Central College
Pella, IA · Private four-year · Town: Distant
1,095undergraduates
86%admitted
Test-optionalSAT/ACT
$22,499average net price per year
69%graduate in 6 years
73%return for year two
Admissions
- Applicants
- 1,978
- Admitted
- 1,562
- Admit rate
- 86%
- Admit rate, women
- 77%
- Admit rate, men
- 81%
- Admitted students who enroll
- 18%
- First-year students
- 274
- SAT/ACT
- Test-optional
- Students who sent SAT scores
- 8%
- SAT reading and writing (middle 50%)
- 490-580
- SAT math (middle 50%)
- 445-625
- Students who sent ACT scores
- 58%
- ACT composite (middle 50%)
- 19-25
| High school GPA | Required |
|---|---|
| High school record | Required |
| College-prep coursework | Considered, not required |
| SAT or ACT scores | Considered, not required |
| Recommendations | Not considered |
| Essay or personal statement | Considered, not required |
| Class rank | Considered, not required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required |
| Work experience | Not considered |
| Legacy status | Considered, not required |
Majors
27 undergraduate programs that awarded a degree or certificate last year, grouped by field. Numbers are how many were awarded.
Biological and biomedical sciences (3)
- Biochemistry Bachelor's (7 awarded)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General Bachelor's (13 awarded)
- Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology Bachelor's (35 awarded)
Business, management, marketing, and related support services (3)
- Accounting Bachelor's (12 awarded)
- Actuarial Science Bachelor's (2 awarded)
- Business Administration and Management, General Bachelor's (37 awarded)
Social sciences (4)
- Economics, General Bachelor's (2 awarded)
- Political Science and Government, General Bachelor's (9 awarded)
- Social Sciences, General Bachelor's (3 awarded)
- Sociology, General Bachelor's (8 awarded)
Education (2)
- Elementary Education and Teaching Bachelor's (19 awarded)
- Music Teacher Education Bachelor's (2 awarded)
Psychology (1)
- Psychology, General Bachelor's (17 awarded)
Communication, journalism, and related programs (1)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric Bachelor's (16 awarded)
Computer and information sciences and support services (2)
- Computer Science Bachelor's (8 awarded)
- Information Science/Studies Bachelor's (4 awarded)
Visual and performing arts (3)
- Art/Art Studies, General Bachelor's (4 awarded)
- Music, General Bachelor's (6 awarded)
- Musical Theatre Bachelor's (2 awarded)
Engineering (1)
- Engineering, General Bachelor's (8 awarded)
Natural resources and conservation (1)
- Environmental Studies Bachelor's (6 awarded)
English language and literature/letters (1)
- English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's (4 awarded)
History (1)
- History, General Bachelor's (4 awarded)
Mathematics and statistics (1)
- Mathematics, General Bachelor's (3 awarded)
Physical sciences (1)
- Chemistry, General Bachelor's (3 awarded)
Philosophy and religious studies (1)
- Philosophy Bachelor's (2 awarded)
Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics (1)
- Spanish Language and Literature Bachelor's (1 awarded)
Cost and aid
- Tuition and fees, in-state
- $20,988
- Housing and food on campus
- $12,220
- Books and supplies
- $1,275
- Other on-campus costs
- $3,242
- Total cost on campus, in-state
- $37,725
- Total cost on campus, out-of-state
- $37,725
- Total cost living at home
- $25,505
Published prices for 2023-24.
| Family income | Per year |
|---|---|
| $0-30,000 | $14,745 |
| $30,001-48,000 | $16,426 |
| $48,001-75,000 | $19,418 |
| $75,001-110,000 | $22,308 |
| Over $110,000 | $25,764 |
Net price is the full cost minus grants and scholarships, for full-time first-year students who got aid in 2022-23.
- First-year students who got any aid
- 100%
- Got grants or scholarships
- 100%
- Average grant or scholarship
- $12,678
- Got a grant from the college
- 100%
- Average grant from the college
- $7,390
- Undergraduates with a Pell grant
- 21%
- First-year students who borrowed
- 74%
- Average amount borrowed
- $8,244
Graduation
- Bachelor's in 4 years
- 59%
- Bachelor's in 5 years
- 69%
- Bachelor's in 6 years
- 69%
- Bachelor's in 8 years
- 66%
- Any degree in 6 years (all students)
- 69%
- Transferred to another college
- 14%
- Came back for year two
- 73%
| Pell grant students | 56% |
|---|---|
| Subsidized loan, no Pell | 75% |
| Neither | 77% |
| Group | Students | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 141 | 73% |
| Men | 180 | 66% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 1 | 100% (small group) |
| Asian | 5 | 60% (small group) |
| Black | 7 | 14% (small group) |
| Hispanic | 22 | 55% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 1 | 100% (small group) |
| White | 267 | 73% |
| Two or more races | 12 | 50% (small group) |
| Race unknown | 6 | 50% (small group) |
| Started | Students | Earned a degree or certificate here | Enrolled at another college |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started here, full-time | 320 | 66% | 29% |
| Transferred in, full-time | 46 | 76% | 17% |
| Transferred in, part-time | 3 | 33% (small group) | 0% |
Graduation rates follow students who started full-time for the first time in fall 2017. Groups under 20 students are marked because a few students change the rate a lot.
Students
- Total students
- 1,095
- Undergraduates
- 1,095
- Full-time undergraduates
- 1,041
- Part-time undergraduates
- 54
- Students per faculty member
- 12 to 1
- First-year students from in state
- 72%
- From out of state
- 28%
- From other countries
- 0%
- Undergraduates age 25 and up
- 1%
- Undergraduates taking all classes online
- 0%
- Undergraduates registered with disability services
- 12%
| Women | 47% |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0% |
| Asian | 1% |
| Black | 2% |
| Hispanic | 4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0% |
| White | 87% |
| Two or more races | 3% |
| Race unknown | 2% |
| International | 0% |
Campus life
- Setting
- Town: Distant
- Address
- 812 University, Pella, IA, 50219
- County
- Marion County
- Type
- Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
- Highest degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Religious affiliation
- Reformed Church in America
- Athletics
- NCAA
- Teams include
- football, basketball, baseball, cross country and track
- Offers
- Study abroad, Undergraduate research, Teacher certification, Credit for AP exams, Yellow Ribbon (veterans)
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2022-23 to 2024-25 surveys), and the College Scorecard.