Students at North Central College achieve earnings that place the institution among the top quarter of colleges nationwide for long-term financial outcomes.
Graduates consistently demonstrate strong career success with exceptional loan repayment performance and sustainable debt levels.
North Central College ranks among the top performers nationally for long-term earnings, placing in the 80th percentile for return on investment among similar institutions. This mid-sized private college in Naperville combines the personalized attention of a smaller institution with the career outcomes typically seen at much larger universities. About 25% of students receive Pell Grants and 27% are first-generation college students, creating a diverse learning environment where students from various backgrounds can thrive.
What distinguishes North Central is its ability to deliver strong financial outcomes across a range of academic programs. Graduates earn a median of $60,123 ten years after enrollment, with particularly impressive results in computer science, business, and health sciences. The college's location in Naperville provides access to Chicago's robust job market while maintaining a more intimate campus environment.
As a private nonprofit institution, North Central offers the advantages of smaller class sizes and close faculty relationships while maintaining competitive pricing through substantial financial aid. The combination of strong academic programs, strategic location, and proven graduate outcomes makes it an attractive option for students seeking both educational quality and long-term financial success.
North Central College's program portfolio balances popular fields with high-earning specializations, creating diverse pathways to career success. Psychology dominates enrollment with 95 graduates annually, offering broad career flexibility despite more modest early earnings of $28,055. The program's high aggregate return reflects its popularity and the diverse career paths it enables, from counseling and social services to business and research roles.
Computer Science represents the college's highest-earning program, with 26 graduates earning $63,501 early in their careers. This reflects both the strong demand for technology skills in the Chicago market and the program's focused, high-quality approach. Exercise Science and Kinesiology, with 55 graduates earning $32,124, serves the growing health and wellness sector, while Digital Marketing's 54 graduates at $43,000 early earnings demonstrate the college's responsiveness to evolving business needs.
The program mix reflects North Central's strategic positioning in professional and pre-professional fields. With strong representation in technology, health sciences, business, and psychology, the college prepares students for sectors with consistent hiring demand and growth potential in the Chicago metropolitan area.
North Central College graduates achieve strong long-term financial outcomes, with median earnings of $60,123 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution in the 80th percentile nationally for return on investment. This performance reflects the college's focus on career-oriented programs and its strategic location in the Chicago metropolitan area, where graduates have access to diverse employment opportunities across multiple industries.
The college's program mix drives much of this success. Computer Science stands out with graduates earning $63,501 early in their careers, representing exceptional value given the program's focused enrollment of 26 students annually. Psychology, the college's largest program with 95 graduates, provides the highest aggregate return despite more modest individual earnings of $28,055, demonstrating the program's broad appeal and career versatility. Exercise Science and Kinesiology graduates earn around $32,124, while Digital Marketing majors see early earnings of $43,000, both reflecting the college's strength in preparing students for growing professional fields.
The college's strong loan repayment performance underscores the sustainability of these outcomes. With an 84% loan repayment rate and 0% federal loan default rate, North Central graduates demonstrate their ability to manage educational debt while building successful careers. This combination of solid earnings and responsible debt management creates a foundation for long-term financial stability.
North Central College maintains competitive affordability for a private institution, with net prices that vary significantly by family income level. Low-income students pay approximately $13,752 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $18,725, and higher-income families pay about $27,279. These figures reflect substantial financial aid that makes the college accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds.
Debt levels remain manageable relative to graduate earnings. Typical students leave with $24,500 in federal loan debt, while families who choose Parent PLUS loans borrow an average of $24,853. The college's 0% federal loan default rate and strong loan repayment patterns indicate that graduates can comfortably service their educational debt. With median earnings of $60,123 ten years out, most borrowers find their debt payments represent a reasonable percentage of their income.
The college's financial aid strategy effectively balances access with sustainability. By providing significant grant aid to lower-income students while maintaining predictable pricing for middle and upper-income families, North Central creates pathways for students across the economic spectrum to access quality private education without overwhelming debt burdens.
North Central College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
