Admit rate has ranged 44%–73% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
North Park University is a small, Christian liberal arts college embedded in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood, offering a distinctively urban, intercultural, and faith-based education. It’s a place where nearly half the student body identifies as a person of color, where the city itself is a classroom, and where the academic focus leans heavily into professional and pre-professional tracks. With a moderately selective admissions process and a supportive community vibe, it attracts students seeking a tight-knit campus experience without sacrificing the dynamism of a major city.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
Considered (not required)
High school transcript
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,818
In-state tuition
$36,710
Out-of-state tuition
$36,710
Campus Housing
38% live on campus
Graduation Rate
58%
First-Year Retention
62%
Demonstrated Interest
Not considered
Median Earnings (10yr)
$59,572
Student Body Diversity
50% persons of color
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$59,572
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.5×
Median debt at graduation
$25,500
Graduation rate
58%
First-year retention
62%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
64%
Pell (lower-income) share
44%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
37%
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$63,826
Business Administration, Management and Operations$45,584
Criminal Justice and Corrections$39,153
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$37,424
English Language and Literature, General$35,060
Psychology, General
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
86
Summer high
80°F
Winter low
22°F
Annual rain
45.5"
Annual snow
32.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
66
Scholarly works
859
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.7%
Bottom → top quintile
23%
From bottom quintile
7%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at North Park University?
North Park University's acceptance rate is approximately 69% (Chicago, IL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does North Park University cost?
At North Park University, the average net price (after aid) is about $16,948 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend North Park University?
North Park University enrolls approximately 1,818 undergraduate students.
Where is North Park University located?
North Park University is located in Chicago, IL.
Admissions
North Park's admissions process is moderately selective, with an of 69%. The university accepts the Common Application and operates a test-blind policy, meaning SAT or ACT scores are not considered for admission. The process emphasizes academic preparation, with stated guidelines suggesting applicants with an unweighted high school GPA of 3.75 or higher are strong candidates, while those with a GPA of 3.50 or higher may be considered with higher test scores (ACT 27+ or SAT 1290+). While the university does not offer an Early Decision program, it does accept applications on a rolling basis. Demonstrated interest—such as campus visits or engagement with admissions—is not considered as a factor in admissions decisions, according to reporting.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$32,094
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$30,228
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$29,685
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
The academic offering at North Park is built around a liberal arts core with a pronounced tilt toward professional preparation. Students can explore over 40 majors and programs, including pre-professional tracks in law, medicine, and art therapy. The curriculum is delivered through several schools, including a dedicated School of Professional Studies for graduate and degree-completion programs, which emphasizes flexibility and a supportive environment. Popular undergraduate majors, based on graduate percentages, include Education (7%), Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (3%), Social Sciences (3%), and Visual and Performing Arts (3%). The university's Christian identity informs its academic culture, and reviews frequently highlight the approachable and supportive nature of the faculty.
Life at North Park is defined by its three-part identity: Christian, City-Centered, and Intercultural. The campus is notably diverse, with 50% of students identifying as persons of color. This diversity is actively celebrated and supported through offices like the Office of Intercultural Student Affairs, which runs 'The Collaboratory'—a diversity center described as a vibrant space where faith, culture, and knowledge intersect. Residential life is split, with 38% of students living in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 62% living off campus, a common pattern for an urban school. The university's location in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood provides immediate access to the city's resources, culture, and internship opportunities, making the urban environment an integral part of the student experience.
North Park's six-year graduation rate is 58%. Post-graduation, the median earnings for alumni ten years after entry is $59,572. Other reported figures include a 60% graduation rate and median earnings for recent graduates of $45,365, with 76% of graduates earning more than a high school graduate. The first-year retention rate is reported as 62%. These outcomes reflect the university's mix of liberal arts and professional programs, preparing graduates for a range of careers.
The published total (tuition, fees, room, and board) is approximately $52,360, with tuition and fees alone listed at $37,725. However, the average after grants and scholarships—the amount families typically pay—is $16,948. Financial aid is widely available; 100% of North Park's full-time beginning undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid, with the average grant award reported as $12,432. The university encourages prospective students to use its Net Price Calculator for a personalized estimate and notes that North Park scholarships and grants are awarded by the Admissions Office upon application review.
North Park University carves out a singular niche by refusing to be just another small liberal arts college. Its explicit, three-word mission—Christian, City-Centered, Intercultural—is not marketing fluff but a lived reality. It's a school where global diversity isn't an aspiration but a demographic fact, with half the campus comprising students of color. It leverages its Chicago location not as a footnote but as a core academic and cultural resource. Academically, it smartly bridges the liberal arts with professional readiness through numerous pre-professional tracks and a dedicated School of Professional Studies. This combination creates a uniquely supportive and pragmatic environment for students who want a close-knit, faith-informed community without insulating themselves from the real world—indeed, they are planted squarely in the middle of it.
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