North Central College
#6 Best Business Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 68% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $60,123 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $21,044 D+
- 23% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 77% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 17.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.1 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Business Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $17.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,353,678.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 47% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $17.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why North Central College Matters
North Central College is a private university in Naperville, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,428
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 71
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Psychology, Social Sciences, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose North Central College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 77% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1055–1310. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $21,044 a year after grants and scholarships — 23% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $60,123 ten years after enrolling — 47% above the typical college, against $24,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 71% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.75 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
North Central College has a graduation rate of 68%, indicating that a significant number of students successfully complete their degrees. This statistic is crucial for prospective students assessing their likelihood of finishing college and entering the workforce.
According to Opportunity Insights data, there is limited information on mobility and economic connectedness for North Central College. However, the 10-year earnings average for graduates stands at $60,123. This suggests that students can expect a decent return on their investment, especially considering the college's acceptance rate of 77%, which may appeal to a wider range of applicants.
The net price to attend North Central College is $21,044, with a median debt of $24,500 upon graduation. This financial profile indicates that while costs are manageable, students should be mindful of debt levels. Those drawn to the college often pursue popular programs in Business & Marketing, Psychology, and the Arts, thriving in an environment that values personal development and community engagement.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective North Central College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into North Central College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
North Central College, located in Naperville, Illinois, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,213. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- SAT Average
- 1213
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 1055–1310
- ACT Range
- 24–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 57%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,075
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 27%
- Applicants
- 5,099
- Admitted
- 3,104
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard North Central College is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 14% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 14%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 21%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 6%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 27% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend North Central College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at North Central College is $45,726, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $21,044. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,507 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $45,726
- Out-of-State
- $45,726
- Avg Net Price
- $21,044
- Median Debt
- $24,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 48%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,507
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,486
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $16,362
- Family Income $110K+
- $26,961
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at North Central College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is North Central College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of North Central College earn a median of $60,123, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $51,762
- 8 Years
- $55,116
- 10 Years
- $60,123
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.41x
- Earning > $25K
- 71%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (332)
- 58%
- 100% (332)
- 58%
- 100% (332)
- 58%
- 100% (332)
- 58%
How North Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is North Central College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, North Central College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,044/year ($84,176 total). Graduates earn $60,123 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,437,854 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,353,678 (17.1× your investment). The median debt is $24,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $84,176
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,437,854
- Net Return
- $1,353,678
- ROI Multiple
- 17.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $21,044
- Median Debt
- $24,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 68%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does North Central College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
North Central College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.10%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.4% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $103,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.10%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 32.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $140,892
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,750,816
- Investment Income
- $-19,689,301
Top Programs
The fields North Central College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 26% $70,009 early-career
- Psychology 10% $33,335 early-career
- Social Sciences 8% $67,300 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 7% $40,390 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $29,477 early-career
- Health Professions 5% $54,063 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $75,451 early-career
- Engineering 4%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for North Central College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into North Central College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
North Central College, located in Naperville, Illinois, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,213. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend North Central College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at North Central College is $45,726, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $21,044. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,507 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,500 in federal student loans.
Is North Central College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of North Central College earn a median of $60,123, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does North Central College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
North Central College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.10%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3.4% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $103,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is North Central College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at North Central College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.75, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Is North Central College really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 27% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at North Central College (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at North Central College?
About 14% of admitted students choose to enroll at North Central College — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to North Central College.
- Gannon UniversityErie, PA · Close peer68% grad $58,845 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Edward's UniversityAustin, TX · Close peer63% grad $58,826 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Bellarmine UniversityLouisville, KY · Close peer66% grad $62,069 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Le Moyne CollegeSyracuse, NY · Close peer72% grad $62,731 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of MaryBismarck, ND · Close peer67% grad $60,909 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Shenandoah UniversityWinchester, VA · Close peer69% grad $58,433 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is North Central College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at North Central College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.75, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note