Central College

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Pella, IA

This school is more affordable than other private schools

Affordability is calculated by subtracting average financial aid from total tuition and fees.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

$18,600

Avg tuition

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Discover programs by subject area to find the best college for your future.

Search All Programs

Work here? Claim your school's profile

About Central College

School Type: Private

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: Christian, Reformed Church in America  While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Central College is a small private college located on a rural campus in Pella, Iowa. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,120, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 64%. The college offers 36 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 68%, and a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Tuition and fees for students are $18,600.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

64% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

73% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

68% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Considered (not required)

High school transcript Required

High school rank Recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 19-25

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 993-1173

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of fewer than 5,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

1k

Students enrolled

0%

Online student enrollment

11:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

On-campus Check Bold

Demographics

White

85%

Hispanic

5%

Black

3%

Two or more races

3%

Unknown

2%

Asian

2%

Non-U.S. Citizen

0%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

48%

Socio-economic diversity

29% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Explore Similar Schools

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, IA · Private · Non-profit

View School

Eureka College

Eureka, IL · Private · Non-profit

View School

Wilmington College

Wilmington, OH · Private · Non-profit

View School

Birmingham-Southern College

Birmingham, AL · Private · Non-profit

View School

Luther College

Decorah, IA · Private · Non-profit

View School

Brevard College

Brevard, NC · Private · Non-profit

View School

Hanover College

Hanover, IN · Private · Non-profit

View School

Monmouth College

Monmouth, IL · Private · Non-profit

View School

Northwestern College

Orange City, IA · Private · Non-profit

View School

Hope College

Holland, MI · Private · Non-profit

View School

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

35%

State Grant Aid

33%

Institution Grant Aid

100%

Pell Grant

29%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $5,217
State Grant Aid $6,166
Institution Grant Aid $27,852
Pell Grant Aid $4,369

Financial Outlook

$27k

Average student debt after graduation

$37k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division III with football

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Other Sports
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Track Field Indoor
  • Track Field Outdoor
  • Track Field Xcountry
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling
  • Baseball
  • Basketball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

2

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

3

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

4

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Education

BA

MA

DOC

6

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

7

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

8

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

9

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

10

Health Professions And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

11

History

BA

MA

DOC

12

History

BA

MA

DOC

13

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

14

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

15

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

16

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

17

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

18

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

19

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

20

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

Explore Rankings

Explore More Resources

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2020-2021]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.