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Butler Creighton University Elmhurst College ISU University of St Thomas Loyola Lewis University Iowa Marquette University Benedictine University Grinnell Bradley| North Central College | Drake University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
North Central College | Drake | ||
| Location | Naperville, IL | Des Moines, IA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,856 | 4,504 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #349 | #135 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | northcentralcollege.edu | drake.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
North Central College | Drake | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $44,114 | $49,466 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $44,114 | $49,466 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,434 | $11,858 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,190 | $30,886 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $30,619 | $31,783 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
North Central College | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,241 | 7,741 | ||
| Admitted | 3,056 | 4,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 58.3% | 64.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.9% | 12.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.6 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 23/27 | 24/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1065/1280 | 1190/1390 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
North Central College | Drake | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
North Central College | Drake | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,900 | $68,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $268 |
Diversity |
North Central College | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 26% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 0% |
Students |
North Central College | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 79% | 41% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 56% | ||
Campus |
North Central College | Drake | ||
| 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
- Drake University is larger than than North Central College based on total student enrollment (4,504 students vs. 2,856 students)
North Central College vs. Drake Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, North Central College or Drake?
- Drake University is 12.1% more expensive to attend than North Central College for in-state tuition ($49,466.00 vs. $44,114.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.1% higher at Drake than North Central College ($49,466.00 vs. $44,114.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Central College than Drake ($24,190 vs. $30,886)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 4.9% lower than costs at North Central College ($11,858 vs. $12,434)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at North Central College as Drake University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 3.8% larger than aid received North Central College ($31,783 vs. $30,619)
North Central College vs. Drake Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, North Central College or Drake? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Drake or North Central College .
- The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 99 points higher than at North Central College (1125)
- Incoming Drake students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at North Central College (25)
- Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at North Central College (3.6)
- Drake has a higher acceptance rate (64.1%) than North Central College (58.3%)
North Central College vs. Drake Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, North Central College or Drake? 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 Drake and North Central College.
- The graduation rate at Drake is higher than North Central College (75% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from Drake University earn on average $19,600 more per year than North Central College graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $48,900)
- North Central College students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Drake graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
- North Central College graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Drake graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
- More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Central College students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/