North Central College vs. Bethel University

Should I go to North Central College or Bethel University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if North Central College or Bethel University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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North Central College vs. Bethel University comparison
North Central College Bethel University College 3 College 4
North Central College Bethel University
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Overview

North Central College Bethel University
Location Naperville, IL Saint Paul, MN
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,856 3,521
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #349 #320
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northcentralcollege.edu bethel.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Central College Bethel University
Tuition (In State) $44,114 $42,760
Tuition (Out of State) $44,114 $42,760
Room & Board $12,434 $12,090
Avg Net Price $24,190 $30,375
Avg Grant Aid $30,619 $25,924
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

North Central College Bethel University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,241 1,642
Admitted 3,056 1,494
Acceptance Rate 58.3% 91%
Enrolled % 16.9% 28.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/27 23/29
SAT Range 1065/1280 1065/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 15, 2026 May 1, 2026

Academics

North Central College Bethel University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

North Central College Bethel University
Graduation Rate 64% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $50,100
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $24,400
Median Loan Payment $258 $252

Diversity

North Central College Bethel University
% Men 4% 8%
% Women 12% 17%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 78%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 7%

Students

North Central College Bethel University
% In-State 79% 82%
% Out-of-State 18% 16%

Campus

North Central College Bethel University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bethel University is larger than than North Central College based on total student enrollment (3,521 students vs. 2,856 students)

North Central College vs. Bethel University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Central College or Bethel University?

  • North Central College is 3.2% more expensive to attend than Bethel University for in-state tuition ($44,114.00 vs. $42,760.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.2% higher at North Central College than Bethel University ($44,114.00 vs. $42,760.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Central College than Bethel University ($24,190 vs. $30,375)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 2.8% lower than costs at North Central College ($12,090 vs. $12,434)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Central College than Bethel University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Central College students is 18.1% larger than aid received Bethel University ($30,619 vs. $25,924)

North Central College vs. Bethel University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, North Central College or Bethel University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bethel University or North Central College .

  • The average SAT score at Bethel University (1127) is 2 points higher than at North Central College (1125)
  • Incoming North Central College students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at Bethel University (25)
  • Accepted freshman North Central College students have at the same average high school GPA (3.6) as students at Bethel University (3.6)
  • Bethel University has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than North Central College (58.3%)

North Central College vs. Bethel University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Central College or Bethel University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Bethel University and North Central College.

  • The graduation rate at Bethel University is higher than North Central College (73% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $1,200 more per year than North Central College graduates after ten years. ($50,100 vs. $48,900)
  • Bethel University students graduate with a $600 lower median federal student loan debt than North Central College graduates. ($24,400 vs. $25,000)
  • Bethel University graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than North Central College graduates. ($252 vs. $258)
  • More Bethel University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Central College students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/