North Central College vs. Principia College

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

North Central College Principia College
Location Naperville, IL Elsah, Illinois
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 2,856 338
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #349
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northcentralcollege.edu principiacollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Central College Principia College
Tuition (In State) $44,114 $32,250
Tuition (Out of State) $44,114 $32,250
Room & Board $12,434 $13,370
Avg Net Price $24,190 $14,904
Avg Grant Aid $30,619 $32,096
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 90%

Admission

North Central College Principia College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,241 268
Admitted 3,056 119
Acceptance Rate 58.3% 44.4%
Enrolled % 16.9% 70.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.34
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 23/27 19/23
SAT Range 1065/1280 1040/1250
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 Principia College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 5:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

North Central College Principia College
Graduation Rate 64% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 74% -
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 N/A
Median Loan Payment $258 N/A

Diversity

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

Students

North Central College Principia College
% In-State 79% 3%
% Out-of-State 18% 41%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • North Central College is larger than than Principia College based on total student enrollment (2,856 students vs. 338 students)

North Central College vs. Principia College Cost Comparison

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

  • North Central College is 36.8% more expensive to attend than Principia College for in-state tuition ($44,114.00 vs. $32,250.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.8% higher at North Central College than Principia College ($44,114.00 vs. $32,250.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Principia College than North Central College ($14,904 vs. $24,190)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Central College are 7.5% lower than costs at Principia College ($12,434 vs. $13,370)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Central College than Principia College (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Principia College students is 4.8% larger than aid received North Central College ($32,096 vs. $30,619)

North Central College vs. Principia College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman North Central College students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Principia College (3.34)
  • North Central College has a higher acceptance rate (58.3%) than Principia College (44.4%)

North Central College vs. Principia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

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