Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 70/100

North Park University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

Compare This College

Chicago, Illinois

About North Park University

North Park University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Chicago, Illinois. It enrolls 1,818 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
68.5%
Graduation
48.2%
Net Price
$16,948
Median Earnings (10yr)
$59,572
Enrollment
1,818
Student : Faculty
11:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
70/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 34
Value 75
Affordability 71
Selectivity 53

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 68.5%, North Park University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate
68.5%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether North Park University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective 25.2 pts since 2019
47.6%201944%202067.1%202168%202272.8%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending North Park University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,948 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$16,948
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
44%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
50%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$36,710
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,090
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,405
Books & Supplies
$1,050
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$44,172

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $14,845
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $14,843
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $16,067
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $19,208
  • Over $110,000
    $22,964

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,946
10% percentile
$8,500
25% percentile
$25,500
Median percentile
$27,084
75% percentile
$35,000
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $21,291 ↓ $4,209
No Pell $17,890 ↓ $7,610
Dependent students $18,875 ↓ $6,625
Independent students $24,248 ↓ $1,252
Female students $20,832 ↓ $4,668
Male students $18,875 ↓ $6,625
Pell recipients: 17.5% (4,450 students)No Pell: 14.7% (3,739 students)Dependent students: 15.5% (3,945 students)Independent students: 19.9% (5,068 students)Female students: 17.1% (4,354 students)Male students: 15.5% (3,945 students)Overall Median$25,500
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($25,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

48% of full-time students who enrolled at North Park University graduate within six years, and 65% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
48%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
65%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered North Park University earn a median of $59,572 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$59,572
Earning > $25K
81%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$48,000$51,000$54,000$58,000$61,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$44,100

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$48,100

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$43,700

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$45,000

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$47,200

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 19.0 pts across 6 years
71.2%1yr73.6%3yr84.3%5yr90.2%7yr
What this signals: Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

North Park University is home to 1,818 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
1,818
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
37%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 34.9% 635
White 28.4% 516
International 12.2% 222
Black 10.6% 192
Asian 8.1% 147
Other 3.4% 62
Hispanic: 34.9% (635 students)White: 28.4% (516 students)International: 12.2% (222 students)Black: 10.6% (192 students)Asian: 8.1% (147 students)Other: 3.4% (62 students)Total1,818

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at North Park University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Chicago, Illinois
Housing
Mostly residential 935 beds on campus
Adult Learners
9% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

North Park University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 48 distinct programs across 20 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

4 Programs
6 Programs
6 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program
4 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at North Park University is 11:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$239M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$72,561
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

107 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 44 41% $79,938
Associate Professors 30 28% $72,038
Assistant Professors 32 30% $64,172
No Rank 1 1% $32,135

Pros & Cons of North Park University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how North Park University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Solid post-graduation earnings
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
  • Below-average completion rate
  • First-year retention is below typical

Frequently Asked Questions about North Park University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about North Park University.

Is North Park University hard to get into?
Admissions at North Park University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 68.5%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at North Park University?
North Park University has an acceptance rate of 68.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does North Park University cost?
The average net price after aid at North Park University is $16,948 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is North Park University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $59,572 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,948 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is North Park University known for?
North Park University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do North Park University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering North Park University are $59,572, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is North Park University accredited?
Yes. North Park University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend North Park University?
North Park University enrolls 1,818 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at North Park University?
North Park University graduates 48% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is North Park University a public or private college?
North Park University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is North Park University located?
North Park University is located in Chicago, Illinois.
What programs does North Park University offer?
North Park University offers 48 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Nursing, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at North Park University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at North Park University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

Continue Exploring

Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.