Central College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Pella, Iowa. It enrolls 1,070 students (a small, tight-knit 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.
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 Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes57
Value34
Affordability29
Selectivity34
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86.2%, Central College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1056 – 1120
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Central College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
13.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Central College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,377 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,377
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
70%
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
$20,988
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,060
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,060
Books & Supplies
$1,335
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,390
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,390
Total Cost of Attendance
$37,773
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,231
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,237
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,532
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,936
Over $110,000
$27,165
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.
$5,50010%percentile
$9,50025%percentile
$26,984Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$38,19490%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 $22,500
↓ $4,484
No Pell $20,181
↓ $6,803
Female students $22,750
↓ $4,234
Male students $19,500
↓ $7,484
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($26,984), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
61% of full-time students who enrolled at Central College graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Central College earn a median of $54,317 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,317
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$42,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$54,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,600, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
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.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Central College is home to 1,070 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,070
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
21%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 87.9%941
Hispanic 4.5%48
Other 3.3%35
Black 2.0%21
Asian 0.4%4
International 0.1%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Central College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantPella, Iowa
Housing
Strongly residential1,405 beds for 1,070 students
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Central College offers
a varied set of programs:
30 distinct programs across
17 majors.
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 Central College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$107M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$69,255
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
88 instructional faculty across 4 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
Full Professors
27
31%
$81,872
Associate Professors
34
39%
$66,649
Assistant Professors
9
10%
$55,917
Lecturers
18
20%
$61,922
Pros & Cons of Central College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Central 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
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Central College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Central College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Central College.
Is Central College hard to get into?
Central College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Central College?
Central College has an acceptance rate of 86.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Central College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Central College scored between 1056 and 1120 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Central College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Central College scored between 20 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Central College cost?
The average net price after aid at Central College is $23,377 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Central College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,317 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,377 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Central College known for?
Central College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Physiology, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Central College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Central College are $54,317, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Central College accredited?
Yes. Central College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Central College?
Central College enrolls 1,070 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Central College?
Central College graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Central College a public or private college?
Central College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Central College located?
Central College is located in Pella, Iowa.
What programs does Central College offer?
Central College offers 30 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Physiology, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Central College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Iowa
Other colleges in Iowa share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Teacher Education (K-12)
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