C+
Above Average
Score: 56/100
Overall (traditional)
C+
Outcome Rating
62/100 · earnings-weighted

Central College

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Pella, Iowa 50219
Central College campus, Pella, IA
Central College campus, Pella, IA. Photo: Central College Alumni, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
B+
76/100
Affordability
F
25/100
Resources
C+
57/100
Experience
A+
94/100
Prestige
D
33/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

1,095
Total Enrollment
69%
Graduation Rate
73%
Retention Rate
12.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
79%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Central College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$54,317
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$49,115
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$26,984
Median debt at graduation
66.2%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,147
Average SAT
22
Median ACT
22.3%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 50% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 57th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IA wage index 0.90). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Central College

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science—$89,838-16%#245 of 349#221—
Accounting and Related Services$58,850$86,868+14%#152 of 796#110$27,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations$55,760$68,021+-0%#445 of 1176#343$27,000
Biology$26,933$59,597+4%#350 of 841#255$27,000
Psychology$29,923$56,941+12%#171 of 1027#90$27,000
Sociology$38,034$51,996-1%#236 of 462#156$24,500
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$35,914$51,814-5%#348 of 610#307$27,000
Communication and Media Studies—$51,671-8%#398 of 660#334—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$44,000$50,707+7%#215 of 680#169$27,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$30,211————$27,000

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Central College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $362,873
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,135/mo — vs ~$644/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 50119 (4.2% cap, Harvey)

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $20,988 $20,988
Room $5,800
Board $6,260
Total Cost (On-Campus) $37,725 $37,725

Financial Aid

100%
Receive Any Aid
26%
Receive Pell Grants
74%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

1,095
Total Students
47%
Women
96%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 87%
Hispanic 4%
Black 2%
Asian 1%
Two or More 3%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 100%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 96%
25-64 (Adult) 1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Central College?
Central College has an acceptance rate of 79%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Central College?
Tuition at Central College is $20,988 for in-state students and $20,988 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Central College?
The graduation rate at Central College is 69%. This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is Central College a good school?
Central College has a Repit College Score of 56/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Central College?
Central College has a total enrollment of 1,095 students. Most students (96%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Central College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Central College

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

C+
Saint Ambrose University
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C+
Luther College
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C+
Cornell College
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C+
Coe College
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C+
Loras College
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C+
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology