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Central College
Central College admits nearly everyone — 86.2% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether Central College is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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Central College anchors the college town of Pella, IA, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint. The school maintains its Reformed Church in America affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $89,838 four years out. Faculty pay averages $93,360 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 1,070 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 79.9% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 935 and 1205 — below the IA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Central College's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Central College is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 935–1205 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Central College's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 490 | 540 | 580 |
| SAT Math | 445 | 540 | 625 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 22 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Central College received 1,978 applications and admitted 1,562 (79%), with 274 enrolling.
How Central College compares
| Central College | Iowa median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 86.2% | 80.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $20,988 | $36,684 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $54,317 | $55,396 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Central College's median earnings are $54,317 — below the Iowa benchmark of $55,396. Weigh that against the $20,988 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
Central College lists tuition at $20,988 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Central College's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $20,988 as the ceiling, not the bill.
With 1,070 undergraduates, Central College is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
66.2% graduate within six years. Roughly 34% don't — ask a Central College tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Central College
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $89,838 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $86,868 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $68,021 |
| Biology, General | $59,597 |
| Psychology, General | $56,941 |
| Sociology | $51,996 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $51,814 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $51,671 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $50,707 |
Median earnings for these 9 Central College programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $54,317 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 27 additional Central College programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Central College?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 935–1205 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 86.2% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Central College's acceptance rate?
79% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,562 admitted from 1,978 applicants.
How much does Central College cost?
At Central College, published tuition is $20,988 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Central College's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Central College graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $54,317 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Iowa
- University of Dubuque — 88.6% admitted
- Grand View University — 99.1% admitted
- Iowa State University — 88.7% admitted
- Loras College — 99.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.