North Central College
Naperville, IL · official site ↗
North Central College is a private nonprofit institution in Naperville, IL, classified by Carnegie as “Master's, Small Programs.”
It enrolls about 2,428 undergraduates and is benchmarked here against 103 peer institutions (Master's, Small Programs · Private nonprofit).
On Ibex's Financial Resilience score it rates 78 out of 100 within that peer group, a transparent composite of endowment per undergraduate, net tuition revenue per student, and instructional spend per student.
Its strongest standing relative to peers is withdrew by year 2 (9.4%, 7th percentile).
Its weakest is room & board (on-campus) ($14,444).
Master's, Small Programs · Private nonprofit
103 institutions
How exposed North Central College is to the structural shifts reshaping higher ed: a composite structural-risk index plus the 2025 federal budget law’s endowment excise tax, Grad PLUS elimination, new Parent PLUS borrowing cap and new Workforce Pell short-term-credential opportunity, and the demographic enrollment cliff. Only signals that apply to this institution are shown.
Indicative signals, not forecasts, see each metric’s definition and the methodology. Endowment-tax, Grad PLUS, Parent PLUS and Workforce Pell figures appear only where the institution is actually exposed; “nationally” compares against all schools that report each signal.
Seeing exposure is step one. Ibex builds AI agents that monitor and act on exactly these pressures, explore an interactive demo. Live demos run real workflows; the rest are working mockups we build to your institution’s data.
Composite of four ratios on a strength-factor scale (−4 weak → 10 strong): below 3 falls short of the threshold for financial health, below 1 signals acute stress, and above 6 is strong. Computed from IPEDS FY2022-23, the most recent finance release (it lags the current year by 2–3 years). Branch campuses that report finances at a parent/system level can show distorted ratios. For informational benchmarking, not a credit rating or financial advice.
Tuition & fees is the largest single source at 53% of revenue.
Where each dollar of revenue comes from, as a share of total positive revenue. Sources are standardized across public (GASB) and private (FASB) reporting; a net investment loss in a down market is shown as 0% and excluded from the mix.
Education is the largest single funder at 83%.
Federal dollars each agency committed to this institution in FY2024, as a share of its total positive obligations (USAspending.gov). Obligations are money committed, not money spent, so this total will not match the audited “Federal awards expended” figure elsewhere on this page. Amounts an agency reclaimed during the year are excluded.
Average annual net price (total cost minus grant and scholarship aid) paid by federal-aid recipients in each family-income band. Lower-income bands often pay less where need-based aid is strong.
64% graduate within 6 years (150% of normal time)
54.9% on-time, within 4 years (100%)
Counts only students who entered full-time as first-time freshmen and earned a bachelor's here, the conventional headline rate. Excludes part-time entrants and transfer-ins.
69.4% earned a degree or certificate within 8 years (IPEDS Outcome Measures)
The broader cohort, also counts part-time entrants and transfer-ins, and any credential. More inclusive, so it can run higher than the graduation rate.
Why two numbers? They measure different students over different windows, so they are not directly comparable. The graduation rate is the standard federal headline but tracks only first-time, full-time students through a bachelor's; the all-students completion rate adds the part-time and transfer students it leaves out, over a longer window. Read each for what it covers. Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Graduation Rates & Outcome Measures, via College Scorecard.
This school is test-blind: SAT or ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions. Reported to IPEDS for the most recent admissions cycle. Test policy is a live enrollment lever, so it is shown as the school's stated category rather than a peer rank.
Six-year graduation rate (150% of normal time) for the first-time, full-time bachelor’s cohort, broken out by race and ethnicity and for Pell-grant recipients (College Scorecard). Each bar uses the same measure as the headline graduation rate, so the gaps between groups are directly comparable. School overall: 68%.
Undergraduate enrollment by race and ethnicity, as reported to IPEDS (College Scorecard). “International” denotes nonresident students; “Unknown” means race/ethnicity was not reported.
Annual earnings of working former students measured ten years after they first enrolled (College Scorecard), shown as a range rather than a single number. The middle half of this school’s graduates earn between the 25th- and 75th-percentile figures; the Median bar matches the headline earnings figure. A wider gap means more variation in how graduates fare. Bars are scaled to the highest value shown.
North Central College’s largest fields by completions, with graduate earnings (4 years out) and debt benchmarked against the same field at its peer group. Sparklines show the 8-year completions trend.
| Field | Completions / yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs out | Median debt | Earnings premium | Risk score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business, Management & Marketing | 181 | $74,400 86th pct · 81 peers | $22,422 30th pct · 81 peers | Above benchmark +97% | Low · 30 |
| Psychology | 71 | $52,062 82th pct · 45 peers | $25,000 54th pct · 59 peers | Above benchmark +38% | Moderate · 40 |
| Social Sciences | 58 | $67,631 75th pct · 12 peers | $26,394 47th pct · 17 peers | Above benchmark +79% | Moderate · 42 |
| Education | 54 | $49,486 81th pct · 52 peers | $26,927 62th pct · 64 peers | Above benchmark +31% | Low · 18 |
| Visual & Performing Arts | 49 | $50,763 67th pct · 18 peers | $21,293 24th pct · 25 peers | Above benchmark +35% | Moderate · 42 |
| Parks, Recreation & Fitness | 42 | $60,018 89th pct · 37 peers | $25,000 48th pct · 46 peers | Above benchmark +59% | Moderate · 47 |
| Biological & Biomedical Sciences | 34 | – | $25,166 49th pct · 45 peers | – | Moderate · 65 |
| Communication & Journalism | 22 | $54,258 62th pct · 24 peers | $23,371 42th pct · 26 peers | Above benchmark +44% | Moderate · 46 |
| Engineering | 22 | – | – | – | – |
| Health Professions & Clinical Sciences | 21 | – | $27,000 85th pct · 62 peers | – | Low · 25 |
All 7 top fields shown clear the IL state earnings-premium benchmark (indicative).
Earnings-premium status is an indicative estimate: median graduate earnings four years out vs the IL state median earnings of a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or a bachelor’s-degree holder (graduate credentials) from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2022 ACS 5-year). The official U.S. Department of Education determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
The risk score (0–100) is an indicative blend of earnings-premium margin and the five-year completions trend, higher means a field pays closer to (or below) the benchmark and is shrinking. A directional screen, not an official determination.
Business, Management & Marketing – 8 CIP programs (4-digit), 7 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MarketingCIP 5214 › | 43 | $71,123 n=95 | – | 93.2% 5yr | $20,484 | 0.29× | Above benchmark +89% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Accounting and Related ServicesCIP 5203 › | 37 | $78,125 n=68 | – | 100% 5yr | $21,166 | 0.27× | Above benchmark +107% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsCIP 5202 › | 33 | $65,992 n=71 | – | 91.8% 5yr | $21,500 | 0.33× | Above benchmark +75% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Finance and Financial Management ServicesCIP 5208 › | 31 | $81,562 n=55 | – | 93.9% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.33× | Above benchmark +116% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsCIP 5207 › | 12 | $68,750 n=18 | – | – | – | – | Above benchmark +82% | – |
| Human Resources Management and ServicesCIP 5210 › | 10 | $71,555 n=35 | – | 81.8% 5yr | $18,384 | 0.26× | Above benchmark +90% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| International BusinessCIP 5211 › | 10 | – | – | – | $26,000 | – | – | – |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsCIP 5213 › | 5 | $105,350 n=16 | – | 100% 1yr | $27,000 | 0.26× | Above benchmark +179% | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 7 of 8 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Psychology – 1 CIP program (4-digit), 1 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, GeneralCIP 4201 › | 71 | $52,062 n=108 | – | 63.9% | $25,000 | 0.48× | Above benchmark +38% | Clears all 2 yrs |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 1 of 1 major shows an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Social Sciences – 5 CIP programs (4-digit), 2 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SociologyCIP 4511 › | 17 | $56,281 n=40 | – | 88.9% 5yr | $26,943 | 0.48× | Above benchmark +49% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| EconomicsCIP 4506 › | 15 | $80,494 n=53 | – | 82.6% 1yr | $26,801 | 0.33× | Above benchmark +113% | – |
| Political Science and GovernmentCIP 4510 › | 13 | – | – | – | $25,205 | – | – | – |
| Social Sciences, GeneralCIP 4501 › | 11 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| AnthropologyCIP 4502 › | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 2 of 5 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Education – 2 CIP programs (4-digit), 2 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsCIP 1312 › | 47 | $49,224 n=56 | – | 100% 5yr | $26,916 | 0.55× | Above benchmark +31% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasCIP 1313 › | 7 | $51,247 n=22 | – | 95.1% 1yr | $27,000 | 0.53× | Above benchmark +36% | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 2 of 2 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Visual & Performing Arts – 4 CIP programs (4-digit), 3 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftCIP 5005 › | 23 | $46,605 n=22 | – | – | $19,500 | 0.42× | Above benchmark +24% | Below benchmark 1 of 2 yrs |
| Design and Applied ArtsCIP 5004 › | 18 | $57,192 n=21 | – | 87.9% 5yr | $22,000 | 0.39× | Above benchmark +52% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| MusicCIP 5009 › | 5 | $46,744 n=17 | – | – | $27,000 | 0.58× | Above benchmark +24% | – |
| Fine and Studio ArtsCIP 5007 › | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 3 of 4 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Parks, Recreation & Fitness – 1 CIP program (4-digit), 1 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessCIP 3105 › | 42 | $60,018 n=86 | – | 70.9% | $25,000 | 0.42× | Above benchmark +59% | Clears all 2 yrs |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 1 of 1 major shows an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Biological & Biomedical Sciences – 3 CIP programs (4-digit), 0 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neurobiology and NeurosciencesCIP 2615 › | 17 | – | – | – | $23,655 | – | – | – |
| Biology, GeneralCIP 2601 › | 14 | – | – | 85.2% 5yr | $27,000 | – | – | – |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyCIP 2602 › | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 0 of 3 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Communication & Journalism – 4 CIP programs (4-digit), 2 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationCIP 0909 › | 8 | $60,573 n=27 | – | 91.3% 5yr | $20,649 | 0.34× | Above benchmark +61% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationCIP 0907 › | 6 | $45,838 n=16 | – | – | $27,000 | 0.59× | Above benchmark +22% | Clears all 2 yrs |
| Communication and Media StudiesCIP 0901 › | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| JournalismCIP 0904 › | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 2 of 4 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Engineering – 3 CIP programs (4-digit), 0 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical EngineeringCIP 1419 › | 13 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringCIP 1410 › | 6 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Computer EngineeringCIP 1409 › | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 0 of 3 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
Health Professions & Clinical Sciences – 2 CIP programs (4-digit), 0 with earnings
| Major (CIP 4-digit) | Compl./yr | Earn 4yr | Earn 1yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralCIP 5100 › | 16 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsCIP 5109 › | 5 | – | – | – | $27,000 | – | – | – |
Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 0 of 2 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.
See the interactive dashboard for all fields and credential levels (associate through doctoral). Source: College Scorecard Field of Study.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard & IPEDS (most recent releases), with the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Employment Projections, field-demand outlook) and WICHE (enrollment-cliff projections). Figures lag the current academic year by roughly two to three years. Percentiles and medians are computed within the institution's peer group. Financial Resilience is a transparent composite, see each component above. Compiled by Ibex Insights.
