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North Central College

North Central College is a private nonprofit college in a midsize city in the Chicago, IL metro with 2,397 students and a 77% acceptance rate.

Naperville, Illinois · Private nonprofit · City, midsize · 2,397 students

NCAA Division III · College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

Admission rate

77%

of applicants admitted

SAT average

1,213

combined, admitted students

ACT, middle half

23–27

25th to 75th percentile

Average net price

$21,044

per year, after grants

Graduation rate

64%

within 6 years

Freshman retention

82%

return for sophomore year

Median earnings

$60,123

10 years after entry

Students

2,397

total enrollment

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS) · data snapshot October 2, 2026 · Updated October 2, 2026

What families actually pay

Average yearly net price after grants, all students, by family income

$0–30,000$12,507
$30,001–48,000$13,486
$48,001–75,000$16,362
$75,001–110,000$20,590
Over $110,000$26,961

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026

AP credit

Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit
ExamMin scoreNorth Central College courseCredits
Calculus AB4MATH 151
Calculus BC3MATH 151
Biology4BIOL Elective Cardinal Designation(s): Science.
Chemistry4CHEM 122
English Language and Composition4
NCCC Elective (satisfies the Composition…NCCC Elective (satisfies the Composition component of CARD 101) This course does not apply to the major or minor in English.
English Literature and Composition4ENGL 104 ENGL 106
Psychology4PSYC 100
Statistics4PSYC 250 May substitute for BUSN 265 .
Show all 40 exams and every score level
ExamMin scoreCourseCredits
Calculus AB4MATH 151
Calculus BC3MATH 151
Calculus BC4MATH 151 MATH 152
Biology4BIOL Elective Cardinal Designation(s): Science.
Chemistry4CHEM 122
English Language and Composition4
NCCC Elective (satisfies the Composition…NCCC Elective (satisfies the Composition component of CARD 101) This course does not apply to the major or minor in English.
English Literature and Composition4ENGL 104 ENGL 106
Psychology4PSYC 100
Statistics4PSYC 250 May substitute for BUSN 265 .
Computer Science A4CSCE 160
Macroeconomics3ECON 205
Microeconomics3ECON 200
World History: Modern4HIST 155
Environmental Science4ENVI 106
European History4
HIST elective (European, 100-level) Cardinal…HIST elective (European, 100-level) Cardinal Designation(s): Social Science.
Human Geography4
SOCI Elective (100-level) Cardinal…SOCI Elective (100-level) Cardinal Designation(s): Social Science.
Spanish Language and Culture4SPAN 102 Placement in SPAN 201 .
Spanish Language and Culture5SPAN 102 SPAN 201 Placement in SPAN 202 .
Computer Science Principles4
CSCE Elective (100-level) This course does not…CSCE Elective (100-level) This course does not apply to the major in Computer Science.
Art History4ART Elective Cardinal Designation(s): Arts.
Music Theory4MUSI 101
African American Studies4
HIST 112 Cardinal Designation(s): Humanities…HIST 112 Cardinal Designation(s): Humanities, Ethical Dimenions, U.S. Power Structures.
Art 2D Design4ARTD 107
Art 3D Design4ARTD 160
Art Drawing4ARTD 120
Chinese Language and Culture4CHNS 102 Placement in CHNS 201 .
Chinese Language and Culture5CHNS 102 CHNS 201 Placement in CHNS 202 .
Comparative Government and Politics4POLS 221
French Language and Culture4FREN 102 Placement in FREN 201 .
French Language and Culture5FREN 102 FREN 201 Placement in FREN 202 .
German Language and Culture4GRMN 102 Placement in GRMN 201 .
German Language and Culture5GRMN 102 GRMN 201 Placement in GRMN 202 .
Government and Politics (United States)4POLS 101
Italian Language and Culture4
LANG Elective (100-level) Fulfills foreign…LANG Elective (100-level) Fulfills foreign language requirement.
Italian Language and Culture5
LANG Elective (100-level) 8 hours of elective…LANG Elective (100-level) 8 hours of elective. Fulfills foreign language requirement.
Japanese Language and Culture4JAPN 102 Placement in JAPN 201 .
Japanese Language and Culture5JAPN 102 JAPN 201 Placement in JAPN 202 .
Latin4LATN 102
Physics 1: Algebra-based4
PHYS Elective (100-level) If a student scores a 4…PHYS Elective (100-level) If a student scores a 4 or higher on both examinations, credit is awarded for PHYS 131 and PHYS 132 .
Physics 2: Algebra-based4
PHYS Elective (100-level) If a student scores a 4…PHYS Elective (100-level) If a student scores a 4 or higher on both examinations, credit is awarded for PHYS 131 and PHYS 132 .
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism4
PHYS Elective (100-level) If a student scores a 4…PHYS Elective (100-level) If a student scores a 4 or higher on both examinations, credit is awarded for PHYS 161 and PHYS 162 .
Physics C: Mechanics4
PHYS Elective (100-level) If a student scores a 4…PHYS Elective (100-level) If a student scores a 4 or higher on both examinations, credit is awarded for PHYS 161 and PHYS 162 .
Precalculus4MATH 140 *Begins May 2024*
Research4NCCC Elective (100-level)
Seminar4NCCC Elective (100-level)
Spanish Literature and Culture4SPAN Elective (200-level)
U.S. History4
HIST Elective (100-level) Cardinal…HIST Elective (100-level) Cardinal Designation(s): Social Science, Global Understanding, U.S. Power Structures.

Source: catalog.noctrl.edu · checked September 26, 2026

Biggest majors

MajorGraduates
Psychology66
Marketing/Marketing Management35
Finance33
Elementary Education and Teaching29
Exercise Science and Kinesiology25
Biology/Biological Sciences25
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences24
Accounting23
Show the other 49 majors
Computer Science21
Mechanical Engineering20
Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other18
Social Sciences16
History12
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management12
Journalism12
Sociology11
Musical Theatre11
Graphic Design10
Environmental Studies8
Music Teacher Education8
Music8
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration8
International Business/Trade/Commerce8
Neuroscience7
Economics7
Speech Communication and Rhetoric7
Writing6
Biochemistry6
Physics6
Fine/Studio Arts6
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies6
Actuarial Science5
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts5
English Language and Literature4
Electrical and Electronics Engineering4
Computer Engineering4
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects4
Organizational Communication4
Anthropology3
Chemistry3
Philosophy3
International/Globalization Studies3
Mathematics3
Japanese Language and Literature3
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia3
East Asian Studies1
Chinese Language and Literature1
Spanish Language and Literature1
Creative Writing1
Applied Mathematics1
Biological and Physical Sciences1
Applied and Professional Ethics1
Religion/Religious Studies1
Criminology1
Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology1
Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist1
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other1

Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Scholarships

Amounts and eligibility change; check the college’s page for current details.

Sports and campus life

Men’s varsity · NCAA Division III, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field (Indoor), Track and Field (Outdoor), Volleyball, Wrestling

Women’s varsity · NCAA Division III, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Other Sports, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field (Indoor), Track and Field (Outdoor), Volleyball, Wrestling

ROTC

Air Force, Army

Faith groups

Cru, Newman Connection

Also

Honors college, Study abroad

Greek life

8% of men in fraternities · 4% of undergraduates overall (Common Data Set 2018–19)

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), Common Data Set (Greek life), cru.org · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026

The place

Setting

City, midsize

Federal locale classification

Metro area

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

9,408,576 people

Big-city metro (1 million+)

Yes

More about the place

Nearest airport

Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

Nearest hub airport

Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

Walkability

EPA walkability index 15.5 of 20

Elevation

722 ft

Time zone

Central

January low

15°F

July high

84°F

Annual snowfall

24.3 in

Days at 90°F or higher

17 per year

One-bedroom fair market rent

$2,390 per month

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Colleges nearby

Straight-line distance between campuses

Similar colleges

Private nonprofit, city campus, NCAA Division III, similar size