More selective than 46% of Illinois colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
25% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 7% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose NCC over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
NCC SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, NCC is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 530 | 650 |
| SAT math | 525 | 660 |
| ACT composite | 24 | 29 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1055 | 1310 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
NCC admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 77% | 530–650 | 525–660 | 24–29 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 58% | 535–650 | 530–630 | 23–27 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is NCC compared with other Illinois colleges?
NCC has the 29th-lowest acceptance rate of 53 Illinois colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Elmhurst University | 74% | 70% | $24,185 |
| 26 | Northeastern Illinois University | 75% | 22% | $14,109 |
| 27 | DePaul University | 76% | 68% | $30,902 |
| 28 | Bradley University | 77% | 76% | $22,719 |
| 29 | North Central College | 77% | 64% | $21,044 |
| 30 | University of Illinois Chicago | 77% | 62% | $10,974 |
| 31 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 77% | 67% | $49,790 |
| 32 | Illinois College | 78% | 64% | $18,298 |
| 33 | Aurora University | 81% | 60% | $18,838 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Illinois colleges →
Who enrolls at NCC
College Scorecard; IPEDS
NCC admissions questions
What is the NCC acceptance rate?
North Central College accepts 77% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 3,056 of 5,241 applicants were admitted.
Does NCC require the SAT or ACT?
North Central College considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 25% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 7% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for NCC?
The middle 50% of North Central College enrolled first-year students scored 1055–1310 on the SAT and 24–29 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at NCC?
17% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (516 of 3,056).
Is NCC getting harder to get into?
North Central College accepted 77% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 58% for Fall 2023.
Is NCC the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing NCC with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to North Central College overview