North Park University-Chicago Rankings by Salary Score

North Park University (NPU) was an incredible place to finish my undergraduate education. The faculty and students truly make this small, liberal arts campus on the North side of Chicago unique. The campus is small and connected, and the faculty are invested in each and every student. If you're looking for a university with a personal touch, NPU is the place for you. Diversity is very important to campus leaders--in fact, no cultural/racial group exceeds 50% of the student body on campus as of 2016. I studied... Read More with peers and faculty from all over the globe. I have made lasting connections with students and faculty. I would recommend North Park to students who are leaning towards a small school experience but still want exposure to a large city like Chicago.

I really enjoyed my undergrad at Columbia College Chicago. I thought the atmosphere was welcoming and alive and lots of students around me were thriving in their field even while still studying in school. I will say, however, there are many opportunities to hone your craft and explore your art at Columbia that I wish I had taken advantage of. I wish my instructors would have encouraged me more to take advantage. At the time I thought I was putting my art out there but looking back I realize I should have done... Read More more because there was so much opportunity around me. I thought the curriculum was both fresh and rigorous and I felt at graduation that I was well equipped. I studied in the Contemporary and Urban Pop Music program and I had a blast the whole time. However, my teachers and advisors never offered any career counseling or post-grad planning. For this reason I am currently not pursuing a career with my degree. In fact, I am returning to school to become an educator and attending a completely different university. I would say that the best Columbia has done for me is that it make me a good musician. This has in turn made me a successful music teacher, however I never intended to teach music, and music education isn't even offered as a degree field at Columbia, so even still I am ill-prepared in my current career. I look forward to going back to school and becoming better equipped to pursue a professional career in the field I intend to study.