North Central College — College Profile

About

Located in historic downtown Naperville with direct train access to Chicago, North Central College is a premier liberal arts institution best known for its career-focused education and top-tier programs in business, education, and the health sciences. The student experience is defined by a vibrant, close-knit campus culture where students engage in over 75 organizations and rally behind a legendary NCAA Division III athletic program boasting dozens of national championships. Setting the college apart is its deep commitment to undergraduate research—epitomized by the annual Rall Symposium—alongside distinctive hands-on facilities like the state-of-the-art Dr. Myron Wentz Science Center and a unique student-run, direct-trade coffee business.

Wikipedia:North Central College is a private college in Naperville, Illinois, United States. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and has 73 undergraduate majors of study, 17 minors, 25 graduate programs, and 4 certificate programs offered by four undergraduate colleges/schools and one School of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Location

Naperville, IL, 60540 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

ORD · Chicago O'Hare

19 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

YoursEveryone

Tuition & fees$45,726

Housing & food (on campus)$14,688

Books & supplies$900

Cost of attendance$57,219

Average net price$21,044

Same price for all students

Tuition & fees$45,726

Housing & food (on campus)$14,688

Books & supplies$900

Cost of attendance$57,219

Average net price$21,044

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · 2023-24

$0–30k

$12,507

$30–48k

$13,486

$48–75k

$16,362

$75–110k

$20,590

$110k+

$26,961

Your family's actual price → North Central College net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2024-25

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$29,314

First-years who got one132

Source: North Central College's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

68%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

55%

Back for yr 2

77%

Transferred

17%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

64% graduated · 24% transferred · 12% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$51,762

10 yrs after entry$60,123

Debt

Median at graduation$24,500

Monthly payment$260

Middle 50% owe$9.5k–$27k

90th percentile$31,000

Green marks a figure above the typical Master's (small programs): 50% graduate within 6 yrs, $48,772 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

77%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1213

R 530–650 · M 525–660

ACT midpoint

Comp 24–29 · E 22–29 · M 24–29

SAT middle 50%: 1055–1310

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

How much essays count at North Central College: Considered (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)

Source: North Central College's Common Data Set for 2024-25 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If North Central College asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 49%Women 51%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

12 : 1

Pell grant

24%

First-gen

27%

Family income

$77,267

Independent

Age at entry

20.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

59%

Hispanic

19%

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division III with football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Cross Country
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Lacrosse
Men's · Women's
Other Sports
Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field (Indoor)
Men's · Women's
Track and Field (Outdoor)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Men's · Women's
Wrestling
Men's · Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$51,762

After 10 yrs

$60,123

Psychology, General74

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness50

Marketing44

Finance and Financial Management Services35

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods33

Accounting and Related Services29

Business Administration, Management and Operations26

Neurobiology and Neurosciences25

Computer Science24

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General23

Mechanical Engineering19

Sociology19

Social Sciences, General17

Economics17

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft16

Natural Resources Conservation and Research14

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$140M

Full-time faculty

57%

Faculty salary

$9,075/mo

Teaching spend

$11,500

per student

Federal loans

48%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (small programs)

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, selective admissions