North Central College
Naperville, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 77.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 63/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
North Central College scores 63 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. The 64% completion rate is the primary drag. Average 6-year earnings of $39,300 are modest against a $45,726 sticker tuition, producing an 8.9-year payback period. Debt-to-earnings of 0.623 is elevated. The net price of $21,044 is meaningfully below sticker. The strongest program is Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (12 graduates, $85,168 year-one, B+ grade), and Computer Science posts $53,544 year-one and $79,877 at year four. The majority of programs cluster in the C and D range: Psychology earns a D with a 0.963 debt-to-earnings ratio, Drama an F with 1.029. At 2,428 undergraduates, North Central is a small institution with suburban Chicago location. The Naperville location does provide access to Chicago-area employers, which may benefit programs like Finance and Business Administration. Students focused on business or technical programs with manageable debt levels can find a reasonable value here. Students in arts or social sciences face a difficult ROI picture.
North Central College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $45,726/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $45,726/yr |
| Average net price | $21,044/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $84,176 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,123 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $260 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 64.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,428 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $45,726/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,044/year, or roughly $84,176 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,507/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,961/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,500, which works out to about $260 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,300) and comes to 0.62, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,507 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,486 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,362 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,590 |
| $110,001+ | $26,961 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $12,507 per year - roughly $50,000 over four years. Against average 6-year earnings of $39,300 and a 64% completion rate, this is a meaningful financial commitment. Low-income students who complete and enter business or technical fields can build a workable ROI case. Those who do not complete accumulate debt without the credential - the completion rate makes this a real risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $16,362 (48001-75000 bracket) to $20,590 (75001-110000 bracket) per year. Four-year costs of $65,000-$82,000 against average earnings of $39,300 and an 8.9-year payback are tight. Middle-income students should prioritize programs with B-grade or higher outcomes to make the investment work.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $26,961 per year - about $108,000 over four years. At this cost against $39,300 average earnings, the full-pay case is weak for average-outcome graduates.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at North Central College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $52,062 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $60,018 | D |
| Marketing | $71,123 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $81,562 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $49,224 | C |
| Accounting | $78,125 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,992 | C |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $26,908 | D |
| Computer Science | $79,877 | C+ |
| Sociology | $56,281 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Management Sciences (12 graduates) is the top performer: $85,168 year-one, $105,350 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.315, median debt $26,851). Year-one earnings reflect quantitative finance and analytics placement in Chicago's financial sector. The four-year figure of $105k is strong for a small private. Small cohort size limits robustness, but the direction is clear.
Accounting
Accounting (29 graduates) earns $58,717 year-one and $78,125 at year four (C+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.454, median debt $26,667). Solid outcomes for a small private's accounting program. The C+ grade reflects moderate but not exceptional ROI. Chicago accounting firms recruit from the region, giving NCC graduates market access. Year-one of $58k is respectable.
Computer Science
Computer Science (24 graduates) earns $53,544 year-one and $79,877 at year four (C+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.498, median debt $26,678). Four-year trajectory to $80k shows progression.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (35 graduates) earns $51,420 year-one and $81,562 at year four (C+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.525, median debt $27,000). The four-year jump to $81k shows progression. Naperville's proximity to Chicago's financial sector is the key asset for this program.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama (16 graduates) earns $20,416 year-one and $46,605 at year four (F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.029, median debt $21,000). Year-one earnings of $20k against $21,000 in debt is immediate financial stress. The F grade is accurate. Students choosing drama at a $45,726 sticker institution should be clear-eyed about the near-term financial picture and have a plan beyond graduation.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 84.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How North Central College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 77.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 525-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-29 |
| Enrollment | 2,428 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,075 |
At 77.3%, North Central is modestly selective. SAT Math 525-660 and Reading 530-650 (ACT 24-29) describe a mid-range academic profile. Admission is not a significant barrier, but the 64% completion rate suggests that not all who enroll are well-positioned to finish. Students should assess fit with North Central's size and urban-proximate suburban environment.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Central College (this school) | 63 | $21,044 | $60,123 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| John Carroll University | 61 | $28,746 | $62,860 |
| Lewis & Clark College | 61 | $36,013 | $62,205 |
| Gannon University | 60 | $22,553 | $58,845 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
North Central admits 77.3% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 525-660 Math and 530-650 Reading (ACT 24-29). Enrollment is 2,428. The school draws primarily from the Chicago metropolitan area. The 64% completion rate is a concern for a relatively accessible institution - students who struggle academically or financially face real attrition risk. Students planning business, accounting, or quantitative fields will find the suburban Chicago location adds labor market value.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
North Central College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $21,044 a year after aid ($84,176 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $60,123 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Median debt of $24,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
North Central College: Common Questions
Is North Central College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether North Central College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 63/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,044 a year after aid ($84,176 over four years) against $60,123 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does North Central College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $21,044 a year, or roughly $84,176 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do North Central College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $60,123 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,323 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off North Central College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.9 years for North Central College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do North Central College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,500, against average earnings of $39,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at North Central College?
The six-year graduation rate is 64.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.