North Central University — ROI, Cost & Payback
North Central University charges a net price of $25,817/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $103,268. Median earnings ten years after entry are $45,064, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, North Central University does not clear its cost — it ranks #57 of 68 Minnesota colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $25,817/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $103,268 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $45,064 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$3,296/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,200 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$169,188 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on North Central University's own numbers. Net price $25,817 × 4 years = $103,268 total. Median earnings $45,064 fall $3,296 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $103,268 bill in about 10.3 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do North Central University students graduate with?
A median $23,200 in federal loans among completers, or 51% of the $45,064 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of North Central University students graduate?
66% finish their degree — 34% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $103,268 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $156,467 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is North Central University expensive compared with other Minnesota colleges?
Its $25,817 net price runs $8,997 above the $16,821 median across the 68 Minnesota colleges we profile, or $35,986 more across the full degree.