North Central College vs. IU

Deciding between North Central College and Indiana University Bloomington? 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.

North Central College
Indiana University Bloomington

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • North Central College Naperville, IL
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Setting
  • North Central College Midsize City
  • IU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • North Central College 3,003
  • IU 48,424
  • Type
  • North Central College Private 4 Year
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • North Central College #372
  • IU #207
  • Religious Affiliation
  • North Central College United Methodist
  • IU -
  • Status
  • North Central College Non-profit
  • IU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • North Central College
  • IU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • North Central College $45,726
  • IU $12,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • North Central College $45,726
  • IU $41,891
  • Room & Board
  • North Central College $14,688
  • IU $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • North Central College $23,276
  • IU $17,270
  • Average Grant Aid
  • North Central College $34,056
  • IU $10,487
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • North Central College 100%
  • IU 73%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • North Central College 4,596
  • IU 67,658
  • Admitted
  • North Central College 3,554
  • IU 52,918
  • Acceptance Rate
  • North Central College 77.3%
  • IU 78.2%
  • Enrolled
  • North Central College 13.6%
  • IU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • North Central College 1180
  • IU 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • North Central College 26
  • IU 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • North Central College 3.6
  • IU 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • North Central College A-
  • IU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • North Central College Challenging
  • IU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • North Central College
  • IU
  • ACT Range
  • North Central College 24/29
  • IU 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • North Central College 1055/1310
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • North Central College Test optional
  • IU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • North Central College Apr 15, 2027
  • IU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • North Central College 12:1
  • IU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • North Central College
    • Business (28%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • North Central College 64%
  • IU 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • North Central College $48,900
  • IU $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • North Central College 74%
  • IU 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • North Central College $25,000
  • IU $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • North Central College $258
  • IU $232
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • North Central College 45%
  • IU 50%
  • % Women
  • North Central College 55%
  • IU 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • North Central College Low
  • IU Medium
  • HBCU
  • North Central College No
  • IU No
  • % White
  • North Central College 71%
  • IU 71%
  • % Asian
  • North Central College 2%
  • IU 4%
  • % Black
  • North Central College 4%
  • IU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • North Central College 11%
  • IU 5%
  • % Native American
  • North Central College 0%
  • IU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • North Central College 0%
  • IU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • North Central College 3%
  • IU 4%
  • % International
  • North Central College 2%
  • IU 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • North Central College 7%
  • IU 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • North Central College 80%
  • IU 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • North Central College 16%
  • IU 41%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare North Central College in Naperville, IL with Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than North Central College based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 3,003 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • North Central College is located in Naperville, IL (Midsize City setting); Indiana University Bloomington is in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting).
  • North Central College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: North Central College 12:1; Indiana University Bloomington 18:1.

North Central College vs. IU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Central College or IU? 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 Indiana University Bloomington than North Central College ($17,270 vs. $23,276).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 4.8% lower than at North Central College ($13,984 vs. $14,688).
  • North Central College is 276.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $33,582 more per year; $45,726.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.2% higher at North Central College than at Indiana University Bloomington (about $3,835 more per year; $45,726.00 vs. $41,891.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Central College than at Indiana University Bloomington (100% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Central College students is 224.7% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($34,056 vs. $10,487).

North Central College vs. IU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, North Central College or IU? 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 IU and North Central College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Bloomington (1290) is 110 points higher than at North Central College (1180).
  • Incoming IU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at North Central College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Central College 1055/1310; Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Central College 24/29; Indiana University Bloomington 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: North Central College - Test optional; IU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: North Central College Apr 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at North Central College (3.6).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than North Central College (77.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at North Central College vs. 18.2% at IU.

North Central College vs. IU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for North Central College and IU? 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).

  • Indiana University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than North Central College's (64%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than North Central College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than North Central College graduates ($22,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than North Central College graduates ($232 vs. $258).
  • More North Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 72%)

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.