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North Central College

NCC

Naperville, Illinois 60540

Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateUrbanPrivateBusiness Focus

Known for business

North Central College is a private institution in Naperville with particular strength in business and psychology. With an average SAT of 1165, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 2.4K undergraduates with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

71% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $60,123 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $23,033.

Established

1861

Motto

Lux Veritas

Mascot

Chippy the Cardinal

Type

Private college

Conference

NCAA Division III and the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW)

Division

Division III

Campus Visits

114 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Apr 13 · Campus Tour

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58%Acceptance

1165SAT Avg

2,360Students

12:1Student:Faculty

71%Grad Rate

$60,123Earnings 10yr

$23,033Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

North Central College Launches New Data Science Minor

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tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

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Admissions

Acceptance Rate58.3%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1165

Reading & WritingMid: 570

535650

MathMid: 560

530630

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 25

2327

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

58.3%

Trend

SAT Avg

1165

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$44,394

Room & Board$12,434

Books & Supplies$1,200

Total Cost of Attendance$54,803

Average Net Price$23,033

Median Debt at Graduation$24,500

Monthly Payment (10yr)$260

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$13,752

$30–48K$16,536

$48–75K$18,725

$75–110K$23,967

$110K+$27,279

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$23,033

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

20.2%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$18,750

SAT Range	Avg Award	Note
1400-1600	$25,000	Academic merit scholarship
1200-1399	$15,000	Dean's scholarship
1000-1199	$8,000	Achievement award

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

Peer Average

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

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Programs (71)

Student Life

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Student Body

Undergrads

2,360

Gender Split

51% / 49%

Women / Men

First Generation

27%

Pell Grant Recipients

25%

Race & Ethnicity

White 62%

Black 6%

Hispanic 17%

Asian 4%

Two+ 4%

Int'l 4%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate71.1%

Freshman Retention81.7%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$51,762

8 Years$55,116

10 Years$60,123

10-Year Earnings by Gender

Women

$45,000

Men

$61,300

Rankings

U.S. News

#20

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Forbes

#20

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More About This School

Rankings

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History & Fun Facts

•History North Central College was founded in 1861 as "Plainfield College" in Plainfield, Illinois.
•Classes were first held on November 11 of that year.
•On February 15, 1864, the Board of Trustees changed the name of the school to "North-Western College".
•The college moved to Naperville in 1870 and the name was again changed in 1926 to North Central College.
•In June 2017, North Central College acquired Shimer College and instituted the Shimer Great Books School of North Central College.

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Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°

Sep

55°

Oct

42°

Nov

30°

Dec

25°

Jan

28°

Feb

38°

Mar

50°

Apr

62°

May

Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647

90 miles(95 min)

Hartfordpop. 121,054

60 miles(70 min)

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Getting There

Nearest Airports

ORD Chicago O'Hare18 mi

MKE Milwaukee82 mi

IND Indianapolis172 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA876 mi · ~25h 18m drive

New York, NY737 mi · ~21h 17m drive

Hartford, CT796 mi · ~23h drive

Providence, RI860 mi · ~24h 51m drive

Albany, NY738 mi · ~21h 19m drive

Syracuse, NY618 mi · ~17h 51m drive

Rochester, NY545 mi · ~15h 45m drive

Buffalo, NY479 mi · ~13h 50m drive

Philadelphia, PA689 mi · ~19h 54m drive

Pittsburgh, PA434 mi · ~12h 32m drive

Harrisburg, PA595 mi · ~17h 11m drive

Newark, NJ728 mi · ~21h 2m drive

Washington, DC617 mi · ~17h 49m drive

Baltimore, MD629 mi · ~18h 10m drive

Atlanta, GA591 mi · ~17h 4m drive

Charlotte, NC600 mi · ~17h 20m drive

Raleigh, NC658 mi · ~19h 1m drive

Miami, FL1196 mi · ~34h 33m drive

Orlando, FL990 mi · ~28h 36m drive

Tampa, FL1008 mi · ~29h 7m drive

Nashville, TN395 mi · ~11h 25m drive

New Orleans, LA824 mi · ~23h 48m drive

Richmond, VA640 mi · ~18h 29m drive

Chicago, IL27 mi · ~47 min drive

Detroit, MI264 mi · ~7h 38m drive

Minneapolis, MN339 mi · ~9h 48m drive

St. Louis, MO243 mi · ~7h 1m drive

Kansas City, MO386 mi · ~11h 9m drive

Indianapolis, IN173 mi · ~5h drive

Columbus, OH297 mi · ~8h 35m drive

Cleveland, OH333 mi · ~9h 37m drive

Milwaukee, WI88 mi · ~2h 33m drive

Dallas, TX782 mi · ~22h 35m drive

Houston, TX923 mi · ~26h 40m drive

Austin, TX958 mi · ~27h 41m drive

San Antonio, TX1031 mi · ~29h 47m drive

Los Angeles, CA1715 mi · ~49h 33m drive

San Francisco, CA1829 mi · ~52h 50m drive

San Diego, CA1704 mi · ~49h 14m drive

Seattle, WA1712 mi · ~49h 27m drive

Portland, OR1732 mi · ~50h 2m drive

Denver, CO891 mi · ~25h 44m drive

Phoenix, AZ1424 mi · ~41h 8m drive

Salt Lake City, UT1231 mi · ~35h 34m drive

Honolulu, HI4223 mi · ~122h drive

Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

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Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park

Visitor parking lot

Free parking with visitor pass

9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions

Admissions Office

10:00 AMInformation session

Welcome Center

45 minutes

11:00 AMCampus tour

Starts at Welcome Center

75 minutes, student-led

12:30 PMLunch

Main Dining Hall

Visitor meal passes available

1:30 PMDepartment visit

Academic buildings

Schedule with department directly

2:30 PMExplore campus independently

Library, student center, residence halls

Nearby Hotels

Budget

University Inn10% campus visitor discount

$89-129

0.5 mi

Mid-Range

Marriott Conference Center

Upscale

Airport Transit

Chicago O'Hare (ORD)18 miles

Rental car

27 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

36 min$22-36

Milwaukee (MKE)82 miles

Rental car

123 min$40-60/day

Shuttle/rideshare

164 min$98-164

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Deadline Calendar

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North Central College Application Checklist

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Common Application or Coalition Application

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Official High School Transcript

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School Report + Counselor Recommendation

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Two Teacher Recommendations

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SAT or ACT Scores (test-optional)Optional

Check current test policy

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North Central College Supplemental EssaysNon-standard

1-3 supplemental essays required

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CSS Profile / FAFSA

Required for financial aid consideration

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Arts Portfolio (if applicable)Non-standardOptional

Required for arts programs

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Interview (recommended)Optional

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Decision Notifications

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