Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Naperville, Illinois
58.3% Acceptance Rate
North Central College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
58.3%Acceptance Rate
3.6Avg GPA
1165Avg SAT
25Avg ACT
$54,803Annual Cost
$60,123Grad Salary
24.7%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
58.3%
Avg GPA
3.6
Avg SAT
1165
Avg ACT
25
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1065–1280
ACT Middle 50%
23–27
Need-Based Aid
24.7% receive Pell
North Central College, established in 1861 in Naperville, Illinois, is a liberal arts college with strengths in business, education, and the sciences. Known for its vibrant Chicago-area location.
The 68-acre campus includes the Wentz Science Center, the Fine Arts Center, and the Residence Hall/Recreation Center. The college's 'Cardinal Directions' curriculum emphasizes global engagement and experiential learning.
North Central College Acceptance Rate
North Central College takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 58.3% each year.
What NCC Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 58.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.60 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.40 – 3.59
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.15
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
North Central College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for North Central College is November 1 for Early Action applicants, with additional plans listed below.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 93 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 1
Regular Decision
February 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
NCC GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at NCC is 3.6. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.30 and 3.6? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.80–4.00.NCC GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.60 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.40 – 3.59
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.20 – 3.39
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.19
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No application fee; no essay, recommendation letter, or test scores required for first-year admission
- Test-optional and still fully eligible for Honors Program and scholarships
- Honors Program requires separate post-admission application with additional essay questions
- Complete applications typically receive a decision within about 10 days; May Term offers short faculty-led study abroad (CDCA)
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at NCC
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on North Central College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
North Central College (NCC) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if NCC is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into NCC Without SAT or ACT?
NCC considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
North Central College Average SAT Score: 1165
The average SAT score of admitted students at North Central College is 1165 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1165 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1280 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. Below average? North Central College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1065, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at NCC. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 580 | 530 | 630 |
| SAT Reading | 593 | 535 | 650 |
| SAT Composite | 1165 | 1065 | 1280 |
Below 1065, you're behind most admitted students; at 1280 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1150
Can I get into North Central College (NCC) with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of NCC's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
North Central College (NCC) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at NCC is 25.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 25 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 25 | 22 | 27 |
| ACT English | 25 | 21 | 28 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 23 | 27 |
Can I get into North Central College with a 27 ACT?
A 27 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of NCC's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at NCC.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for NCC
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
NCC is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Submit even though nothing is required
North Central charges no application fee and requires no essay, no recommendation letter, and no test scores for first-year admission. Because so little is mandatory, submitting an optional personal essay through the Common App is one of the few ways to differentiate your file - use it, especially if your test-optional profile leaves gaps a story can fill.
Apply to the Honors Program only after general admission, and expect extra essays
Honors admission is a separate process that happens after you're already admitted to North Central - it requires additional essay questions beyond the general application. If you're targeting Honors (generally top 10% class rank, 3.5+ GPA), plan for this second round rather than assuming strong stats alone get you in.
Use the 10-day turnaround to your advantage
Once your file is complete, North Central typically responds within about 10 days. If you're weighing multiple schools with slower timelines, submitting your complete file here early gives you a fast comparison point for financial aid and enrollment decisions elsewhere.
Highlight the May Term abroad courses if global experience matters to you
North Central's Cardinal Destination Courses Abroad (CDCA) are short faculty-led international trips built into the May Term, open to all majors. If study abroad is part of your college goals, mention this specific program by name - it signals you've done real research beyond "North Central has study abroad."
Expert Insight:
Because almost nothing is required for general admission, some applicants submit a bare-minimum file and assume that's sufficient - but Honors Program admission and the strongest merit scholarship consideration both depend on materials (essays, rigor of curriculum) that are technically optional at the general-admission stage, so skipping them quietly closes doors later.
NCC Profile
Full Name
North Central College (NCC)
City
Naperville
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
60540
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a NCC Degree Worth It?
At $54,803/year against a $60,123 median graduate salary, NCC is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $86,900, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.68%.
How much does a degree from NCC Cost?
The sticker price is $54,803/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
24.7% of students receive a Pell Grant and 79.8% take federal loans at NCC — file your FAFSA early and list NCC as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a NCC Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $60,123 — about 48% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than North Central College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as North Central College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Honolulu, HI | 1155 | NA |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | Honolulu, HI | 1157 | 24 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than North Central College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
Degree Programs at NCC
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About NCC Admissions
Median graduate earnings at North Central College run about $60,123 a year.
At about $54,803 a year, North Central College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
North Central College's Pell Grant rate of 24.7% sits below the national average — merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 58.3%, North Central College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at North Central College average a 3.6 GPA.
North Central College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.3 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.2, North Central College becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at North Central College — aim above 1165, ideally within the 1065–1280 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for North Central College is November 1 for Early Action applicants.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is December 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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