North Central College

7/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Naperville, IL
0 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

3,003

Location Naperville, Illinois
Website northcentralcollege.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Midsize City
Religious Affiliation United Methodist

Best Colleges Rank

#372

Size Mid-size
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

North Central College occupies a 65-acre campus in downtown Naperville, Illinois, a western suburb located 30 miles from Chicago. Founded in 1861 as Plainfield College, the institution relocated to Naperville in 1870 and features a mix of historic and modern buildings in a suburban setting. The liberal arts college maintains strong academic programs in business, education, and sciences, with particular recognition for its undergraduate research opportunities in natural sciences. North Central's academic facilities include a performing arts center and a science center equipped with advanced laboratory spaces, while residential students are housed in both traditional residence halls and apartment-style accommodations across campus. The college competes in NCAA Division III athletics as the Cardinals, with its track and field program having earned multiple national championships.

See my Chances for Admission

Ratings

North Central College is rated within the top 40% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 7 out of 10.

Overall Rating

7 out of 10
Academics

7 out of 10
Resources

7 out of 10
Outcomes

6 out of 10
Value

8 out of 10

Learn how ratings are calculated

Rankings

Rankings for North Central College within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

Learn how rankings are calculated

Admissions

Admission Standards

Challenging

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1055/1310
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 24/29
GPA 3.6

Acceptance Rate

77.3%

Applications Due Apr 15, 2027
Enrollment Rate 13.6%
Application Fee $0

Applicant Competition Very Low

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

View Admission Requirements

Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$45,726

Costs for North Central College
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$45,726
Books and Supplies		$900
Other Fees		$280
Room and Board		$14,688
Budget for Other Expenses		$2,894
Total One Year Cost		$64,488

View Tuition & Financial Aid Details

Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$48,900 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

64% within 6 years

View Post Graduation Outcomes

Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at North Central College are Business, Education, and Social Sciences. 28% of students major in Business, 13% in Education, and 12% in Social Sciences.