Quad
North Central CollegeNaperville, IL · Private nonprofit

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Psychology, General (10% of graduates). 12 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 59% of colleges. 57% of faculty are full-time. Spends $11,500 a year on instruction per student.

Most popular majors

593 bachelor's degrees, 2024–25 graduates

The top 5 programs account for 34% of graduates; 58 programs in 22 fields awarded at least one.

  1. Psychology, General 42.01019.9% 59
    Graduates in this field earn $52,062 4 years out
  2. Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other 52.02996.4% 38
    Graduates in this field earn $65,992 4 years out
  3. Exercise Science and Kinesiology 31.05056.4% 38
    Graduates in this field earn $60,018 4 years out
  4. Finance, General 52.08015.4% 32
    Graduates in this field earn $81,562 4 years out
  5. Marketing/Marketing Management, General 52.14015.4% 32
    Graduates in this field earn $71,123 4 years out

Fastest-growing field: Business, 21% → 26% of graduates since 2014–15 (157 graduates in 2024–25).

Source:IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2014–15 to 2024–25About the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

Bachelor's degrees awarded July through June, by federal program name (), which can differ from what the college calls a major. A double major counts once, under the ; its other field is a . Earnings are College Scorecard's median for graduates of the program's broader field (), 4 years after completion; see Top-earning majors below.

Top-earning majors here

By earnings 4 years after completion

  1. Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$105,350 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $85,168

    4 years after completion$105,350
    National median: $86,176Above typical

    Median federal debt: $27,000 · 17 graduates, two most recent years combined

  2. Finance and Financial Management Services$81,562 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $51,420

    4 years after completion$81,562
    National median: $83,343About typical

    4 years out, Pell: Too few graduates to report · Non-Pell: $70,614(an older graduating class than the figure above — see the (i) for why)

    Median federal debt: $27,000 · 66 graduates, two most recent years combined

  3. Economics$80,494 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $52,728

    4 years after completion$80,494
    National median: $82,686About typical

    Median federal debt: $26,801 · 32 graduates, two most recent years combined

  4. Computer Science$79,877 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $53,544

    4 years after completion$79,877
    National median: $107,009Below typical

    Median federal debt: $26,228 · 43 graduates, two most recent years combined

  5. Accounting and Related Services$78,125 4 yrs out

    1 year after completion: $58,717

    4 years after completion$78,125
    National median: $76,194About typical

    4 years out, Pell: Too few graduates to report · Non-Pell: $70,582(an older graduating class than the figure above — see the (i) for why)

    Median federal debt: $21,166 · 66 graduates, two most recent years combined

Bachelor's programs only, among graduates who received federal financial aid and were working (not enrolled in school) in the measurement year.

Students per faculty member vs. every college12 to 1
12 to 1
← Fewer students per facultyfewer students per faculty member than 59% of 1,892More students per faculty →

Not the average class size: faculty also teach graduate students and do research, and large lectures can sit alongside small seminars.

Full-time faculty57%
National median: 67%Below typical
Average faculty salary

$82,061

9-month equated, all ranks combined. Pay tracks local cost of living as much as a college's generosity.

Spending and endowment

Fiscal 2023–24. Compared only against other private nonprofit colleges: public and private colleges report finances on different accounting forms that aren't comparable.

Instruction spending per student$11,500
$11,500
← Lessmore than 55% of 1,199More →
Endowment per student$45,682
$45,682
← Lessmore than 57% of 1,065More →

Sources:IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard Field of Study data, most recent release;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks), Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)