Central College vs. St. Cloud State University

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

 Central College St. Cloud State University
Location Pella, IA Saint Cloud, MN
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,169 10,420
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #519 #710
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website central.edu stcloudstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Central College St. Cloud State University
Tuition (In State) $19,800 $8,811
Tuition (Out of State) $19,800 $18,695
Room & Board $10,860 $9,950
Avg Net Price $23,303 $14,065
Avg Grant Aid $10,999 $6,042
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

 Central College St. Cloud State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,970 4,810
Admitted 1,561 4,583
Acceptance Rate 79.2% 95.3%
Enrolled % 22.5% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 18/24
SAT Range 1040/1218 1027/1200
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 15, 2025

Academics

 Central College St. Cloud State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

 Central College St. Cloud State University
Graduation Rate 63% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $46,700
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $232

Diversity

 Central College St. Cloud State University
% Men 52% 43%
% Women 48% 57%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 87% 73%
% Black 2% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

 Central College St. Cloud State University
% In-State 73% 75%
% Out-of-State 26% 11%

Campus

 Central College St. Cloud State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Saint Cloud State University is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (10,420 students vs. 1,169 students)

Central College vs. St. Cloud State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Central College is 124.7% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($19,800.00 vs. $8,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.9% higher at Central College than Saint Cloud State University ($19,800.00 vs. $18,695.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than Central College ($14,065 vs. $23,303)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Cloud State University are 9.1% lower than costs at Central College ($9,950 vs. $10,860)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central College than Saint Cloud State University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central College students is 82% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($10,999 vs. $6,042)

Central College vs. St. Cloud State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Central College (1068) is 38 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
  • Incoming Central College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Central College students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Central College (79.2%)

Central College vs. St. Cloud State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central College or St. Cloud State 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. Cloud State University and Central College.

  • The graduation rate at Central College is higher than Saint Cloud State University (63% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Central College earn on average $1,300 more per year than St. Cloud State University graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $46,700)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($22,500 vs. $27,000)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($232 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Cloud State University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 67%)

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