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North Central University logo
Private nonprofit Minneapolis, MN · Urban · Plains · 93% data
C+ Graduation C+ Earnings C Diversity
Graduation Rate
65% C+
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$45,064 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$25,817 D
51% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
99% F
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +11% vs avg
Graduation +14% vs avg
Net Price 51% vs avg
Mobility Top 86%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.9 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best Online Colleges in Minnesota.

10.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $10.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,019,320.

What The Data Says

  1. A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Every $1 invested returns $10.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why North Central University Matters

North Central University is a private college in Minneapolis, MN 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 College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
709
Setting
Urban
Designations
27
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology, English & Literature

Why students choose North Central University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 64% overall
C+
Earnings
$45,064 median
D+
Value
1.7× net price
D
Affordability
$25,817/yr net
C+
Graduation
65% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.8% climb Q1→Q5
F
Selectivity
99% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.58 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

North Central University in Minneapolis is an inviting option for students looking to dive into programs like Business & Marketing, Education, and Psychology. With an acceptance rate of 99%, it’s a school that welcomes a diverse range of learners. This community is particularly well-suited for those who thrive in a supportive environment and are eager to explore their passions in fields like Visual & Performing Arts and Communications.

After graduation, students can expect to earn around $45,064 a year within a decade. That’s a solid starting point for many, especially when considering the affordability of the education. With a substantial portion of students receiving Pell Grants, it's clear that North Central is accessible to those who may need financial assistance. It’s encouraging to see that graduates typically find their footing in the job market, which speaks to the practical nature of the programs offered.

Looking at the financials, the net price after aid is $25,817, and the median debt stands at $23,200. This puts the financial burden in a manageable range for many students. The environment here tends to suit those who are eager to learn and grow, both academically and personally, which can lead to a fulfilling college experience and a successful transition into their careers.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective North Central University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into North Central University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Minneapolis, Minnesota, North Central University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 99%. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.

Acceptance Rate
99%
Retention Rate
82%
Full-Time Faculty
14%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,701
Student–Faculty Ratio
11:1
Diversity Index
0.58
First-Gen Students
22%
Applicants
544
Admitted
494

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 University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at North Central University is $32,220, 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 $25,817. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,450 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,200 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$32,220
Out-of-State
$32,220
Avg Net Price
$25,817
Median Debt
$23,200
Pell Grant Rate
43%
Federal Loan Rate
59%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$20,450
Family Income $30K–$48K
$22,393
Family Income $48K–$75K
$23,892
Family Income $110K+
$30,213

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 University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is North Central University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of North Central University earn a median of $45,064, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$37,688
8 Years
$41,804
10 Years
$45,064
Debt-to-Earnings
0.51x
Earning > $25K
58%

Earnings Trajectory

$37,688 6yr $41,804 8yr $45,064 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (89)
41%
100% (89)
41%
100% (89)
41%
100% (89)
41%

How North Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation65%Earnings 10yr$45KNet Price$26KRetention82%Median Debt$23KPell Grant Rate43%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$20K$0-30K$22K$30-48K$24K$48-75K$30K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%5.9%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%14.2%MOBILITY0.84%

College ROI Calculator

Is North Central University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, North Central University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $25,817/year ($103,268 total). Graduates earn $45,064 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,122,588 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,019,320 (10.9× your investment). The median debt is $23,200, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 65% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$103,268
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,122,588
Net Return
$1,019,320
ROI Multiple
10.9×
Cost Per Year
$25,817
Median Debt
$23,200
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
65%

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 University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

North Central University 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 0.84%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $74,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.84%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
14.2%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
5.9%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$100,540
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is North Central University? 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 University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), 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.

Economic Connectedness
1.78
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
7.0%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$4,149,449
Federal Grants
$1,839,539
Investment Income
$-229,734

Top Programs

The fields North Central University 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into North Central University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Minneapolis, Minnesota, North Central University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 99%. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend North Central University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at North Central University is $32,220, 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 $25,817. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,450 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,200 in federal student loans.

Is North Central University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of North Central University earn a median of $45,064, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does North Central University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

North Central University 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 0.84%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $74,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is North Central University? 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 University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), 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.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to North Central University.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys