’s train and bus systems, so Millennium Park here we come. We can still explore the city without the class.
6 pm: ARA
Back on campus, everyone calls the campus dining hall “ARA”, it’s infiltrated my use as well. It takes up almost the entire second floor of Magnuson.
8 pm: “Pogo if you love North Park”
Yep, that’s one of the chants at the men’s soccer game. The stands are full and everyone is jumping on one leg with a shoe raised in the air. There are some people at the base of the stands shouting and heckling the other team, in good fun; we joined them for a bit. Why not?
10 pm: Cookie Monster
Some of the returning students want to take us to Insomnia Cookies. It’s off the Fullerton stop and, apparently, the North Parker place to go on a weeknight. There is sleep, but this is college, so…
Program Director Andrew Lundgren talks about the career opportunities and advantages of North Park’s athletic training program.
Andrew Lundgren: Athletic Training Program Director and Associate Professor
What kinds of career opportunities can the athletic training program offer?
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who are experts in the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and other medical conditions. Our graduates find employment in a variety of settings including secondary schools, colleges, professional sports, industrial settings, and physician/sports medicine clinics.
A degree in athletic training can also help prepare students for other health care programs like physical therapy, occupational therapy, or physician assistant studies. Other graduates pursue health-care related professions such as orthopedic technology or medical sales.
What type of student is a good candidate for the program?
Students with strong interpersonal skills who are interested in science, medicine, and working with active populations typically thrive in athletic training. Since each day in the field is different, it is important that athletic trainers are flexible and can adapt.
How does North Park’s athletic training program stand out?
As the only CAATE-accredited athletic training program in Chicago’s city limits, our students have access to a host of learning opportunities and are afforded a diverse array of locations for clinical education. Through these clinical placements, students gain hands-on experiences while learning from professionals in the field. Students gain additional experience as members of the medical team at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon/Shamrock Shuffle. Finally, our growing network of alumni remains actively involved in the program. Many alumni help to educate the next generation of students by serving as guest speakers, preceptors, and mentors. Supported by these unique opportunities and our network of alumni and friends, North Park’s athletic training programs are well-established within and outside Chicagoland.
Life Groups at şÚÁĎłÔąĎ are sponsored by University Ministries and are a great way to learn about what it means to walk with Christ.
LifeGroups at şÚÁĎłÔąĎ are sponsored and resourced by University Ministries. What are LifeGroups? They are groups of four to ten students who gather weekly to intentionally walk with or toward Christ together. LifeGroups are for anyone who has an interest in the Christian faith. This can include a spectrum of people from those who want to know more about faith and the Christian life, to those who are actively following Christ. LifeGroups are also a great way to explore what it means to follow Christ individually and in a group setting.
When Amber Jipp, CollegeLife and Spiritual Formation Coordinator for University Ministries, started at şÚÁĎłÔąĎ in the fall of 2016, there were no current University Ministries (UMin) sponsored Small Groups. “I am very passionate about small groups and really empowering the visions that students have,” says Amber. Currently, there are around 14 LifeGroups resourced by University Ministries which are open to all students. Sponsored LifeGroups have access to resources such as printing flyers, creating events, spiritual guidance and coaching from UMin leaders, and use of UMin facilities.
LifeGroups take all different shapes and sizes as their student leader enters into the discernment process. Some are focused on discipleship, some are centered in one book of the bible, while others are for creative worship practices. LifeGroups are for those who know and desire to grow in Christ in an intentional community.
Jomarie Perlas, a previous student leader, found extreme joy in leading and walking alongside other women in her group while they “learn how to be young adults, daughters in Christ, and college students, while also navigating a broken world.” Her group times are spaces where she and others have been able to share personal stories, ask difficult questions about their frustrations and causes of anger, but also receive encouragement and hope. “We’re not meant to do this messy thing called life alone. This is the significance of being with our brothers and sister in a committed way,” said Jomarie.
LifeGroups are started by students who see a need for prayer groups, Bible studies, book studies, or other shared practices. LifeGroups are expressions and visions of communities working together, moving towards Christ or learning more about Christ at şÚÁĎłÔąĎ. Starting a LifeGroup sponsored or resourced by şÚÁĎłÔąĎ Ministries is as easy as sending Amber an email and meeting with her about the LifeGroup’s vision. LifeGroup leaders can also choose how involved UMin is in their groups.
Joining an existing LifeGroup is also easy. Sign-ups are available during the first few Chapel and CollegeLife services, as well as campus events such as the Ice-cream Social and Viking fair. Getting plugged in to a LifeGroup at any time in the semester can be easily done by emailing Amber Jipp.
At şÚÁĎłÔąĎ, you’ll be a big fish in a small pond.
North Park knows that colleges with a lot of students make it hard to stand out. At şÚÁĎłÔąĎ, with a student–faculty ratio of 12:1, and around 2,000 undergraduates, there are plenty of opportunities to stand out in your field of study; you can be a Big Fish in a Small Pond.
Small classes. You’re a name, not a number.
The average class size at şÚÁĎłÔąĎ is 17 students, so you’ll be sure to receive the right attention from your professors and be able to speak your mind during class discussions.
You’re taught and graded by careful and committed professors.
North Park employs accomplished faculty from all over the globe. From local Chicagoans to professors all the way from India, you’ll be sure to receive a quality education and one-on-one interactions with dedicated, experienced, and accomplished professors.
You’ll have tons of hands-on learning opportunities.
Alongside your classroom experiences, North Park’s new Catalyst 606__ program is dedicated to providing you with out-of-class experiences, giving you real, hands-on knowledge specific to each class you are taking. Not only do you get to learn through rigorous academics, but you get to apply that very same knowledge in the real world.
Strong sense of community.
With Chapel and CollegeLife every Wednesday and Sunday respectively, and a variety of clubs and intramural sports to join, there are no limits to activities and relationships that’ll keep you connected.
Alumni connections mean much more.
Alumni connections are an important part of North Park. Alumni are deeply connected to each other and the school, so you’re part of a global community of North Parkers.
You’ll actually be recognized for your work and talent.
North Park has programs designed to stretch you to your best, and recognize your talents. Through North Park’s Research Experience for Summer Students (NPRESS), you get academic-level research experience with a faculty mentor. Awards like the Distinguished Seniors Awards recognize male and female seniors for outstanding academic and extracurricular work and activities.
Author Ellen AlmerPosted on Categories News, Stories
