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ISU Wartburg College UNI Coe College| Central College | Simpson College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Central College | Simpson College | ||
| Location | Pella, IA | Indianola, IA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,169 | 1,151 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #519 | #412 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Reformed Church in America | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | central.edu | simpson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Central College | Simpson College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $19,800 | $44,202 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $19,800 | $44,202 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,860 | $9,654 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $23,303 | $23,185 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,999 | $35,898 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Central College | Simpson College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,970 | 1,569 | ||
| Admitted | 1,561 | 1,398 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 79.2% | 89.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.5% | 21.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.52 | 3.62 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1218 | 890/1280 | ||
| 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 | Simpson College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Central College | Simpson College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 69% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,000 | $48,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 77% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $279 |
Diversity |
Central College | Simpson College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 52% | 48% | ||
| % Women | 48% | 52% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 87% | 88% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 1% | ||
| % International | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 3% |
Students |
Central College | Simpson College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 67% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 32% | ||
Campus |
Central College | Simpson College | ||
| 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
- Central College is larger than than Simpson College based on total student enrollment (1,169 students vs. 1,151 students)
Central College vs. Simpson College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Central College or Simpson College?
- Simpson College is 123.2% more expensive to attend than Central College for in-state tuition ($44,202.00 vs. $19,800.00)
- Out of state tuition is 123.2% higher at Simpson College than Central College ($44,202.00 vs. $19,800.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Simpson College than Central College ($23,185 vs. $23,303)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simpson College are 12.5% lower than costs at Central College ($9,654 vs. $10,860)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Central College as Simpson College (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Simpson College students is 226.4% larger than aid received Central College ($35,898 vs. $10,999)
Central College vs. Simpson College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Central College or Simpson College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Simpson College or Central College .
- The average SAT score at Simpson College (1104) is 36 points higher than at Central College (1068)
- Incoming Simpson College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Central College (23)
- Accepted freshman Simpson College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Central College (3.52)
- Simpson College has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Central College (79.2%)
Central College vs. Simpson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Central College or Simpson College? 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 Simpson College and Central College.
- The graduation rate at Simpson College is higher than Central College (69% vs. 63%)
- Graduates of Central College and Simpson College have equivalent average earnings after ten years ($48,000 vs. $48,000)
- Simpson College and Central College graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
- Simpson 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 Simpson College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 77%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/