North Central College vs. Stephens College

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

North Central College Stephens College
Location Naperville, IL Columbia, MO
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 2,856 532
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #349
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northcentralcollege.edu stephens.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Central College Stephens College
Tuition (In State) $44,114 $27,000
Tuition (Out of State) $44,114 $27,000
Room & Board $12,434 $13,098
Avg Net Price $24,190 $23,261
Avg Grant Aid $30,619 $19,424
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

North Central College Stephens College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,241 414
Admitted 3,056 379
Acceptance Rate 58.3% 91.5%
Enrolled % 16.9% 19.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.27
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/27 16/23
SAT Range 1065/1280 1130/1270
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 Nov 1, 2025

Academics

North Central College Stephens College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (36%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Education (6%)
  • English and Literature (4%)

Outcomes

North Central College Stephens College
Graduation Rate 64% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

North Central College Stephens College
% Men 4% 5%
% Women 12% 28%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 69%
% Black 4% 15%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 6%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

North Central College Stephens College
% In-State 79% 54%
% Out-of-State 18% 41%

Campus

North Central College Stephens College
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

  • North Central College is larger than than Stephens College based on total student enrollment (2,856 students vs. 532 students)

North Central College vs. Stephens College Cost Comparison

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

  • North Central College is 63.4% more expensive to attend than Stephens College for in-state tuition ($44,114.00 vs. $27,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 63.4% higher at North Central College than Stephens College ($44,114.00 vs. $27,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Stephens College than North Central College ($23,261 vs. $24,190)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Central College are 5.3% lower than costs at Stephens College ($12,434 vs. $13,098)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at North Central College as Stephens College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Central College students is 57.6% larger than aid received Stephens College ($30,619 vs. $19,424)

North Central College vs. Stephens College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at North Central College (1125) is 89 points higher than at Stephens College (1036)
  • Incoming North Central College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Stephens College (22)
  • Accepted freshman North Central College students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Stephens College (3.27)
  • Stephens College has a higher acceptance rate (91.5%) than North Central College (58.3%)

North Central College vs. Stephens College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at North Central College is higher than Stephens College (64% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from North Central College earn on average $11,500 more per year than Stephens College graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $37,400)
  • North Central College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Stephens College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • North Central College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Stephens College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More North Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Stephens College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 63%)

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