ACCEPTANCE RATE
79%
More selective than 35% of listed universities.
SelectiveAccessible
Private University
Central College
Central College is a private four-year institution in Pella, Iowa, offering personalized education within an academic community of approximately 1,100 students. Founded in 1853, the college emphasizes character formation, engaged citizenship, and experiential learning.
Pella, IAtown, distant
79%ACCEPTANCE
$22,499AVG NET PRICE
69%GRAD RATE
1,095STUDENTS
University data profileIPEDS 2023
THE SIGNATURE
Central College Report Card
Explore university facts, programs, and campus life at a glance.
Central College stands as a private nonprofit four-year institution located in Pella, Iowa, with deep roots dating back to its founding in 1853. The campus fosters an environment of academic rigor and character development, where students engage in vigorous inquiry within a supportive community of roughly 1,100 individuals. Shaped by its Christian heritage, the college values inclusivity and invites learners from diverse backgrounds to pursue knowledge and personal growth alongside educators who share a commitment to intellectual engagement.
The institution is an active part of the Greater Des Moines region and sits just minutes from Lake Red Rock. Pella serves as a thriving community with more than 10,000 residents, known for its annual Tulip Time Festival and Dutch history. Central continues to encourage students to develop a global perspective through international study programs and faculty-led off-campus experiences.
AT A GLANCE
TypePrivateFour or more years
Founded1853
Settingtown, distant
Calendarsemester
Religious affiliationReformed Church in America
GETTING IN
Admissions
Central College admits approximately 79% of applicants, reflecting a steady approach to enrollment among its pool of roughly 1,978 annual applicants. Admitted students typically demonstrate strong quantitative skills, with the SAT math midpoint for incoming classes reported at 535.
Source: IPEDS 2023
SAT RANGE (MID 50%)
935–1,205
4001600
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Aug 1regular
Undergraduate application fee $25.
WHAT IT COSTS
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker price tells you little — net price after aid is what most families actually pay.
Source: IPEDS 2023
IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
$20,988/yr
Out-of-state: $20,988/yr.
Net price by income band
$14,745$0–$30,000
$16,426$30,001–$48,000
$19,418$48,001–$75,000
$22,308$75,001–$110,000
$25,764$110,001+
AVERAGE NET PRICE AFTER AID
$22,499/yr
▼ 2% since 2020-21100% receive grants or scholarships
Average grant or scholarship aid $11,133.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Academics
The institution offers 35 undergraduate majors across the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities, including an ABET-accredited engineering program. Central provides a personalized teaching environment with a low student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1, ensuring that all classes are taught by professors rather than teaching assistants.
Source: IPEDS 2023
Student–faculty ratio
12:1
6-year graduation rate
69%
▲ 4 pts since 2016
First-year retention
73%
Median across 34 institutions in our national dataset: 89%.
Bachelor-level fields offered
35
Bachelor-level fields reported as offered in IPEDS
MOST POPULAR FIELDS OF STUDY
Share of bachelor's degree completions, not of all enrolled students.
Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology.17.8%
Business Administration and Management, General.16%
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.11.9%
Elementary Education and Teaching.8.2%
Psychology, General.4.6%
Sociology, General.4.6%
CAMPUS LIFE
Campus & Housing
Reported capacity of institution-controlled housing and campus setting. Capacity does not indicate how many students currently live in university housing.
University-controlled housing capacity
1,405
Includes institution-controlled housing; it may extend beyond campus.
Setting
town, distant
AFTER GRADUATION
Student outcomes
Earnings and employment of former students after entering the university.
Source: College Scorecard 2025
Median earnings · 10 yrs after entry
$54,317
Median earnings of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
Working after 10 yrs
95%
Share of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
Earning more than a high-school graduate
84.1%
84.1% of former students earn above the Scorecard high-school earnings threshold, ten years after entry.
Data Sources: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics, and College Scorecard. University Apartments is not affiliated with Central College.