For-profit health sciences college in Illinois that closed in July 2024 after 122 years.
Northwestern College offered bachelor's degree programs, associate degree programs, and certificate programs in both online and on-campus formats. The institution specialized in health sciences, with accredited programs in Health Information Management, Health Information Technology, Radiologic Technology, and Nursing. Programs were accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Founded in 1902, Northwestern College operated for 122 years before its sudden closure on July 6, 2024. The institution was originally located in Bridgeview before relocating to 9400 South Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn in August 2022. From June 2020 onward, the college faced significant financial challenges, including placement on Heightened Cash Monitoring by the U.S. Department of Education. In July 2024, the Higher Learning Commission placed the college on notice for non-compliance with accreditation criteria, leading to its abrupt closure days later.
Northwestern College was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Specialized health programs held additional accreditations from discipline-specific bodies. However, the Nursing program was on probation at closure due to low first-time pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination. The college's closure was preceded by years of financial monitoring and regulatory scrutiny.