North Central vs Williams College
North Central College and Williams College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. North Central, a private liberal arts college in Naperville, Illinois, boasts a 70% acceptance rate, while Williams, a private liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts, has a highly selective 13% acceptance rate. North Central's student body is more diverse, with 30% of students identifying as minorities compared to Williams' 24%. Both colleges offer a wide range of majors, with popular choices at North Central including Business, Education, and Nursing, and popular choices at Williams including Economics, English, and Political Science. With graduation rates of 75% and 96% respectively, both colleges ensure that their students are well-prepared for their future careers. Explore the comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() North Central College |
![]() Williams College |
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Overview |
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Location | Naperville, Illinois | Williamstown, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Town: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 77.0% | 97.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 68.4% | 8.8% |
Application fees | $25 | $65 |
SAT range | 1030 - 1230 | N/A |
ACT range | 22 - 28 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 43.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 17.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 4,551 | 12,452 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,113 | 1,099 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 512 | 574 |
Yield rate | 16.4% | 52.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $61,098 | $78,060 |
Average net price | $26,207 | $14,487 |
Tuition | $42,026 | $59,350 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,998
Meal plan:
$3,890
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Room/dormitory:
$7,625
Meal plan:
$7,375
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $28,670 |
52.0%
Average amount $52,053 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
60.0%
Average amount $5,156 |
13.0%
Average amount $3,992 |
Students taking out private loans |
25.0%
Average amount $6,992 |
2.0%
Average amount $3,884 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,404
Men 48.4% Women 51.6% |
2,174
Men 48.1% Women 51.9% |
Graduate students |
324
Men 29.3% Women 70.7% |
50
Men 44.0% Women 56.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 26.8% | N/A |
International students | 3.7% | 9.8% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Town: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 1,333 | 2,045 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Illinois Wisconsin Indiana Ohio Michigan | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 6:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 64.4% | 93.8% |
Dropout rate | 35.1% | 3.1% |
Transferred out | N/A | 1.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Master's Degrees)
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Area Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
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