North Central College ranks among the top 20 universities in the Midwest region in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 list of America’s Best Colleges and among the top 20 Best Colleges in Illinois, according to Niche.com.
The college, located in the heart of the Naperville Historic District, jumped two spots from last year to No. 17 out of 166 schools rated by U.S. News and was one of four schools in Illinois to make the national publication’s Best Regional Universities Midwest top 20.
The other Illinois schools were Elmhurst University in Elmhurst at No. 13, Dominican University in River Forest at No. 15, and the University of Illinois-Springfield at No. 20.
In the 2023 Niche.com rankings, North Central placed No. 18 out of 50 colleges in Illinois, up from No. 23 last year, and ranked 537th out of 1,555 colleges in America.
Northwestern University in Evanston topped Niche’s Best Colleges in Illinois list.
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“At a time when students are looking for clear measures of quality and reputation, I am pleased to see North Central’s consistently strong rankings,” interim President Donna Carroll said in a news release.
“These rankings not only underscore the value proposition of North Central College; they also emphasize our entrepreneurial spirit, which positions the college as a leader among our peers,” said Carroll, who served 27 years as president of Dominican University.
It is the 28th consecutive year North Central has been ranked as part of prestigious news magazine’s annual list, receiving an overall score of 72 out of 100. It was one of 166 schools evaluated in the Best Regional Universities Midwest category.
North Central also ranked ninth in the Midwest on the magazine’s Most Innovative Schools list, 21st for Best Colleges for Veterans and 34th for Best Value Schools.
It placed 61st for Top Performers on Social Mobility, which looks at how successful schools are at enrolling and graduating disadvantaged students awarded Pell Grants.
Schools were rated by U.S. News & World Report on a set of widely accepted factors, including graduation and retention rates, social mobility, faculty resources, financial resources, graduate indebtedness, student excellence and alumni giving.
Niche, an online platform that helps connect students and families with colleges and universities, said it combines data from the U.S. Department of Education with reviews and ratings from current students, alumni and parents in its analysis of academics, campus and value for the financial investment.
Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, North Central College also ranks seventh of 16 schools in Niche’s Best Christian Colleges in Illinois and 88th of 345 in its Best Christian Colleges in America list.
The school also placed 10th in Best College Locations in Illinois out of 51 schools.
In neighboring Aurora, Aurora University was placed in U.S. News’ National Universities category that includes top ranked Princeton University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, Stanford and Yale.
The Aurora school’s score is in the bottom 25% of its category and was lumped together with colleges ranked between 331 and 440.
In Niche listings, Aurora University ranked 11th of 32 schools in the Best Value Colleges in Chicago Area category.