In 1886 Elizabeth Harrison opened a training school for kindergarten teachers in Chicago. That school is now National Louis University, with its main campus on South Michigan Avenue across from Grant Park. Teacher education is still a big part of it. So are business, psychology and the Kendall College culinary and hospitality programmes, which NLU took over in 2018.
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Official website: nl.edu
1886
122 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Private non-profit university
Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management
$15,000 – $22,000
International students, undergraduate and graduate
$16,000 – $22,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on nl.edu before you apply.
BA Culinary Arts
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, Apr
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
BA Hospitality Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, Apr
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
BA Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, Apr
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, Apr
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Kendall College's culinary school in the Loop.
Teacher education going back to 1886.
Classes on Michigan Avenue facing Grant Park.
Culinary graduates work in Chicago restaurants, hotels and catering kitchens.
Business graduates join Chicago's finance, logistics and professional services firms.
F-1 graduates can apply for OPT after finishing their degree.
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Postgrad
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Undergrad
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Postgrad
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Postgrad
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The main campus is in the Loop, facing Grant Park, with the L trains, Millennium Park and the Art Institute just outside the door.
Chicago has lakefront beaches, famous architecture and hard winters. Rent is lower than in New York or Boston but high downtown, so many students live on the North Side.
Form I-20 issued by National Louis University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
NLU reviews applications on a rolling basis. International students should apply three to four months before the term starts to leave time for the I-20 and visa appointment.
NLU runs on quarters, so there are several start dates a year. Fall, winter and spring are the usual choices for international students.
International students come in on an F-1 visa. The I-20 comes from National Louis University after you confirm your place and show you can cover a year of costs; you then pay the SEVIS fee, fill in the DS-160 and book your consulate interview.
Culinary arts, hospitality, business administration and the MBA attract many international students. Entry needs secondary school or degree transcripts and English at around IELTS 6.0, or TOEFL 71 to 80.
NLU offers some scholarships and keeps tuition lower than most private universities in Chicago. Ask admissions what international students can apply for.
