Private nonprofitFour-year

Central College

Pella, IA · Highest award: Bachelor's

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Net price (avg)
$23,377
Academic year 2023-24
Tuition & fees
$20,988
Academic year 2024-25
Graduation rate
66.2%
Fall 2018 entering cohort (150%), Fall 2016 (200%)
Median earnings (10 yr)
$54,317
Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars

Read the years, not just the numbers

Each figure below is labelled with the period it covers, because they are not all from the same year. Tuition is Academic year 2024-25, while the earnings figure describes students who entered Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars. They are historical facts about this institution, not a quote for you.

What it actually costs

Net price is what students paid after grant and scholarship aid — usually far below the sticker price.

Total cost of attendance
$37,773
Academic year 2023-24
Tuition & fees (in state)
$20,988
Academic year 2024-25
Tuition & fees (out of state)
$20,988
Academic year 2024-25
Room & board (on campus)
$12,060
Academic year 2024-25
Room & board (off campus)
$12,060
Academic year 2024-25
Books & supplies
$1,335
Academic year 2024-25

Average net price by family income

Academic year 2023-24

$0–30,00016,231
$30,001–48,00016,237
$48,001–75,00019,532
$75,001–110,00021,936
$110,001+27,165

Figures are U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard data for Academic year 2023-24, published by the U.S. federal government. They are historical reference values, not a quote, and not an offer. Your actual cost will depend on your own circumstances.

This college’s official net price calculator ↗

Outcomes

Historical results for students who attended. They do not predict your own.

Graduation rate (150% time)
66.2%
Fall 2018 entering cohort (150%), Fall 2016 (200%)
Graduation rate (200% time)
72.0%
Fall 2018 entering cohort (150%), Fall 2016 (200%)
Retention (full-time)
79.9%
Fall 2023 cohort
Median earnings (6 yr)
$49,115
Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars
Median earnings (10 yr)
$54,317
Entering cohort AY2009-10 / 2010-11, measured in 2022 dollars
Loan default rate (3 yr)
0.0%
FSA FY2022 cohort
Median debt of completers
$26,984
NSLDS FY2020/21 pooled
Median debt monthly payment
$286.08
NSLDS FY2020/21 pooled
Repayment rate (3 yr)
77.1%
NSLDS FY2013/14 cohort

Compared with a high-school graduate

Students here earned a median of $54,317 ten years after entering, against a national benchmark for high-school graduates of $36,082. That benchmark is 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, 2024 dollars.

Admissions and size

Many institutions do not report these — “Not reported” is not a zero.

Admission rate
86.2%
Fall 2024
Average SAT (equivalent)
1,147
Fall 2024
ACT 25th–75th percentile
20–26
Fall 2024
Undergraduate enrollment
1,070
Fall 2024
Student-faculty ratio
11:1
Fall 2024
First-generation share
21.5%
Fall 2024
Pell grant recipients
22.3%
Academic year 2023-24
Federal loan recipients
70.2%
Academic year 2023-24
Median family income
$81,192
AY2022-23 (median family income)

Student body

Fall 2024

White88%
Hispanic4%
Black2%
Asian0%
Two or more races3%
Nonresident / international0%

Other Four-year institutions in IA

Peer institutions
InstitutionNet priceGrad rateEarnings (10 yr)
Allen CollegeNot reportedNot reported$71,261
Briar Cliff UniversityNot reported47.5%$54,475
Buena Vista UniversityNot reported61.7%$49,156
Clarke UniversityNot reported56.1%$55,396
Coe CollegeNot reported65.9%$57,125
Cornell CollegeNot reported61.8%$53,460
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical CenterNot reportedNot reportedNot reported
Divine Word CollegeNot reported100.0%Not reported
Dordt UniversityNot reported70.1%$52,559
Drake UniversityNot reported74.0%$71,901
Emmaus Bible CollegeNot reported83.0%$42,631
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryNot reported67.5%$40,650

Earnings by field of study

Four years after graduation, by programme. Compare each against the national median for that field.

Earnings by field of study
ProgrammeMedian earnings (4 yr)National medianMedian debt
Computer Science.$89,838$107,009Not reported
Accounting and Related Services.$86,868$76,194$27,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations.$68,021$68,257$27,000
Biology, General.$59,597$57,214$27,000
Psychology, General.$56,941$50,706$27,000
Sociology.$51,996$52,657$25,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness.$51,814$54,562$27,000
Communication and Media Studies.$51,671$56,359Not reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.$50,707$47,382$27,000
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences.Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
Mathematics.Not reported$69,562Not reported
Natural Sciences.Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
International/Globalization Studies.Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.Not reported$55,693Not reported
Philosophy.Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
Religion/Religious Studies.Not reportedNot reportedNot reported
Chemistry.Not reported$65,120Not reported
Physics.Not reported$76,786Not reported
Social Sciences, General.Not reported$53,366Not reported
Economics.Not reported$82,686Not reported

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10) — https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/ · Data last updated 2026-06-10