Frequently Asked Questions

We have three basic admissions requirements:

• High school diploma, with a 2.0 or higher GPA
• Availability to work full-time when the program is complete
• Motivation to do the work necessary to complete the program and get a job

Yes, Accelerate U learners are enrolled in the university and can take advantage of all the resources of being a student at NLU.

We advise against learners being enrolled in another degree program while participating in Accelerate U due to the time-intensive nature of the curriculum. In addition, Pell grant eligible learners can only apply their Pell funding to one institution at a time.

Accelerate U training programs typically cost around $6,000-$7,000 for the entire program, including program materials, textbooks, and other expenses. If participants are eligible for full-coverage of the Federal Pell grant & Illinois MAP Grant, there will be $0 out of pocket costs. Our goal is for all learners to complete the program with little to no debt.

Federal Pell grants will cover the majority, if not all, of program costs. In 2024, a maximum Pell grant award was $7,395 per academic year. Accelerate U learners can also take advantage of NLU financial aid options including school loans, payment plans and scholarships.  Please contact NLU's Office of Student Finance at (888) 658-8632 ext. 5350 or studentfinance@nl.edu for more details.

Accelerate U programs typically last between 4-8 months.  The Medical Assistant program, for example, is about seven (7) months long, including 22-24 weeks of medical assistant training followed by a 4-6 week long, in-person externship with an Accelerate U employer partner. 

Accelerate U learners typically spend 18-20 hours a week on course work. This includes two (2) live, online class sessions with an instructor (two-hours each, typically M-W or T-TH, in the evening), one (1) live, online cohort meeting with a career coach, online reading/assignments, quizzes, group projects, and homework. During the externship period, learners typical work ~40 hours a week for 4 weeks (to fulfill their 160-hour requirement for certification) on-site at an Accelerate U employer partner. This is a great opportunity to learn what it will be like as a medical assistant!

Accelerate U learners will earn 30 quarter hour college credits for completing the Medical Assistant training. A bachelor’s degree at National Louis University requires 180 quarter hour credits and an associate degree requires 90 quarter hour credits.  Medical Assistant credit at NLU can be applied towards any of the University's degree programs. 

Upon completion of the program, Accelerate U learners will enter the workforce in a full-time job with one of our employer partners. We work with our partners to align their hiring process with the end of the program. Participants who complete the program are also eligible to use their 30 NLU credits to complete their associate or bachelor’s degrees at National Louis University in a degree or program area of their choosing.

Our Medical Assistant works closely with local employer networks and systems.  In Illinois, Accelerate U works with 15+ healthcare employer partners including Lurie Children's Hospital, Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health, Endeavor Health, Aunt Martha's, Access Community Health, Erie Community Health among others.  For the Registered Behavior Tech (RBT) program, Accelerate U partners with Total Spectrum/Learn Behavioral.   

Interested employer partners can email us at accelerateu@nl.edu. We’re working with an increasing number of employers looking to build innovative pathways to work.

Please contact us at accelerateu@nl.edu.  We'd love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about the program!