North Central College vs. St. Ambrose University

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

North Central College St. Ambrose University
Location Naperville, IL Davenport, IA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 2,695 2,747
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #340 #402
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northcentralcollege.edu sau.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Central College St. Ambrose University
Tuition (In State) $42,866 $34,290
Tuition (Out of State) $42,866 $34,290
Room & Board $11,998 $11,988
Avg Net Price $25,285 $23,359
Avg Grant Aid $30,776 $25,476
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

North Central College St. Ambrose University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,099 3,589
Admitted 3,104 2,653
Acceptance Rate 60.9% 73.9%
Enrolled % 15.6% 17.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.39
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 22/28 20/27
SAT Range 1020/1240 1020/1240
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, 2025

Academics

North Central College St. Ambrose University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

North Central College St. Ambrose University
Graduation Rate 64% 62%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $25,764
Median Loan Payment $258 $266

Diversity

North Central College St. Ambrose University
% Men 47% 42%
% Women 53% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 80%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 11% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 7% 4%

Students

North Central College St. Ambrose University
% In-State 85% 33%
% Out-of-State 11% 64%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Saint Ambrose University is larger than than North Central College based on total student enrollment (2,747 students vs. 2,695 students)

North Central College vs. St. Ambrose University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Central College or St. Ambrose University ?

  • North Central College is 25% more expensive to attend than St. Ambrose University for in-state tuition ($42,866.00 vs. $34,290.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25% higher at North Central College than Saint Ambrose University ($42,866.00 vs. $34,290.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Ambrose University than North Central College ($23,359 vs. $25,285)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Ambrose University are 0.1% lower than costs at North Central College ($11,988 vs. $11,998)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at North Central College as Saint Ambrose University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Central College students is 20.8% larger than aid received Saint Ambrose University ($30,776 vs. $25,476)

North Central College vs. St. Ambrose University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at North Central College (1125) is 75 points higher than at St. Ambrose University (1050)
  • Incoming North Central College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at St. Ambrose University (23)
  • Accepted freshman North Central College students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at St. Ambrose University (3.39)
  • St. Ambrose University has a higher acceptance rate (73.9%) than North Central College (60.9%)

North Central College vs. St. Ambrose University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Central College or St. Ambrose University ? 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 St. Ambrose University and North Central College.

  • The graduation rate at North Central College is higher than Saint Ambrose University (64% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from North Central College earn on average $600 more per year than St. Ambrose University graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $48,300)
  • North Central College students graduate with a $764 lower median federal student loan debt than St. Ambrose University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,764)
  • North Central College graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than St. Ambrose University graduates. ($258 vs. $266)
  • More North Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Ambrose University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 71%)

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