College campuses get makeovers all the time—new buildings, revamped programs, updated rankings. But a whole new name? That’s a little less common.
Now, one Naperville institution is preparing to make the switch.
North Central College’s Board of Trustees voted on October 15 that the name will change to North Central University Naperville, the college announced. The change officially takes effect July 1, 2027.
Why is North Central College changing its name?
According to NBC Chicago, President Abiódún Gòkè-Paríolá said in a statement that the new name reflects the institution’s “wide range of opportunities that we offer to our students,” including its undergraduate and graduate programs and professional pathways.
Simply put, school leaders say “university” better captures the institution’s academic offerings. Adding Naperville, meanwhile, provides “geographic clarity and market differentiation”—with the statement pointing to the suburb’s frequent appearances on national lists of the best places to live.
The decision wasn’t made overnight. Gòkè-Paríolá said the change followed conversations with stakeholders, trustees and senior leadership and was “informed by data.” An FAQ on the college’s website also says the school gathered feedback from donors, corporate partners, prospective students and the Alumni Board, among others.
This isn’t the school’s first name change
Founded in 1861 as Plainfield College, the institution became North-Western College in 1864 before adopting North Central College in 1926.
According to school officials, that last change helped distinguish it from Northwestern University in Evanston while better reflecting its place within the Evangelical church.
Now, a century after its last rebrand, the school is getting ready for another new chapter—this time with Naperville officially in the name.
