Central College vs. Nichols

Should I go to Central College or Nichols College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central College or Nichols is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Central College vs. Nichols College comparison
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Central College Nichols College
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Overview

 Central College Nichols
Location Pella, IA Dudley, MA
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,095 1,354
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #548 #905
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website central.edu nichols.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Central College Nichols
Tuition (In State) $20,988 $38,825
Tuition (Out of State) $20,988 $38,825
Room & Board $12,220 $14,950
Avg Net Price $22,499 $31,032
Avg Grant Aid $12,678 $24,720
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 95%

Admission

 Central College Nichols
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,978 2,117
Admitted 1,562 1,866
Acceptance Rate 79% 88.1%Open
Enrolled % 17.5% 17.8%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.52 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25
SAT Range 935/1205 1000/1190
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Central College Nichols
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Business (75%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Education (2%)

Outcomes

 Central College Nichols
Graduation Rate 63% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $51,800
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

 Central College Nichols
% Men 1% 8%
% Women 2% 7%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 87% 81%
% Black 2% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

 Central College Nichols
% In-State 72% 51%
% Out-of-State 28% 46%

Campus

 Central College Nichols
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Nichols College is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (1,354 students vs. 1,095 students)

Central College vs. Nichols Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central College or Nichols?

  • Nichols College is 85% more expensive to attend than Central College for in-state tuition ($38,825.00 vs. $20,988.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 85% higher at Nichols than Central College ($38,825.00 vs. $20,988.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central College than Nichols ($22,499 vs. $31,032)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central College are 22.3% lower than costs at Nichols College ($12,220 vs. $14,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central College than Nichols College (100% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 95% larger than aid received Central College ($24,720 vs. $12,678)

Central College vs. Nichols Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central College or Nichols? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Nichols or Central College .

  • Accepted freshman Central College students have a 0.62 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Nichols (2.9)
  • Nichols has a higher acceptance rate (88.1%) than Central College (79%)

Central College vs. Nichols Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central College or Nichols? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Nichols and Central College.

  • The graduation rate at Central College is higher than Nichols College (63% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Nichols College earn on average $3,800 more per year than Central College graduates after ten years. ($51,800 vs. $48,000)
  • Nichols College and Central College graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Nichols College and Central College graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/