North Park University
Chicago, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 68.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 64/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
North Park University scores 64 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. The earnings premium score of 78 (raw 0.362) is above average. However, the 57.7% completion rate is the primary liability - more than four in ten students do not graduate. Median debt of $25,500 against $40,300 in average 6-year earnings produces an 8.5-year payback and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.633. Registered Nursing dominates outcomes: 69 graduates, $73,846 year-one, $86,581 at year four (ROI grade B). Business Administration (97 graduates, $43,658 year-one, ROI grade C) is the second largest program. Psychology (38 graduates, $33,630 year-one, ROI grade D) and Kinesiology (26 graduates, $30,165 year-one, ROI grade D) show weaker financial returns. Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT test score ranges for North Park.
North Park University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $36,710/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,710/yr |
| Average net price | $16,948/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $67,792 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,572 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $270 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,818 |
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: $36,710/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $16,948/year, or roughly $67,792 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 $14,845/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,964/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,500, which works out to about $270 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,300) and comes to 0.63, 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 | $14,845 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,843 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,067 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,208 |
| $110,001+ | $22,964 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $14,845 per year. Low-income students who enroll in nursing have a much better financial outcome than the institutional average. Those who enroll in arts, kinesiology, or general business face a difficult equation.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $16,067, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $19,208. Middle-income families should tie their enrollment decision to specific program outcomes, not the institutional average.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $22,964 per year. Four-year cost is around $92,000. Nursing is the exception that justifies the cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at North Park University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,958 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $86,581 | B |
| Psychology | $56,062 | D |
| Biology | $55,253 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $44,098 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $65,032 | - |
| Teacher Education | $46,168 | - |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $40,374 | D |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $33,276 | - |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $62,972 | - |
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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is North Park's strongest program by a large margin: 69 graduates, $73,846 year-one, $86,581 at year four, ROI grade B, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.366 with $27,000 median debt. Chicago nursing wages are strong. For a small private institution, North Park's nursing output of 69 graduates annually is meaningful, and the outcomes justify the investment for students who complete the program. Nursing is the clearest financial success story here.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program at 97 graduates, $43,658 year-one, $61,958 at year four, ROI grade C, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.618 with $27,000 median debt. The financial case is marginal: $44k starting salary against $27,000 in debt at a private institution is not a strong ROI. Students in business here need to be in specific concentrations with clear career plans; the generic track at this price point doesn't justify itself.
Psychology
Psychology produces 38 graduates with a D ROI grade: $33,630 year-one, $56,062 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.803 with $27,000 median debt. Year-one earnings of $33k against $27,000 in debt at a private school is a poor financial start. The four-year trajectory to $56k is more reasonable but takes years to realize. Psychology at North Park serves primarily as a pre-graduate pipeline; students without graduate school plans will struggle financially on these earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How North Park University’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 | 68.5% |
| Enrollment | 1,818 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 44.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,245 |
North Park admits 68.5% of applicants and Scorecard does not report test score ranges. Access is broad. The institutional filter is primarily mission and cultural fit given the ECC affiliation.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Park University (this school) | 64 | $16,948 | $59,572 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | 64 | $29,822 | $67,725 |
| Drew University | 63 | $24,280 | $63,646 |
| Augustana University | 63 | $23,894 | $59,217 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
North Park admits 68.5% of applicants. Scorecard does not report standardized test score ranges. Enrollment is 1,818. North Park is affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church and has a Christian mission. Students who want a mid-size faith-connected institution in Chicago with strong nursing and business programs will find a match. The 57.7% completion rate means attrition is a significant risk factor to evaluate before enrolling.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
North Park University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $16,948 a year after aid ($67,792 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $59,572 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $25,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
North Park University: Common Questions
Is North Park University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether North Park University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 64/100 on our ROI scale. At $16,948 a year after aid ($67,792 over four years) against $59,572 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does North Park University 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 $16,948 a year, or roughly $67,792 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 Park University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,572 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,772 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 Park University?
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 8.5 years for North Park University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do North Park University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,500, against average earnings of $40,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at North Park University?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.7%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.