Central College
Pella, IA · Private nonprofit · offers Bachelor's degrees
86%Acceptance rate
$23,377Average net price / year
66%Graduation rate
$54,317Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$26,984Median debt at graduation
1,070Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $20,988
- Total cost of attendance
- $37,773
- Room & board
- $12,060
- Books & supplies
- $1,335
- Average net price
- $23,377
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $16,231
- $30–48k
- $16,237
- $48–75k
- $19,532
- $75–110k
- $21,936
- $110k+
- $27,165
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 86.2%
- Average SAT
- 1147
- SAT reading (25–75%)
- 528–560
- SAT math (25–75%)
- 528–560
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 20–26
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 66%
- First-year retention
- 80%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $49,115
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $54,317
- Median debt (graduates)
- $26,984
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 22%
- Students with federal loans
- 70%
Programs: what graduates earn
11 of 36 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 16 | $58,850 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 42 | $55,760 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 18 | $44,000 | $27,000 |
| Sociology | 14 | $38,034 | $24,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | — | $35,914 | $27,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 13 | $30,211 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | 11 | $29,923 | $27,000 |
| Biology, General | 31 | $26,933 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 10 | $40,707 | — |
| Computer Science | 8 | $89,838 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | $51,466 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 1,070
- Part-time
- 2%
- Women / men
- 45% / 55%
- White
- 88%
- Hispanic
- 4%
- Black
- 2%
- Asian
- 0%
- International
- 0%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 11:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $70,020 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 81%
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Website
- www.central.edu
- Also known as
- NA
Most popular fields
- Natural Resources & Conservation – 2% of degrees
- Communication & Journalism – 5% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 3% of degrees
- Education – 7% of degrees
- Engineering – 4% of degrees
- English – 4% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Central College?
86.2% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1147 on the SAT.
How much does Central College cost?
The average net price after grants is $23,377 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $20,988 and the full cost of attendance is $37,773.
How much do Central College graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $54,317 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
66% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.