North Central College
#7 Best Business Colleges in IllinoisBottom 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 #7 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.
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What The Data Says
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Earnings 47% above the national college median.
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, Visual & Performing Arts, Biology & Biomedical
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, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 77% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,213. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 68%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending North Central College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $45,726 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $21,044 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,507 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,500.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields North Central College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for North Central College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into North Central College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
North Central College, located in Naperville, Illinois, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 77% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,213. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 68%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend North Central College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending North Central College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $45,726 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $21,044 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,507 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,500.
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 national averages for 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.75 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to North Central College.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.75 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note