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North Central College

Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 68/100

North Central College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Naperville, Illinois

About North Central College

North Central College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Naperville, Illinois. It enrolls 2,428 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: northcentralcollege.edu

Acceptance: 77.3%
Graduation: 70%
Net Price: $21,044
Median Earnings (10yr): $60,123
Enrollment: 2,428
Student : Faculty: 12:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

68/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 62

Value 56

Affordability 37

Selectivity 54

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 77.3%, North Central College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

77.3%

Easy

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1055 – 1310

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

24 – 29

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether North Central College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 4.7 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending North Central College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $21,044 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$21,044

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

24%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

48%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $45,726
Room & Board (on-campus): $14,688
Room & Board (off-campus): $14,076
Books & Supplies: $900
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,894
Other Expenses (off-campus): $4,436
Total Cost of Attendance: $57,219

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$12,507
$30,001 – $48,000

$13,486
$48,001 – $75,000

$16,362
$75,001 – $110,000

$20,590
Over $110,000

$26,961

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,334

10% percentile

$9,500

25% percentile

$24,500

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$31,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $20,833 ↓ $3,667

No Pell $15,000 ↓ $9,500

Dependent students $18,500 ↓ $6,000

Independent students $25,000 ↑ $500

Female students $18,750 ↓ $5,750

Male students $19,000 ↓ $5,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,625, less than completers ($24,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

70% of full-time students who enrolled at North Central College graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

70%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

79%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered North Central College earn a median of $60,123 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$60,123

Earning > $25K

85%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$45,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$61,300

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$47,400

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$52,800

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$53,700

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $16,300, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 16.1 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

North Central College is home to 2,428 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled

2,428

Part-Time

First-Generation

27%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 59.3% 1,440

Hispanic 19.2% 466

Black 6.5% 158

Other 4.3% 104

International 4.2% 102

Asian 3.8% 93

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at North Central College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Midsize City Naperville, Illinois

Housing

Mostly residential 1,417 beds on campus

Adult Learners

4% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

North Central College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 57 distinct programs across 22 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

11 Programs

Business

Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)
Finance $83K ($61K–$112K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

3 Programs

Health

Rehabilitation $56K ($40K–$74K)
Health Sciences $61K ($43K–$82K)
Allied Health Diagnostic $71K ($51K–$96K)

2 Programs

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)

4 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)
Design $51K ($33K–$71K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)

3 Programs

Biology

Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)

4 Programs

Communication

Journalism $56K ($41K–$74K)
Public Relations $64K ($46K–$84K)
Radio, Television & Digital Media $50K ($34K–$70K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at North Central College is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

12:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$269M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$82,968

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

179 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	54	30%	$100,572
Associate Professors	55	31%	$83,143
Assistant Professors	53	30%	$73,595
Instructors	7	4%	$57,145
Lecturers	10	6%	$54,692

Pros & Cons of North Central College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how North Central College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings

CONS

Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, North Central College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about North Central College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about North Central College.

Is North Central College hard to get into?

North Central College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.3%.

What is the acceptance rate at North Central College?

North Central College has an acceptance rate of 77.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for North Central College?

The middle 50% of admitted students at North Central College scored between 1055 and 1310 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for North Central College?

The middle 50% of admitted students at North Central College scored between 24 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does North Central College cost?

The average net price after aid at North Central College is $21,044 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is North Central College worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $60,123 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,044 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is North Central College known for?

North Central College is best known for its programs in Psychology, Kinesiology, Marketing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do North Central College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering North Central College are $60,123, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is North Central College accredited?

Yes. North Central College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend North Central College?

North Central College enrolls 2,428 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at North Central College?

North Central College graduates 70% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is North Central College a public or private college?

North Central College is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is North Central College located?

North Central College is located in Naperville, Illinois.

What programs does North Central College offer?

North Central College offers 57 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Kinesiology, Marketing.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at North Central College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at North Central College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.