Naperville, IL · Private · 2,428 undergraduates · urban
North Central College
Moderately selective
The Shimer Great Books School provides a distinctive discussion-based, primary-text liberal-arts pathway within the larger college.
Institutional profile
Established Solid in career outcomes, and solid in academic standing.- Admission
- 58.3% admitted
- Price by income
- Varies across five income ranges
- Completion
- 69%
5,241 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$60,123 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets North Central College apart
Academic design
Students can move across professional and liberal-arts programs, with undergraduate research, internships, and interdisciplinary study built into many pathways.
Campus pattern
The campus sits next to downtown Naperville and its commuter rail connection to Chicago, blending a walkable college town with metropolitan access.
Defining feature
The Shimer Great Books School provides a distinctive discussion-based, primary-text liberal-arts pathway within the larger college.
Can I get in?
58.3% admitted
Start with academic preparation, then show why this particular academic and campus environment fits you.
Recent applicant pool
5,241About 58 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 25% submitted an SAT, and 7% submitted an ACT. Because ACT scores came from few admitted students, the range describes that self-selected group rather than the full class.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for North Central College, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What North Central College weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
Students can move across professional and liberal-arts programs, with undergraduate research, internships, and interdisciplinary study built into many pathways.
Make the fit specific
The Shimer Great Books School provides a distinctive discussion-based, primary-text liberal-arts pathway within the larger college.
Account for the tradeoff
Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and make the school-specific case concrete.
Fee waiver: accepted
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
Teacher preparationAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at North Central College
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
The Shimer Great Books School provides a distinctive discussion-based, primary-text liberal-arts pathway within the larger college.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Psychology, General
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Marketing
Admits separately
Finance and Financial Management Services
Admits separately
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
Admits separately
What is campus life like?
North Central College beyond the classroom
The campus sits next to downtown Naperville and its commuter rail connection to Chicago, blending a walkable college town with metropolitan access.
A defining academic feature
Students can move across professional and liberal-arts programs, with undergraduate research, internships, and interdisciplinary study built into many pathways.
What shapes an ordinary week
The campus sits next to downtown Naperville and its commuter rail connection to Chicago, blending a walkable college town with metropolitan access.
What changes the experience
The Shimer Great Books School provides a distinctive discussion-based, primary-text liberal-arts pathway within the larger college.