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Central College

Pella, Iowa 50219

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateRuralPrivateBusiness FocusSTEM Strong

Known for biology — close-knit campus

Central College is a private institution in Pella with particular strength in biology and business. With an average SAT of 1115, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.1K undergraduates with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

69% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $54,317 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $22,353.

Campus Visits

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79%Acceptance
1115SAT Avg
1,062Students
12:1Student:Faculty
69%Grad Rate
$54,317Earnings 10yr
$22,353Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Central College Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate79.0%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1115

Reading & WritingMid: 565
490580
MathMid: 565
445625

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 22
1925

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

79.0%

Trend

SAT Avg

1115

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$20,988
Room & Board$12,220
Books & Supplies$1,275
Total Cost of Attendance$35,177
Average Net Price$22,353
Median Debt at Graduation$26,984
Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$14,745
$30–48K$16,426
$48–75K$19,418
$75–110K$22,308
$110K+$25,764

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

34.5%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$20,815

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

6

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (40)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

73%

Negative
  • •73% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,062
Gender Split
46% / 54%
Women / Men
First Generation
21%
Pell Grant Recipients
21%

Race & Ethnicity

White 87%
Black 2%
Hispanic 4%
Asian 1%
Two+ 3%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate69.2%
Freshman Retention72.7%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$49,115
10 Years$54,317

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MCI Kansas City173 mi
STL St Louis228 mi
MSP Minneapolis-St Paul241 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1124 mi · ~32h 28m drive
New York, NY985 mi · ~28h 27m drive
Hartford, CT1044 mi · ~30h 10m drive
Providence, RI1109 mi · ~32h 2m drive
Albany, NY985 mi · ~28h 27m drive
Syracuse, NY864 mi · ~24h 58m drive
Rochester, NY791 mi · ~22h 51m drive
Buffalo, NY726 mi · ~20h 58m drive
Philadelphia, PA934 mi · ~26h 59m drive
Pittsburgh, PA677 mi · ~19h 33m drive
Harrisburg, PA841 mi · ~24h 18m drive
Newark, NJ976 mi · ~28h 12m drive
Washington, DC855 mi · ~24h 42m drive
Baltimore, MD870 mi · ~25h 8m drive
Atlanta, GA705 mi · ~20h 22m drive
Charlotte, NC780 mi · ~22h 32m drive
Raleigh, NC862 mi · ~24h 54m drive
Miami, FL1302 mi · ~37h 37m drive
Orlando, FL1101 mi · ~31h 48m drive
Tampa, FL1101 mi · ~31h 48m drive
Nashville, TN490 mi · ~14h 9m drive
New Orleans, LA807 mi · ~23h 19m drive
Richmond, VA867 mi · ~25h 3m drive
Chicago, IL275 mi · ~7h 57m drive
Detroit, MI512 mi · ~14h 47m drive
Minneapolis, MN248 mi · ~7h 10m drive
St. Louis, MO240 mi · ~6h 56m drive
Kansas City, MO181 mi · ~5h 14m drive
Indianapolis, IN372 mi · ~10h 45m drive
Columbus, OH529 mi · ~15h 17m drive
Cleveland, OH581 mi · ~16h 47m drive
Milwaukee, WI280 mi · ~8h 5m drive
Dallas, TX633 mi · ~18h 17m drive
Houston, TX816 mi · ~23h 34m drive
Austin, TX815 mi · ~23h 33m drive
San Antonio, TX885 mi · ~25h 34m drive
Los Angeles, CA1468 mi · ~42h 25m drive
San Francisco, CA1583 mi · ~45h 44m drive
San Diego, CA1459 mi · ~42h 9m drive
Seattle, WA1501 mi · ~43h 22m drive
Portland, OR1510 mi · ~43h 37m drive
Denver, CO643 mi · ~18h 35m drive
Phoenix, AZ1182 mi · ~34h 9m drive
Salt Lake City, UT987 mi · ~28h 31m drive
Honolulu, HI3977 mi · ~114h 53m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Kansas City (MCI)173 miles
Rental car
260 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
346 min$208-346
St Louis (STL)228 miles
Rental car
342 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
456 min$274-456

Deadline Calendar

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Central College Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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Central College — v2 Preview — TourStack