Centra College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Lynchburg, Virginia. It enrolls 219 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorAccrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
80/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes98
Value—
Affordability59
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 100%, Centra College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
100%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Centra College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Centra College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Net-price data is not yet reported for this school.
Average Net Price
—
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
47%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
69%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$12,983
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,424
Books & Supplies
$1,373
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$12,067
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$9,50025%percentile
$15,250Medianpercentile
$20,00075%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,000
↓ $3,250
No Pell $10,875
↓ $4,375
Dependent students $8,125
↓ $7,125
Independent students $14,750
↓ $500
Female students $12,000
↓ $3,250
Male students $12,667
↓ $2,583
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $3,668, less than completers ($15,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
87% of full-time students who enrolled at Centra College graduate within six years, and 100% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
87%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
100%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Centra College earn a median of $60,122 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$60,122
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↓
1.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Centra College is home to 219 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 56% are first-generation college students, 87% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
219
Part-Time
87%
First-Generation
56%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 73.5%161
Black 14.6%32
Other 8.7%19
Asian 1.4%3
Hispanic 0.5%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Centra College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityLynchburg, Virginia
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
50%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Centra College offers
a focused set of programs:
3 distinct programs across
1 major.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Centra College is 6:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
6:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$69,429
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
22 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
22
100%
$69,429
Pros & Cons of Centra College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Centra College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Most students take on federal loans
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Centra College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Centra College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Centra College.
Is Centra College hard to get into?
Centra College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 100%.
What is the acceptance rate at Centra College?
Centra College has an acceptance rate of 100%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What is Centra College known for?
Centra College is best known for its programs in Nursing, Practical Nursing, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Centra College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Centra College are $60,122, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Centra College accredited?
Yes. Centra College is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
How many students attend Centra College?
Centra College enrolls 219 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Centra College?
Centra College graduates 87% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Centra College a public or private college?
Centra College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Centra College located?
Centra College is located in Lynchburg, Virginia.
What programs does Centra College offer?
Centra College offers 3 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Practical Nursing, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Centra College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Centra College is 6:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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