North Central College vs. Central College

Should I go to North Central College or Central College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if North Central College or Central College 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. Central College comparison
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North Central College Central College
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Overview

North Central College Central College
Location Naperville, IL Pella, IA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 2,695 1,169
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #340 #519
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Reformed Church in America - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northcentralcollege.edu central.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Central College Central College
Tuition (In State) $42,866 $19,800
Tuition (Out of State) $42,866 $19,800
Room & Board $11,998 $10,860
Avg Net Price $25,285 $23,303
Avg Grant Aid $30,776 $10,999
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

North Central College Central College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,099 1,970
Admitted 3,104 1,561
Acceptance Rate 60.9% 79.2%
Enrolled % 15.6% 22.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.52
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/28 19/26
SAT Range 1020/1240 1040/1218
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, 2025

Academics

North Central College Central College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

North Central College Central College
Graduation Rate 64% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

North Central College Central College
% Men 47% 52%
% Women 53% 48%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 87%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 3%

Students

North Central College Central College
% In-State 85% 73%
% Out-of-State 11% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • North Central College is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (2,695 students vs. 1,169 students)

North Central College vs. Central College Cost Comparison

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

  • North Central College is 116.5% more expensive to attend than Central College for in-state tuition ($42,866.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 116.5% higher at North Central College than Central College ($42,866.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central College than North Central College ($23,303 vs. $25,285)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central College are 10.5% lower than costs at North Central College ($10,860 vs. $11,998)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at North Central College as Central College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Central College students is 179.8% larger than aid received Central College ($30,776 vs. $10,999)

North Central College vs. Central College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at North Central College (1125) is 57 points higher than at Central College (1068)
  • Incoming North Central College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Central College (23)
  • Accepted freshman North Central College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Central College (3.52)
  • Central College has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than North Central College (60.9%)

North Central College vs. Central College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Central College or Central College? 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 Central College and North Central College.

  • The graduation rate at North Central College is higher than Central College (64% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from North Central College earn on average $900 more per year than Central College graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $48,000)
  • North Central College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • North Central College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Central College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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