<p>Beloit is a much more national college, in the sense that it has students from all over. Fang Jr, a California boy, was accepted but chose not to go, but his best friend will be a freshman there. </p>
<p>I don’t think Beloit’s six-year graduation rate is a whole lot better than 63%. OK, 72% is higher, but not enormously higher.</p>
<p>I have visited Beloit, and have seen NCC since I know someone who lives literally next door to their dorms. Beloit has much, much more of a separate college community feel.</p>
<p>I think Beloit’s grad rate is lower because the lower end (like 30%) of the class is not as strong as the top 60%. The classes are rigorous and challenging and students that just squeak in may not be able to handle it.</p>
<p>It is a very national LAC. Over 50% not from the midwest, 11% international and only 20% from instate which is fantastic compared to other midwest LACs (like Knox, Kalamazoo, Lawrence, St. Olaf).</p>
<p>If what you say is right, SmallColleges, (and I think it is right) then students on the lower end of Beloit’s admissions level should think twice about enrolling. From what I know, Beloit supports its students academically and there’s plenty of tutoring and other help available, but if a student is not ready for strong academic demands, or doesn’t want rigorous challenging classes, then Beloit is not the place for them. It does no good to be admitted to a school and start there if one flunks out.</p>
<p>OP - according to the website, 47% of the undergraduate student body of North Central are commuters. So it’s not even a “suitcase school” where students live there and go home on the weekends – it goes beyond that.</p>
<p>I know of a former Beloit student who just wasn’t happy there due to the fellow freshmen. Lots of drinking, according to him. Maybe those were the bottom 1/3?? Kid is currently a successful CC student.</p>
<p>BTW I met someone who was quite enthusiastic about NCC-neighboring Benedictine. They too have many commuters, some of whom are local families who want to keep their kids at home for religious/cultural reasons.</p>
<p>I live in Naperville and the college is lovely. They just built a new arts/theater complex and they are almost finished a new and large dorm, so they are addressing the suitcase issue. My daughter ended up going to Illinois Wesleyan, which is similar in size, but not such a commuter school. She also got a good package from them as well.</p>
<p>I know I am a little late to join this thread but I had to comment on the current situation. North Central College is a wonderful institution that attracts students from all over the state and, more recently, all over the country and world. Here is an article about the most recently class: [North</a> Central College anticipates another year of record enrollment | North Central College - Naperville, IL](<a href=“http://northcentralcollege.edu/news/north-central-college-anticipates-another-year-record-enrollment]North”>http://northcentralcollege.edu/news/north-central-college-anticipates-another-year-record-enrollment)
North Central has taken great strides over the past decade–improving in almost every single way from already high standards. If you are looking for an ivy league school, no, North Central is probably not the right fit. However, the students that I have met that attend/ed North Central (babysitters, coworkers, interns, etc) have been thoroughly pleased with and challenged by their experience–some of them having chosen North Central over highly prestigious schools to which they were admitted. North Central’s honors program, opportunities for funding independent undergraduate research, study abroad programs for every single major, winning athletics, new facilities, and attentive faculty are some of the many reasons why I’ve heard students chose North Central. I will admit that it seems that the weekend life was weak in the past, but it does seem that more and more students are sticking around on the weekends every year. When I drive past campus now, it seems alive! They must be doing something right. In regard to the 4 year graduation rate, 63% is a dated number. I read that that was in 2005. To put it into perspective, some of the state schools have rates lower than 30% and other privates below 50%. I agree though, these rates should be higher. But 4 year graduation rates do not take transfer students into account, and I think that North Central brings in a lot of transfers who end up graduating in 4 years from the time they started their education elsewhere. The Education program at North Central is also large, and I think that some of those students do their student teaching in the fall after four years, which negatively impacts the 4 year graduation rate. They seem to have several athletes that stay extra time to use their athletic eligibility too (not because they couldn’t graduate). It’s an interesting and important topic, but I think that it only gives a small picture of a college. I don’t think that it is necessarily indicative of the experience that your child will have at a school. I mean, what’s to say that your child will not be in the 10 or 15% that doesn’t complete college in 4 years at one of the other colleges you have listed? I think you need to find the right fit. If your child is happy and motivated where they are, they will stay on track to graduate, especially at a small school that offers a lot of support like North Central.</p>
<p>I feel that some of the previous posts have little basis for their claims. I’m proud to have North Central in my neighborhood!</p>