North Central College vs. OWU

Should I go to North Central College or Ohio Wesleyan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if North Central College or OWU 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. Ohio Wesleyan University comparison
North Central College Ohio Wesleyan University College 3 College 4
North Central College Ohio Wesleyan University
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Overview

North Central College OWU
Location Naperville, IL Delaware, OH
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 2,856 1,452
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #349 #369
Religious Affiliation United Methodist United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northcentralcollege.edu owu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Central College OWU
Tuition (In State) $44,114 $51,771
Tuition (Out of State) $44,114 $51,771
Room & Board $12,434 $14,226
Avg Net Price $24,190 $23,826
Avg Grant Aid $30,619 $42,496
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

North Central College OWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,241 5,708
Admitted 3,056 2,892
Acceptance Rate 58.3% 50.7%
Enrolled % 16.9% 14.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.54
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 23/27 25/31
SAT Range 1065/1280 1105/1350
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 Mar 1, 2026

Academics

North Central College OWU
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%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

Outcomes

North Central College OWU
Graduation Rate 64% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $49,600
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

North Central College OWU
% Men 4% 0%
% Women 12% 0%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 70%
% Black 4% 8%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 7% 3%

Students

North Central College OWU
% In-State 79% 66%
% Out-of-State 18% 27%

Campus

North Central College OWU
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 OWU based on total student enrollment (2,856 students vs. 1,452 students)

North Central College vs. OWU Cost Comparison

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

  • Ohio Wesleyan University is 17.4% more expensive to attend than North Central College for in-state tuition ($51,771.00 vs. $44,114.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.4% higher at OWU than North Central College ($51,771.00 vs. $44,114.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ohio Wesleyan University than North Central College ($23,826 vs. $24,190)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Central College are 14.4% lower than costs at Ohio Wesleyan University ($12,434 vs. $14,226)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at North Central College as Ohio Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 38.8% larger than aid received North Central College ($42,496 vs. $30,619)

North Central College vs. OWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman North Central College students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at OWU (3.54)
  • North Central College has a higher acceptance rate (58.3%) than OWU (50.7%)

North Central College vs. OWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at North Central College is higher than Ohio Wesleyan University (64% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from Ohio Wesleyan University earn on average $700 more per year than North Central College graduates after ten years. ($49,600 vs. $48,900)
  • North Central College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than OWU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • North Central College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than OWU graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More OWU 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/