North Central College Acceptance Rate
Naperville, Illinois · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 5,241
- Admitted
- 3,056
- Yield
- 16.9%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, North Central College's acceptance rate has fallen from 59.8% in 2014–15 to 58.3% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 5,807 to 5,241 (-10%) over that period.
Its 58.3% rate makes North Central College more selective than about 77% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 50 tracked Illinois schools, it is more selective than about 76%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (61.3% for women vs 55.5% for men, a 5.8-point gap). North Central College has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 16.9% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 5,807 | 3,475 | 59.8% | 576 |
| 2015–16 | 7,307 | 4,177 | 57.2% | 599 |
| 2016–17 | 6,860 | 4,072 | 59.4% | 589 |
| 2017–18 | 7,220 | 3,928 | 54.4% | 603 |
| 2018–19 | 6,625 | 3,689 | 55.7% | 550 |
| 2019–20 | 6,847 | 3,673 | 53.6% | 557 |
| 2020–21 | 6,919 | 3,687 | 53.3% | 534 |
| 2021–22 | 4,551 | 3,113 | 68.4% | 512 |
| 2022–23 | 5,099 | 3,104 | 60.9% | 483 |
| 2023–24 | 5,241 | 3,056 | 58.3% | 516 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 2,565 | 1,572 | 61.3% |
| Men | 2,676 | 1,484 | 55.5% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 535–650 | 25% |
| SAT Math | 530–630 | |
| ACT Composite | 23–27 | 7% |
How North Central College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is North Central College's acceptance rate?
North Central College's acceptance rate is 58.3% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (3,056 admitted of 5,241 applicants).
Is North Central College test optional?
North Central College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to North Central College?
North Central College received 5,241 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 3,056.
What SAT score do you need for North Central College?
Admitted students at North Central College typically scored 535–650 on SAT Reading/Writing and 530–630 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is North Central College getting harder to get into?
North Central College has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 59.8% in 2014–15 to 58.3% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: northcentralcollege.edu/.