Chicagoâ??s oldest career college, Northwestern College (formerly known as Northwestern Business College) founded in 1902 by J.F. Fish, is a privately owned for-profit College. Fish had the foresight to recognize that businesses would need competent, well-trained workers. With this vision, the College opened its doors offering programs in accounting and stenography. Fish sold the College in 1930; however, his vision has stood the test of time and lives in the Collegeâ??s Mission which â??encourages, prepares, and empowers its diverse student body to pursue their career and educational goals.â??
Over the years, the College achieved several milestones under the leadership of current President Lawrence Schumacher. He assumed ownership of the college in 1977 along with his sister and has been the sole owner since 2007. In 2008 the name of the college changed from Northwestern Business College to Northwestern College (NC) to more accurately reflect its students and programs which by 2010 included associate in applied science degrees in Nursing and Radiologic Technology. In addition to nursing and radiography, the college offers associate in applied science degrees in Health Information Technology and Business Administration; baccalaureate degrees in Business Administration and Health Information Technology; and certificates in Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, and Coding Specialist.