Central College vs. St. Ambrose University

Should I go to Central College or Saint Ambrose University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central College or St. Ambrose University 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. Saint Ambrose University comparison
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Central College Saint Ambrose University
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Overview

Central College St. Ambrose University
Location Pella, IA Davenport, IA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,169 2,747
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #519 #402
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website central.edu sau.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central College St. Ambrose University
Tuition (In State) $19,800 $34,290
Tuition (Out of State) $19,800 $34,290
Room & Board $10,860 $11,988
Avg Net Price $23,303 $23,359
Avg Grant Aid $10,999 $25,476
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Central College St. Ambrose University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,970 3,589
Admitted 1,561 2,653
Acceptance Rate 79.2% 73.9%
Enrolled % 22.5% 17.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.39
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 20/27
SAT Range 1040/1218 1020/1240
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 St. Ambrose University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Central College St. Ambrose University
Graduation Rate 63% 62%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,764
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

Central College St. Ambrose University
% Men 52% 42%
% Women 48% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 87% 80%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

Central College St. Ambrose University
% In-State 73% 33%
% Out-of-State 26% 64%

Campus

Central College St. Ambrose University
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

  • Saint Ambrose University is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (2,747 students vs. 1,169 students)

Central College vs. St. Ambrose University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central College or St. Ambrose University ?

  • Saint Ambrose University is 73.2% more expensive to attend than Central College for in-state tuition ($34,290.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 73.2% higher at St. Ambrose University than Central College ($34,290.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central College than St. Ambrose University ($23,303 vs. $23,359)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central College are 10.4% lower than costs at Saint Ambrose University ($10,860 vs. $11,988)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Central College as Saint Ambrose University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Ambrose University students is 131.6% larger than aid received Central College ($25,476 vs. $10,999)

Central College vs. St. Ambrose University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Central College (1068) is 18 points higher than at St. Ambrose University (1050)
  • Incoming Central College students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at St. Ambrose University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Central College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at St. Ambrose University (3.39)
  • Central College has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than St. Ambrose University (73.9%)

Central College vs. St. Ambrose University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central College or St. Ambrose University ? 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 St. Ambrose University and Central College.

  • The graduation rate at Central College is higher than Saint Ambrose University (63% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Saint Ambrose University earn on average $300 more per year than Central College graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $48,000)
  • Saint Ambrose University students graduate with a $1,236 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($25,764 vs. $27,000)
  • St. Ambrose University graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Ambrose University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 71%)

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