Central College vs. Purdue Northwest

Should I go to Central College or Purdue University Northwest? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central College or Purdue Northwest 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. Purdue University Northwest comparison
Central College Purdue University Northwest College 3 College 4
Central College
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Overview

Central College Purdue Northwest
Location Pella, IA Hammond, Indiana
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,169 8,911
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #519
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website central.edu pnw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central College Purdue Northwest
Tuition (In State) $19,800 $7,373
Tuition (Out of State) $19,800 $14,364
Room & Board $10,860 $8,215
Avg Net Price $23,303 $9,162
Avg Grant Aid $10,999 $7,070
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 75%

Admission

Central College Purdue Northwest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,970 5,670
Admitted 1,561 4,129
Acceptance Rate 79.2% 72.8%
Enrolled % 22.5% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 18/24
SAT Range 1040/1218 950/1170
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Central College Purdue Northwest
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

Central College Purdue Northwest
Graduation Rate 63% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 78% -
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 N/A
Median Loan Payment $279 N/A

Diversity

Central College Purdue Northwest
% Men 52% 44%
% Women 48% 56%
Racial Diversity Very Low -
HBCU No No
% White 87% 0%
% Black 2% 0%
% Hispanic 4% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 0%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Central College Purdue Northwest
% In-State 73% 87%
% Out-of-State 26% 13%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Northwest is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (8,911 students vs. 1,169 students)

Central College vs. Purdue Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central College or Purdue Northwest?

  • Central College is 168.5% more expensive to attend than Purdue Northwest for in-state tuition ($19,800.00 vs. $7,373.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.8% higher at Central College than Purdue University Northwest ($19,800.00 vs. $14,364.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Northwest than Central College ($9,162 vs. $23,303)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 32.2% lower than costs at Central College ($8,215 vs. $10,860)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central College than Purdue University Northwest (100% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central College students is 55.6% larger than aid received Purdue University Northwest ($10,999 vs. $7,070)

Central College vs. Purdue Northwest Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Central College students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Purdue Northwest (3.19)
  • Central College has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than Purdue Northwest (72.8%)

Central College vs. Purdue Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central College or Purdue Northwest? 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 Purdue Northwest and Central College.

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