About NCE

The National College of Education (NCE) is the largest and oldest of the three colleges that form National Louis University. For 125 years, we have been a pioneering and innovative force in early childhood through secondary education, educational psychology, administrative leadership and education reform. Our programs are designed for busy working adults who want to improve their own prospects as well as those of their students and communities.

NCE History

In 1886, child education pioneer Elizabeth Harrison opened Miss Harrison’s Training School with an entering class of five students and two mothers. From these humble beginnings, Harrison and her collaborators built one of the first American institutions devoted to early childhood education. The research and training done by Harrison and her colleagues in the early 20th century helped popularize the kindergarten movement in America and spawned the National Parent-Teacher Association. Harrison’s National Kindergarten and Elementary College became the National College of Education in 1930 and offered one of the first four-year bachelor’s degrees for elementary school teachers.

NCE Today

Under the leadership of Dean Alison Hilsabeck, Ph.D., NCE is one of the leading schools of education in the country today. We confer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in teacher preparation and leadership. We attract millions of dollars of funding for advanced research into classroom instruction, learning disabilities, reading and literacy, and educational leadership. NCE students — from new teachers to experienced administrators — use our research findings to make positive changes in their classrooms and school districts. Our incredibly diverse and dynamic student body forms the heart of an expansive learning community that includes partnerships and collaborations with schools, agencies and non-profits across Illinois.

NCE Fast Facts

  • Founded in 1886
  • Enrollment (fall 2011): 106 undergraduate and 2560 graduate students
  • Ranks #8 in the nation for minority enrollment
  • Ranks #1 in the number of graduate degrees in education awarded to Illinois teachers
  • NCE alumni have won 57 Illinois Golden Apple Awards, more than any other school of education in the state

Join the NCE community by applying today.

Locations

  • CHICAGO DOWNTOWN CAMPUS

    NLU’s Chicago campus on South Michigan Avenue occupies five floors of the historic Peoples Gas Building. This landmark building, across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park, is easily accessible by train, bus and car and is surrounded by restaurants, parking lots/garages and shops.

    122 S. Michigan Avenue
    Chicago, IL 60603
    800.443.5522

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  • ELGIN

    Conveniently located in a fast-growing business district off I-90 and Route 31, NLU Elgin features 10 classrooms with high-tech media equipment; a computer lab with high-speed Internet access; two conference rooms; and comfortable student lounges. Parking is free at this recently remodeled and upgraded teaching site, which now includes wireless Internet access.

    620 Tollgate Road
    Elgin, IL 60123
    800.443.5522

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  • NORTH SHORE

    Opened in the summer of 2006, NLU North Shore at Skokie is a state-of-the-art modern campus located just off the Edens Expressway near the Old Orchard Shopping Center. The campus includes 44 wireless classrooms equipped with high-tech media equipment; four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, including a walk-in lab in the library; six conference rooms; a public café for beverages and snacks; a student welcome center; a library for research and study; and multiple, comfortable student lounge areas.

    5202 Old Orchard Road
    Skokie, IL 60077
    800.443.5522

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  • LISLE

    Located just minutes from the East-West Tollway (I-88), NLU Lisle features 42 wireless classrooms equipped with high-tech media equipment; four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, including a separate walk-in lab in the library; a café for beverages and snacks; a student welcome center; a library for research and study; conference rooms; and six comfortable student lounge areas with wireless access.

    850 Warrenville Road
    Lisle, IL 60532
    800.443.5522

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  • WHEELING

    Located in one of Chicago's major northwest suburbs, the newly renovated NLU Wheeling includes 20 classrooms with high-tech media equipment, four conference rooms, four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, large student lounge areas with wireless capabilities and interactive video capabilities, and an extensive research library. The site also houses the university library research collection.

    1000 Capitol Drive
    Wheeling, IL 60090
    800.443.5522

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  • FLORIDA (TAMPA)

    Established in 1988 and located in one of the city's major business districts, NLU's Tampa campus serves students in 13 counties in central Florida. In addition to six classrooms, the campus features a conference room, a computer lab with high-speed Internet access, an extensive research library and comfortable student lounges.

    4950 West Kennedy Blvd. #300
    Tampa, FL 33609
    800.366.6581 | www.nl.edu/florida

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  • WISCONSIN

    NLU's Milwaukee campus has a proud history of serving graduate students in education in southeastern Wisconsin. Nearly one in five certified Wisconsin teachers looks to NLU for graduate education programs – more than any other university in the state. In addition to classrooms with high-tech media equipment, the campus offers a state-of-the-art computer lab with wireless Internet access and an extensive IDS research library.

    12000 West Park Place, Suite 100
    Milwaukee, WI 53224-3007
    414.577.2658

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