About
Northcentral University was a private online university with its headquarters in San Diego, California. It was established in 1996 and is classified among "D/PU: Doctoral/Professional Universities"; it offers bachelor's, master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees. NCU was acquired by the National University System in 2019.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 69 Title IV programs, 8 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 1 fails. 60 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Total programs
69
Passing
8
11.6% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
1
1.4% of portfolio
Fail rate
1.4%
+0.8pp vs 0.6% national
Pass / fail distribution
69programs
- Passing8 · 11.6%
- No Data60 · 87.0%
- Failing1 · 1.4%
Severity spectrum
Critical
0
Severe
1
Recoverable
0
At Risk
1
Watch
2
Safe
5
No data
60
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Program
Typical
Benchmark
EP gap
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$57,016
$60,112
National BA Median
-5.2%
−$3,096
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
-5.2%
$57,016 vs $60,112
Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology
Master's Degree · Psychology
$52,083
$48,653
National Same-Field BA Median
+7.0%
+$3,430
Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology
Master's Degree · Psychology
+7.0%
$52,083 vs $48,653
Psychology General
Master's Degree · Psychology
$59,004
$48,653
National Same-Field BA Median
+21.3%
+$10,351
Psychology General
Master's Degree · Psychology
+21.3%
$59,004 vs $48,653
Business Administration Management and Operations
Master's Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
$73,426
$60,112
National BA Median
+22.1%
+$13,314
Business Administration Management and Operations
Master's Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
+22.1%
$73,426 vs $60,112
Education General
Master's Degree · Education
$59,632
$46,391
National Same-Field BA Median
+28.5%
+$13,241
Education General
Master's Degree · Education
+28.5%
$59,632 vs $46,391
Education General
Graduate Certificate · Education
$61,131
$46,391
National Same-Field BA Median
+31.8%
+$14,740
Education General
Graduate Certificate · Education
+31.8%
$61,131 vs $46,391
Education General
Doctoral Degree · Education
$80,493
$46,391
National Same-Field BA Median
+73.5%
+$34,102
Education General
Doctoral Degree · Education
+73.5%
$80,493 vs $46,391
Business Administration Management and Operations
Doctoral Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
$105,744
$60,112
National BA Median
+75.9%
+$45,632
Business Administration Management and Operations
Doctoral Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
+75.9%
$105,744 vs $60,112
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Program
Median debt
Median earnings
Debt burden
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$54,661
$57,016
96%
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$54,661 debt · $57,016 earn
Psychology General
Doctoral Degree · Psychology
$77,675
$85,657
91%
Psychology General
Doctoral Degree · Psychology
$77,675 debt · $85,657 earn
Education General
Doctoral Degree · Education
$71,940
$80,493
89%
Education General
Doctoral Degree · Education
$71,940 debt · $80,493 earn
Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology
Master's Degree · Psychology
$41,000
$52,083
79%
Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology
Master's Degree · Psychology
$41,000 debt · $52,083 earn
Business Administration Management and Operations
Doctoral Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
$76,087
$105,744
72%
Business Administration Management and Operations
Doctoral Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
$76,087 debt · $105,744 earn
Psychology General
Master's Degree · Psychology
$41,000
$59,004
70%
Psychology General
Master's Degree · Psychology
$41,000 debt · $59,004 earn
Education General
Master's Degree · Education
$34,273
$59,632
58%
Education General
Master's Degree · Education
$34,273 debt · $59,632 earn
Education General
Graduate Certificate · Education
$33,967
$61,131
56%
Education General
Graduate Certificate · Education
$33,967 debt · $61,131 earn
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Accredited since 2015Next review Feb 2029
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor
Higher Learning Commission
Accredited since 2003
Programmatic accreditations · 3
Action history · 4
- Feb 2021Renewal of AccreditationWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Nov 2018Grant Substantive Change: OwnershipWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Feb 2018Grant Substantive Change: ProgramWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Oct 2015Loss of Accreditation or Preaccreditation: Voluntary WithdrawalHigher Learning Commission
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 25 students received $103K in Pell grants, alongside $121.2M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients
25
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$103K
$103,118 total
Direct Loans
$121.2M
7,158 loan awards
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
0k’20
0k’21
0k’22
0k’23
0k’24
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Subsidized$96K
28 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$123K
27 loan awards
Unsubsidized · Grad$78.7M
5,548 loan awards
Grad PLUS$42.2M
1,555 loan awards
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 4,281 borrowers who entered repayment, 40 (0.9%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate
0.9%
-1.4pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
4,281
Defaulted
40
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard
Default rate vs national, by cohort
2016
5.4%-3.9
2017
5.6%-3.6
2018
4.1%-2.9
2019
0.9%-1.4
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Northcentral
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Distinct CIP programs34
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered
Top program families by completions
1,613 total completions
01Education
48830.3%
01Education
48830.3%
02Health Professions
35522.0%
02Health Professions
35522.0%
03Psychology
31819.7%
03Psychology
31819.7%
04Business
24715.3%
04Business
24715.3%
05Computer Sciences
986.1%
05Computer Sciences
986.1%
06Public Admin
754.6%
06Public Admin
754.6%
07Security/Protective
161.0%
07Security/Protective
161.0%
08Legal Professions
161.0%
08Legal Professions
161.0%
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Fall total
9,489
12-mo unduplicated
11,613
Undergraduate
62
Graduate
11,551
Gender split
Men
27%3,165
Women
73%8,448
Race / ethnicity composition
White
34.1%
Unknown
28.4%
Black
17.6%
Hispanic
11.9%
Two or more
3.4%
Asian
2.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.6%
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
N/A
0 offenses · students
Offenses · 3-yr
0
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
—
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
0
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
0
Criminal offenses by type
No criminal offenses reported.
By location
0total
VAWA offenses
0
Domestic violence
0
Dating violence
0
Stalking
0 total under the Violence Against Women Act.
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons00
Drugs00
Liquor00
Residence-hall fires
No residence-hall fires reported.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Student-to-faculty
1.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
101
Northcentral vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Northcentral selected for federal comparison reporting.
This institutionPeer median
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectNorthcentral University | No freshman cohort | No freshman entry | 9,489 | No freshman cohort | Doctoral/Professional |
| 67% | 65.9% | 7,603 | $30,783 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 60% | 80.9% | 5,923 | $18,838 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 37% | 77.2% | 6,825 | $22,613 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 70% | 95.3% | 8,803 | $33,147 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 84% | 66.3% | 7,239 | $41,555 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 86% | 81.7% | 7,470 | $35,119 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 69% | 68.1% | 10,685 | $34,176 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| — | Open admission | 14,331 | $16,898 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 67% | 99.0% | 104,327 | $29,357 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 66% | 95.1% | 9,261 | $22,066 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 30% | 95.1% | 8,915 | $12,641 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| No freshman cohort | No freshman entry | 7,411 | No freshman cohort | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 60% | 75.9% | 13,634 | $30,892 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 83% | 62.9% | 8,976 | $58,098 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 76% | 72.2% | 9,424 | $40,675 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 58% | 38.1% | 10,657 | $19,923 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 73% | 65.4% | 11,022 | $46,174 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 44% | 78.4% | 9,692 | $21,293 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 88% | 48.0% | 9,728 | $50,062 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 76% | 76.9% | 7,189 | $34,662 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 44% | 53.0% | 11,510 | $31,942 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 66% | 83.4% | 19,389 | $29,999 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 61% | 82.3% | 6,356 | $29,618 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 76% | 60.8% | 11,937 | $29,627 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 63% | 71.2% | 5,021 | $20,161 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 70% | 61.7% | 8,913 | $41,431 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 77% | 85.4% | 9,410 | $29,155 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 50% | 98.8% | 22,120 | $14,107 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 50% | 98.1% | 7,047 | $22,775 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 68% | 71.3% | 6,944 | $25,447 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 22% | Open admission | 13,746 | $15,644 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 68% | 86.4% | 5,501 | $32,997 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 85% | 55.6% | 6,965 | $49,965 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| Peer group median | 67% | 76.4% | 9,119 | $29,813 |
Institutions like Northcentral
Explore the federal data for institutions in Northcentral's comparison group.
- Doctoral/ProfessionalNew York
Adelphi University
Grad rate67%Admit rate65.9%Enrollment7,603Net price$30,783View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalIllinois
Aurora University
Grad rate60%Admit rate80.9%Enrollment5,923Net price$18,838View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalFlorida
Barry University
Grad rate37%Admit rate77.2%Enrollment6,825Net price$22,613View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalTennessee
Belmont University
Grad rate70%Admit rate95.3%Enrollment8,803Net price$33,147View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalNorth Carolina
Elon University
Grad rate84%Admit rate66.3%Enrollment7,239Net price$41,555View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalWashington
Gonzaga University
Grad rate86%Admit rate81.7%Enrollment7,470Net price$35,119View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalNew York
Hofstra University
Grad rate69%Admit rate68.1%Enrollment10,685Net price$34,176View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalIndiana
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment14,331Net price$16,898View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalVirginia
Liberty University
Grad rate67%Admit rate99.0%Enrollment104,327Net price$29,357View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalMissouri
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Grad rate66%Admit rate95.1%Enrollment9,261Net price$22,066View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalIllinois
National Louis University
Grad rate30%Admit rate95.1%Enrollment8,915Net price$12,641View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalMassachusetts
Northeastern University Professional Programs
Grad rateNo freshman cohortAdmit rateNo freshman entryEnrollment7,411Net priceNo freshman cohortView data - Doctoral/ProfessionalNew York
Pace University
Grad rate60%Admit rate75.9%Enrollment13,634Net price$30,892View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
Pepperdine University
Grad rate83%Admit rate62.9%Enrollment8,976Net price$58,098View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalConnecticut
Quinnipiac University
Grad rate76%Admit rate72.2%Enrollment9,424Net price$40,675View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalVirginia
Regent University
Grad rate58%Admit rate38.1%Enrollment10,657Net price$19,923View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalConnecticut
Sacred Heart University
Grad rate73%Admit rate65.4%Enrollment11,022Net price$46,174View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalFlorida
Saint Leo University
Grad rate44%Admit rate78.4%Enrollment9,692Net price$21,293View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
Santa Clara University
Grad rate88%Admit rate48.0%Enrollment9,728Net price$50,062View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalWashington
Seattle University
Grad rate76%Admit rate76.9%Enrollment7,189Net price$34,662View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalFlorida
Southeastern University
Grad rate44%Admit rate53.0%Enrollment11,510Net price$31,942View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalNew York
St. John's University-New York
Grad rate66%Admit rate83.4%Enrollment19,389Net price$29,999View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalMassachusetts
Suffolk University
Grad rate61%Admit rate82.3%Enrollment6,356Net price$29,618View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalNew York
Touro University
Grad rate76%Admit rate60.8%Enrollment11,937Net price$29,627View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
University of La Verne
Grad rate63%Admit rate71.2%Enrollment5,021Net price$20,161View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
University of San Francisco
Grad rate70%Admit rate61.7%Enrollment8,913Net price$41,431View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalMinnesota
University of St Thomas
Grad rate77%Admit rate85.4%Enrollment9,410Net price$29,155View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalKentucky
University of the Cumberlands
Grad rate50%Admit rate98.8%Enrollment22,120Net price$14,107View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalTexas
University of the Incarnate Word
Grad rate50%Admit rate98.1%Enrollment7,047Net price$22,775View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
University of the Pacific
Grad rate68%Admit rate71.3%Enrollment6,944Net price$25,447View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalDelaware
Wilmington University
Grad rate22%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment13,746Net price$15,644View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalOhio
Xavier University
Grad rate68%Admit rate86.4%Enrollment5,501Net price$32,997View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalNew York
Yeshiva University
Grad rate85%Admit rate55.6%Enrollment6,965Net price$49,965View data
Northcentral Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
Team
1 member
- Amanda T. RobertsDirector of Assessment and Accreditation, School of Health Professions
Reports & documents (2)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic plan2015 National University Strategic Plan2015The 2015 National University Strategic Plan outlines the institution's goals for maintaining academic excellence, enhancing student services, and leveraging technology over the next five years. Key priorities include expanding online education, engaging with military personnel, and fostering innovative faculty development. With a focus on growth, the plan aims to increase student enrollment, bolster the endowment, and sustain excellence through continuous improvement and assessment.assets.nu.edu
Notable alumni of Northcentral (5)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Naydeen González-De Jesús
- Kim Cliett Long
- Kathy LoveAcademic Administration
- Bobby Olszewski
- Clovis Watson Jr.
Frequently asked questions about Northcentral University
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Northcentral.
What is the acceptance rate at Northcentral University?
Northcentral University does not have a reported acceptance rate. This institution does not admit first-time (freshman) undergraduates, so the federal admit rate does not apply.
What is the graduation rate at Northcentral University?
Northcentral University does not have a reported federal graduation rate. Federal graduation rates follow first-time, full-time undergraduates. This institution does not enroll that cohort.
How many students attend Northcentral University?
Northcentral University reports a total enrollment of 9,489 students per the latest IPEDS.
What is the average net price at Northcentral University?
Northcentral University does not have a reported average net price. Net price is a federal metric for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving federal aid, and this institution does not enroll that cohort.
Where is Northcentral University located?
Northcentral University is located in San Diego, California 92123.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
Federal Pell Grant & loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant and Direct Loan recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →
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