PlainsTownPrivate4-yearBiologicalLikely

Central College

Accessible admissions with broad enrollment.

Pella, IA1,062 students
Acceptance Rate
86%
open admission
Median SAT
1,098
Middle 50%: 935–1205
Net Price After Aid
$22.4k
Sticker $21.0k
Graduation Rate
69%
6-year, full-time

Central College is a private institution in Pella, IA with an acceptance rate of 86% and 1,062 students. The middle 50% of admitted students score 935–1205 on the SAT and present an average GPA near 3.53. The average net price after financial aid is $22,353 per year.

About Central College

A private 4-year town university in Pella, IA.

Central College is a college in Pella, IA. It enrolls roughly 1,062 students. The most recent acceptance rate is 86%. Admitted students typically score between 935 and 1205 on the SAT.

PlainsTownPrivate4-yearBiological
Acceptance Rate
86%
Open Admission
Total Enrollment
1,062
Small
Retention
73%
First-years returning
Graduation Rate
69%
6-year, full-time

Your chances at this school

A clear-eyed view of how your profile compares to admitted students — and the things that would move your odds the most.

Acceptance Rate
86%
86 of every 100 applicants admitted
Your Chances
Sign in to see your personalized probability.
Admitted Student GPA
3.53
Average across admitted students

Accessible admissions with broad enrollment. Here is what would make your application as competitive as possible.

Things that would move your odds the most

  1. Aim for an SAT of 935+
    Hitting the 25th percentile puts you in the competitive range for admitted students.
  2. Maintain a GPA of 3.53 or higher
    Admitted students typically present grades at or above this level.
  3. Build a single deep extracurricular peak
    Depth beats breadth at selective schools — one nationally-visible accomplishment outperforms ten clubs.
  4. Strengthen one teacher recommendation
    A specific, personal letter from a teacher who knows your work moves the needle.

Probability is based on a model trained on historical admissions data. It is a guide, not a guarantee. Admissions decisions weigh essays, recommendations, and fit factors that aren't in the data.

Admissions

What it actually takes to get into Central College. Test scores, GPA, application requirements, and deadlines.

Admitted student profile

Range shown is the middle 50%.

SAT
composite, 1600 scale
9351,205
1,098
average
ACT
composite, 36 scale
2026
23
average
GPA
weighted, 4.5 max
3.53
average

Cost & financial aid

Published costs can be misleading. Here's what families actually pay at Central College after grants and scholarships.

Sticker price
Tuition $20,988
Average net price after aid
$22,353
After grants and scholarships

Net price by family income

Average amount paid out of pocket — tuition, fees, and room & board minus all grant aid.

$0 – $30,000
$14,745
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,426
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,418
$75,001 – $110,000
N/A
$110,001 +
$25,764

Net price represents the average cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal financial aid.

Pell Grant Recipients
21%
Need-based federal grant
Take Federal Loans
66%
Avg loan $20,815 / year
Avg Grant Aid
Per receiving student / year

Academics & majors

Where students at Central College concentrate, and how the classroom experience scales.

Student : Faculty
Class-size proxy
Primary Focus
Biological
31% of degrees awarded
Retention
73%
First-years returning
A breakdown of the top majors by share of degrees awarded ships once we finish backfilling per-school program data.

Student body

Who attends Central College. Enrollment, diversity, and where students come from.

Race & ethnicity

  • White93%
  • Asian1%
  • Hispanic4%
  • Black2%

Gender

  • Female49%
  • Male51%
International
0%
Of total enrollment
Live on Campus
Undergraduate residential rate
Total Enrollment
1,062

Outcomes after graduation

What Central College graduates do next — and what they earn.

Median Earnings
$54.3k
10 years after enrollment
Employed at 2 yrs
Working or in grad school
Pursue Grad School
Within 5 years
Graduation Rate
69%
6-year, full-time

What this means

$54k is near the national bachelor's-graduate median at the 10-year mark, and a 69% graduation rate is above the national average.

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