How to Apply for Admission

• Apply now for free at www.nl.edu/applyonline
  • Click "First Time Users"
  • Under Type of Application, select "International Applicant"

• Foreign Credential Evaluation
  • Go to https://edperspective.org/NLU, create your own account, and submit an evaluation request (payment is required).
  • Email us your evaluation fee receipt to confirm you have started the evaluation process.
  • If you have transcripts from any school in the United States, please contact your school and ask them to send your official transcripts to admissions@nl.edu, or by mail to NLU Office of Admissions, 1000 Capitol Drive, Wheeling, IL 60090, USA.

• English proficiency
  • Duolingo English Test: 95 overall score
  • IELTS Academic: 6.0 overall, no sub-score lower than 5.5
  • TOEFL iBT: 4.0 overall score
  • Pearson Test of English: 50 overall score
  • At least 2 years of college/university, or 3 years high school/secondary school, where English is the language of instruction
  • Completion of an accredited ESL program within the last 3 years
• Submit your test scores or academic records for one of the following:

• Complete admission requirements are listed at www.nl.edu/applyonline

• Passport
  • Photo copy of your passport picture page

• Proof of funds
  • Minimum funding required for your program of study varies by program and scholarship awarded, your international enrollment specialist will confirm with you what your specific funding requirements  are.  General funding requirements by program and level of study is listed below (all amounts in USD):
    • Culinary Arts/Baking & Pastry: $46,000
    • All other undergraduate programs: $37,000
      
  • Minimum funding required for spouse or dependents
    • Spouse: $5,000
    • Each Child: $3,000
  • Please see list of accepted funding documents here

• Apply now for free at www.nl.edu/applyonline
  • Click "First Time Users"
  • Under Type of Application, select "International Applicant"

• Foreign Credential Evaluation
  • Go to https://edperspective.org/NLU, create your own account, and submit an evaluation request (payment is required).
  • Email us your evaluation fee receipt to confirm you have started the evaluation process.
  • If you have transcripts from any school in the United States, please contact your school and ask them to send your official transcripts to admissions@nl.edu, or by mail to NLU Office of Admissions, 1000 Capitol Drive, Wheeling, IL 60090, USA.

• English proficiency
• Submit your test scores or academic records for one of the following:
• Duolingo English Test: 105 overall score
• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, no sub-score lower than 6.0
• TOEFL iBT: 4.5 overall score
• Pearson Test of English: 54 overall score
• At least 2 years of college/university, or 3 years high school/secondary school, where English is the language of instruction
• Completion of an accredited ESL program within the last 3 years

• Complete admission requirements are listed at www.nl.edu/applyonline
• Professional Resume/CV, Written Statement/Essays, References/Letters of Recommendation, Work Experience, Writing Assessment, etc. - varies by program

• Passport
  • Photo copy of your passport picture page

• Proof of funds
  • Minimum funding required for your program of study varies by program and scholarship awarded, your international enrollment specialist will confirm with you what your specific funding requirements  are.  General funding requirements by program and level of study is listed below (all amounts in USD):
    • Graduate/Doctoral programs: $33,000
  • Minimum funding required for spouse or dependents
    • Spouse: $5,000
    • Each Child: $3,000
  • Please see list of accepted funding documents here

Below are the only tests accepted as evidence of English proficiency at NLU along with the minimum scores indicated for each. Only one of the following tests is required to complete your application.

English Proficiency Test Score Minimums are list below:

• • IELTS

    • Undergraduate Requirement: 6.0 overall, no sub-score lower than 5.5

    • Graduate Graduate Requirement: 6.5 overall, no sub-score lower than 6.0

  • TOEFL iBT

    • Undergraduate Requirement: 4.0 total score

    • Graduate Requirement: 4.5 total score

  • TOEFL PBT

    • Undergraduate Requirement: 533 total score

    • Graduate Requirement: 550 total score

  • PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online

    • Undergraduate Requirement: 50 overall score

    • Graduate Requirement: 54 overall score

  • Duolingo English Test

    • Undergraduate Requirement: 95 overall score

    • Graduate Requirement: 105 overall score

Exemptions to the English Proficiency Requirement

Exemptions to the English Proficiency requirement are listed below:

• Citizen of a country where English is an official language and have competed at least three years of high school or secondary education where English is the primary language of instruction

• Completed at least two years (48 semester hours) of education at a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction

• Students who have completed an ESL program that is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA), The Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET), or any of the six regional accrediting bodies for higher education institutions in the US within the past three calendar years may also be considered to have met the English proficiency requirements.

English Proficiency Test Score Submission

• TOEFL scores must be reported to NLU directly from ETS.

  • Use our Institutional Code 1551.

  • All programs are able to access the test scores regardless of department code, as long as our institutional code is used.

• PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online scores must be reported to NLU directly from Pearson.

  • Select National Louis University from the institution selection menu.

• IELTS Academic results must be delivered to our Electronic Download account by the IELTS test center.

  • • Please contact the test center directly where you took the IELTS test and request that your test scores be sent to our E-Download account using the IELTS system with the following information:

      • Institution: National Louis University, Chicago Campus

      • Address: Chicago, IL, United States of America

• Duolingo English Test scores must be reported directly to NLU from DET

  • • DET does not use institution codes and you must send your DET scores through the DET secure portal to NLU.

      • NLU DET School Name: NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY

English proficiency test scores are considered valid for two years from the test date and must be valid at the time of application.