North Central College recently reached a significant milestone in its long and rich history as a leader in business education. In April, AACSB International (AACSB) announced that North Central had earned accreditation of its programs in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
Widely considered the gold standard in business education, AACSB accreditation is an external marker of excellence held by just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. Closer to home, North Central is the only AACSB-accredited institution in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) athletic conference — an important distinction for students who want to compete in NCAA Division III athletics while earning a business degree.
AACSB accreditation ensures that North Central has the resources, credentials and commitment needed to provide students with a first-rate, future-focused business education. Accreditation applies across our undergraduate majors: accounting, economics, finance, human resource management, international business, management, and marketing as well as our online MBA program, which has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report among top online MBA programs in the country.
Because it is a sign of quality, AACSB accreditation is important for our current and future students as well as our alumni. It reflects the strength of our business faculty, who have a mission-based passion for teaching and mentorship, and it reflects the strength of our curriculum, which prepares students for success through real-life work and learning experiences.
I’m especially proud that AACSB accreditors specifically commended our assurance of learning. In short, that means North Central College fulfills its promise that our business students will gain the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to succeed in their careers. The accreditors specifically cited our Center for Financial Literacy and student-run Coffee Lab as areas of excellence and positive societal impact.
AACSB accreditation is also important for Naperville’s dynamic and interconnected business community, from start-ups to global organizations. As they recruit interns and job candidates, employers will know that North Central College’s business students and alumni are ready for success in an increasingly complex economy.
Learn more by listening to episode 12 of 1861: The North Central College Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or at www.northcentralcollege.edu/podcast.
Founded in 1861, North Central is home to more than 3,000 students and offers more than 90 undergraduate majors, 67 undergraduate minors and concentrations, and 25 graduate degree and certificate programs. Visit northcentralcollege.edu to learn more.
