Florida Southern vs. North Central College

Deciding between Florida Southern College and North Central College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Florida Southern College
North Central College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Florida Southern Lakeland, FL
  • North Central College Naperville, IL
  • Setting
  • Florida Southern Small City
  • North Central College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Florida Southern 3,211
  • North Central College 3,003
  • Type
  • Florida Southern Private 4 Year
  • North Central College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Florida Southern #325
  • North Central College #372
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Florida Southern United Methodist
  • North Central College United Methodist
  • Status
  • Florida Southern Non-profit
  • North Central College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Florida Southern
  • North Central College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Florida Southern $44,040
  • North Central College $45,726
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Florida Southern $44,040
  • North Central College $45,726
  • Room & Board
  • Florida Southern $14,360
  • North Central College $14,688
  • Average Net Price
  • Florida Southern $29,384
  • North Central College $23,276
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Florida Southern $31,394
  • North Central College $34,056
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Florida Southern 100%
  • North Central College 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Florida Southern 10,800
  • North Central College 4,596
  • Admitted
  • Florida Southern 6,957
  • North Central College 3,554
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Florida Southern 64.4%
  • North Central College 77.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Florida Southern 11%
  • North Central College 13.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Florida Southern 1240
  • North Central College 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Florida Southern 27
  • North Central College 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Florida Southern 3.73
  • North Central College 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Florida Southern A-
  • North Central College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Florida Southern Difficult
  • North Central College Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Florida Southern Low
  • North Central College
  • ACT Range
  • Florida Southern 25/30
  • North Central College 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Florida Southern 1150/1330
  • North Central College 1055/1310
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Florida Southern Test optional
  • North Central College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Florida Southern May 1, 2027
  • North Central College Apr 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Florida Southern 11:1
  • North Central College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Florida Southern
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • North Central College
    • Business (28%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Florida Southern 55%
  • North Central College 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Florida Southern $42,700
  • North Central College $48,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Florida Southern 65%
  • North Central College 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Florida Southern $24,000
  • North Central College $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Florida Southern $248
  • North Central College $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Florida Southern 35%
  • North Central College 45%
  • % Women
  • Florida Southern 65%
  • North Central College 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Florida Southern Low
  • North Central College Low
  • HBCU
  • Florida Southern No
  • North Central College No
  • % White
  • Florida Southern 74%
  • North Central College 71%
  • % Asian
  • Florida Southern 2%
  • North Central College 2%
  • % Black
  • Florida Southern 6%
  • North Central College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Florida Southern 11%
  • North Central College 11%
  • % Native American
  • Florida Southern 1%
  • North Central College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Florida Southern 0%
  • North Central College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Florida Southern 2%
  • North Central College 3%
  • % International
  • Florida Southern 4%
  • North Central College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Florida Southern 1%
  • North Central College 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Florida Southern 60%
  • North Central College 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Florida Southern 38%
  • North Central College 16%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Florida Southern Yes
  • North Central College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Florida Southern No
  • North Central College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Florida Southern Yes
  • North Central College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Florida Southern Yes
  • North Central College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Florida Southern No
  • North Central College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL with North Central College in Naperville, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida Southern College is larger than North Central College based on total student enrollment (3,211 students vs. 3,003 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida Southern College is located in Lakeland, FL (Small City setting); North Central College is in Naperville, IL (Midsize City setting).
  • Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. North Central College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Southern College 11:1; North Central College 12:1.

Florida Southern vs. North Central College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern or North Central College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Central College than Florida Southern ($23,276 vs. $29,384).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Southern College are 2.2% lower than at North Central College ($14,360 vs. $14,688).
  • North Central College is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florida Southern (about $1,686 more per year; $45,726.00 vs. $44,040.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at North Central College than at Florida Southern College (about $1,686 more per year; $45,726.00 vs. $44,040.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Florida Southern College as at North Central College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Central College students is 8.5% larger than aid received by Florida Southern College students ($34,056 vs. $31,394).

Florida Southern vs. North Central College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or North Central College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between North Central College and Florida Southern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Florida Southern College (1240) is 60 points higher than at North Central College (1180).
  • Incoming Florida Southern students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at North Central College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 1150/1330; North Central College 1055/1310.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 25/30; North Central College 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida Southern - Test optional; North Central College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Florida Southern May 1, 2027; North Central College Apr 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Florida Southern students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at North Central College (3.6).
  • North Central College has a higher acceptance rate (77.3%) than Florida Southern (64.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11% at Florida Southern vs. 13.6% at North Central College.

Florida Southern vs. North Central College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida Southern and North Central College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • North Central College's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Florida Southern College's (55%).
  • Graduates from North Central College earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than Florida Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,900 vs. $42,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Southern College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than North Central College graduates ($24,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Florida Southern graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than North Central College graduates ($248 vs. $258).
  • More North Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida Southern students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.