North Central College vs. Hope College

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

North Central College Hope College
Location Naperville, IL Holland, MI
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 2,856 3,368
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #349 #271
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Reformed Church in America - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northcentralcollege.edu hope.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Central College Hope College
Tuition (In State) $44,114 $39,990
Tuition (Out of State) $44,114 $39,990
Room & Board $12,434 $12,180
Avg Net Price $24,190 $28,643
Avg Grant Aid $30,619 $23,633
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

North Central College Hope College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,241 5,206
Admitted 3,056 3,949
Acceptance Rate 58.3% 75.9%
Enrolled % 16.9% 21.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.83
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/27 26/31
SAT Range 1065/1280 1090/1310
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 Hope College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Physical Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

North Central College Hope College
Graduation Rate 64% 79%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

North Central College Hope College
% Men 4% 1%
% Women 12% 1%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 84%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 11% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

North Central College Hope College
% In-State 79% 68%
% Out-of-State 18% 32%

Campus

North Central College Hope 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

  • Hope College is larger than than North Central College based on total student enrollment (3,368 students vs. 2,856 students)

North Central College vs. Hope College Cost Comparison

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

  • North Central College is 10.3% more expensive to attend than Hope College for in-state tuition ($44,114.00 vs. $39,990.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.3% higher at North Central College than Hope College ($44,114.00 vs. $39,990.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Central College than Hope College ($24,190 vs. $28,643)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hope College are 2.1% lower than costs at North Central College ($12,180 vs. $12,434)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Central College than Hope College (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Central College students is 29.6% larger than aid received Hope College ($30,619 vs. $23,633)

North Central College vs. Hope College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Hope College (1205) is 80 points higher than at North Central College (1125)
  • Incoming Hope College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at North Central College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Hope College students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at North Central College (3.6)
  • Hope College has a higher acceptance rate (75.9%) than North Central College (58.3%)

North Central College vs. Hope College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Hope College is higher than North Central College (79% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from North Central College earn on average $1,400 more per year than Hope College graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $47,500)
  • North Central College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Hope College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • North Central College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Hope College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Hope College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Central College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 74%)

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