National Louis University - Illinois Campus

In 1886, National Louis University began as a radical idea for its time: a college to train women as kindergarten teachers. Our visionary founder, Elizabeth Harrison, believed that the future prosperity of a community began with the education of its youngest children. She also believed that teaching was a noble and difficult profession that demanded a college degree. As Chicago grew from a prairie outpost to an icon of American diversity and industry, NLU evolved from its beginnings as Miss Harrison’s Training School into a full university and one of the most respected “teacher of teachers” in the region.

Today, NLU is the outcome of and testament to the vision of our founders. It is a contemporary university committed to innovation and best practices in both undergraduate and graduate education. A university that excels in creating learning communities where theory complements practice, NLU sustains an 125-year tradition of access to higher education for first-generation and urban university students who want to make a lasting impact in their lives and in their communities.

Our main campus is located in downtown Chicago on Michigan Avenue. National Louis University was established over 130 years ago, and is one of the oldest and most progressive universities in Chicago. We feature a second campus in Tampa, Florida that was established in 1988 and located in one of Tampa's major business districts, NLU’s Florida Regional Center serves students in 13 counties in central Florida.

We offer more than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through five colleges: the National College of Education, the Graduate College of Business, the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, and the Undergraduate College. We are one of the most diverse universities in the Midwest, helping students of all ages and backgrounds achieve their personal and professional goals.