North Central College
North Central College is a private research university in Naperville, Illinois, enrolling about 2,428 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 77.33% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $60,123 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $45,726
- 2024 Average Net Price: $21,044 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 77.33% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,428 98.5% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 64.00%
- Average SAT Score: 1213
North Central College: what the data shows
Common questions about North Central College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is North Central College?
North Central College is located in Naperville, IL (ZIP 60540).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is North Central College public or private?
North Central College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does North Central College cost?
Published tuition: $45,726.
Average net price after aid: $21,044.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $12,507 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $13,486 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $16,362 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $20,590 |
| $110,001+ | $26,961 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $182,904.
How hard is it to get into North Central College?
Admission rate: 77.33%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1213 and midpoint ACT 25.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is North Central College?
Total enrollment: 2,428 students.
About 99% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at North Central College?
150%-time completion rate: 64.00%.
First-year retention: 77.1%.
What do graduates of North Central College earn?
Median earnings: $51,762 six years after entry; $60,123 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,500.
23.95% of students receive Pell grants.
What is North Central College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (791 completions)
- General Psychology (71 completions)
- CIP 512306 (42 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (39 completions)
- Finance, General (38 completions)
- CIP 510912 (31 completions)
- Elementary Education & Teaching (29 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (26 completions)
- CIP 310504 (25 completions)
- CIP 310505 (25 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is North Central College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 77.33%; completion rate 64.00%; median earnings $60,123 at 10 years; net price $21,044. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$45,726
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at North Central College was $45,726.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$21,044
2024 Value
In 2024 North Central College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $21,044.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$84,176 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$21,044 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$182,904 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for North Central College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
23.95% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
47.98% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at North Central College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for North Central College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $32,613 | $32,613 | $21,737 |
| 2014 | $34,230 | $34,230 | $22,336 |
| 2015 | $35,421 | $35,421 | $22,627 |
| 2016 | $36,654 | $36,654 | $23,153 |
| 2017 | $37,749 | $37,749 | $24,231 |
| 2018 | $38,880 | $38,880 | $23,599 |
| 2019 | $40,040 | $40,040 | $24,786 |
| 2020 | $41,180 | $41,180 | $25,199 |
| 2021 | $42,206 | $42,206 | $25,605 |
| 2022 | $43,046 | $43,046 | $23,439 |
| 2023 | $44,394 | $44,394 | $23,033 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
77.33% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1213
ACT Average: 25
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.3 - 3.5
Estimated Median GPA: 3.40
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at North Central College in 2024 is 2,428 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
77.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
54.91% 100% Completion Time
64.00% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 54.91% of students graduating from North Central College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for North Central College.
Return on Investment
$24,500 Median Student Debt
$60,123 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
40.75% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
614.25% Return on Investment
4.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for North Central College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
General Psychology: 71 completions
CIP 51.2306: 42 completions
Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 39 completions
Finance, General: 38 completions
CIP 51.0912: 31 completions
Elementary Education & Teaching: 29 completions
General Biological Sciences: 26 completions
CIP 31.0504: 25 completions
CIP 31.0505: 25 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 791 completions
Most popular programs at North Central College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for North Central College graduates.
About
North Central College is a private non-profit institution located in Naperville, IL, offering 71 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 2,428 students. The admission rate is 77.33%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1213. The institution maintains a 64.00% graduation rate. Approximately 23.95% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Naperville, IL 60540
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 71 distinct degree programs, North Central College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does North Central College cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $45,726 and average net price is $21,044 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into North Central College?
The admission rate is 77.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for North Central College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, North Central College reports midpoint SAT about 1213 and midpoint ACT about 25.
What do graduates of North Central College earn?
Median earnings are $51,762 six years after entry and $60,123 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at North Central College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 64.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do North Central College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,500.
How big is North Central College?
Total enrollment is about 2,428 students in the latest reporting year.
Is North Central College public or private?
North Central College is a private nonprofit institution located in Naperville, IL.
Is North Central College an HBCU?
No. North Central College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is North Central College a tribal college?
No. North Central College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is North Central College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, North Central College does not meet that proxy (reported share 19.2%).
Is North Central College religiously affiliated?
Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for North Central College: United Methodist.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.