Location: Naperville, IL•In-State Tuition: $44,394•Admission Rate: 58%•Avg SAT: 1165
Median Earnings (1yr)
$52,728
53rd percentile
60th percentile in Illinois
Median Debt
$26,801
17% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.51 ManageableSample: 46 graduates

Analysis

North Central College's economics program won't produce the elite outcomes of nearby Northwestern or University of Chicago, but it delivers solidly above-average results at a debt level that makes the investment quite manageable. At $52,728 first-year out, graduates earn more than 60% of economics programs across Illinois and slightly better than the national median—respectable performance for a school with a 58% admission rate. More importantly, the typical graduate carries just $26,801 in debt, putting this program in the 8th percentile nationally for debt burden, which translates to a highly favorable 0.51 debt-to-earnings ratio.

That debt figure deserves emphasis: students here are borrowing roughly $4,000 less than the national median for economics programs, while earning more than their peers nationwide. For families weighing options beyond the most selective Illinois schools, this program offers a practical path to a decent economics degree without the crushing debt that can limit career flexibility early on. The gap to top programs like Wheaton ($62,889) or UIUC ($58,921) exists but isn't insurmountable, especially when you factor in the lower borrowing.

The moderate sample size suggests steady program enrollment, and outcomes appear consistent. For a student who can get into North Central but not the state's most competitive programs, this represents a reasonable middle ground—solid earnings potential with debt that won't dominate their financial decisions for years after graduation.

Where North Central College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all economics bachelors's programs nationally

North Central CollegeOther economics programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How North Central College graduates compare to all programs nationally

North Central College earns $53k — 53th percentile among economics bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (35 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
North Central CollegeNaperville$44,394$52,728—$26,8010.51
University of ChicagoChicago$66,939$92,075$127,832$13,1970.14
Northwestern UniversityEvanston$65,997$84,932$105,795$16,2270.19
Wheaton CollegeWheaton$43,930$62,889$60,894$21,0000.33
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign$16,004$58,921$75,600$21,2280.36
Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais$37,940$54,169—$27,0000.50
National Median—$51,722—$22,8160.44

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with economics graduates

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Biostatisticians

Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Search Marketing Strategists

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At North Central College, approximately 25% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 46 graduates with reported earnings and 49 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.