Central College vs. Iowa

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

Central College Iowa
Location Pella, IA Iowa City, IA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,169 30,015
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #519 #224
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website central.edu uiowa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central College Iowa
Tuition (In State) $19,800 $8,711
Tuition (Out of State) $19,800 $30,674
Room & Board $10,860 $11,476
Avg Net Price $23,303 $19,587
Avg Grant Aid $10,999 $9,959
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 82%

Admission

Central College Iowa
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,970 25,729
Admitted 1,561 22,128
Acceptance Rate 79.2% 86%
Enrolled % 22.5% 23.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.81
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 22/28
SAT Range 1040/1218 1130/1340
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

Central College Iowa
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 (18%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Central College Iowa
Graduation Rate 63% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $59,800
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $21,616
Median Loan Payment $279 $223

Diversity

Central College Iowa
% Men 52% 44%
% Women 48% 56%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 87% 67%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 12%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

Central College Iowa
% In-State 73% 54%
% Out-of-State 26% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Iowa is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (30,015 students vs. 1,169 students)

Central College vs. Iowa Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central College or Iowa?

  • Central College is 127.3% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($19,800.00 vs. $8,711.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 54.9% higher at Iowa than Central College ($30,674.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Iowa than Central College ($19,587 vs. $23,303)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central College are 5.7% lower than costs at University of Iowa ($10,860 vs. $11,476)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central College than University of Iowa (100% vs. 82%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central College students is 10.4% larger than aid received University of Iowa ($10,999 vs. $9,959)

Central College vs. Iowa Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Iowa (1164) is 96 points higher than at Central College (1068)
  • Incoming Iowa students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Central College (23)
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Central College (3.52)
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Central College (79.2%)

Central College vs. Iowa Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central College or Iowa? 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 Iowa and Central College.

  • The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than Central College (71% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from University of Iowa earn on average $11,800 more per year than Central College graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $48,000)
  • University of Iowa students graduate with a $5,384 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($21,616 vs. $27,000)
  • Iowa graduates are paying $56 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($223 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 70%)

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