Central College vs. University of Sioux Falls

Deciding between Central College and University of Sioux Falls? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Central College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Central College Pella, IA
  • University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, SD
  • Setting
  • Central College Distant Town
  • University of Sioux Falls Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Central College 1,084
  • University of Sioux Falls 1,450
  • Type
  • Central College Private 4 Year
  • University of Sioux Falls Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Central College #506
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Central College Reformed Church in America
  • University of Sioux Falls American Baptist
  • Status
  • Central College Non-profit
  • University of Sioux Falls Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Central College
  • University of Sioux Falls

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Central College $20,988
  • University of Sioux Falls $21,750
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Central College $20,988
  • University of Sioux Falls $21,750
  • Room & Board
  • Central College $12,060
  • University of Sioux Falls $9,270
  • Average Net Price
  • Central College $23,848
  • University of Sioux Falls $21,385
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Central College $13,925
  • University of Sioux Falls $12,782
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Central College 100%
  • University of Sioux Falls 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Central College 1,706
  • University of Sioux Falls 2,291
  • Admitted
  • Central College 1,470
  • University of Sioux Falls 1,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Central College 86.2%
  • University of Sioux Falls 82.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Central College 21%
  • University of Sioux Falls 15.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central College 1090
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central College 23
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Average High School GPA
  • Central College 3.52
  • University of Sioux Falls 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Central College A-
  • University of Sioux Falls A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Central College Easy
  • University of Sioux Falls Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Central College
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • ACT Range
  • Central College 20/26
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • SAT Range
  • Central College 1056/1120
  • University of Sioux Falls
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Central College Test optional
  • University of Sioux Falls Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Central College
  • University of Sioux Falls

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Central College 11:1
  • University of Sioux Falls 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Central College
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • University of Sioux Falls
    • Business (34%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Central College 63%
  • University of Sioux Falls 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Central College $48,000
  • University of Sioux Falls $43,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Central College 78%
  • University of Sioux Falls 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Central College $27,000
  • University of Sioux Falls $22,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Central College $279
  • University of Sioux Falls $235

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Central College 55%
  • University of Sioux Falls 41%
  • % Women
  • Central College 45%
  • University of Sioux Falls 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Central College Very Low
  • University of Sioux Falls Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Central College No
  • University of Sioux Falls No
  • % White
  • Central College 87%
  • University of Sioux Falls 89%
  • % Asian
  • Central College 1%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%
  • % Black
  • Central College 2%
  • University of Sioux Falls 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Central College 4%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%
  • % Native American
  • Central College 0%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Central College 0%
  • University of Sioux Falls 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Central College 1%
  • University of Sioux Falls 3%
  • % International
  • Central College 0%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Central College 3%
  • University of Sioux Falls 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Central College 75%
  • University of Sioux Falls 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Central College 25%
  • University of Sioux Falls 57%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Central College Yes
  • University of Sioux Falls Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Central College No
  • University of Sioux Falls No
  • Meal Plan
  • Central College Yes
  • University of Sioux Falls Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Central College No
  • University of Sioux Falls Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Central College No
  • University of Sioux Falls No
  • Learn More
  • Central College Details
  • University of Sioux Falls Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Central College in Pella, IA with University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Sioux Falls is larger than Central College based on total student enrollment (1,450 students vs. 1,084 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central College is located in Pella, IA (Distant Town setting); University of Sioux Falls is in Sioux Falls, SD (Midsize City setting).
  • Central College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Sioux Falls is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central College 11:1; University of Sioux Falls 18:1.

Central College vs. University of Sioux Falls Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central College or University of Sioux Falls? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Sioux Falls than Central College ($21,385 vs. $23,848).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Sioux Falls are 23.1% lower than at Central College ($9,270 vs. $12,060).
  • University of Sioux Falls is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central College (about $762 more per year; $21,750.00 vs. $20,988.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.6% higher at University of Sioux Falls than at Central College (about $762 more per year; $21,750.00 vs. $20,988.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Central College as at University of Sioux Falls (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central College students is 8.9% larger than aid received by University of Sioux Falls students ($13,925 vs. $12,782).

Central College vs. University of Sioux Falls Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central College or University of Sioux Falls? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Sioux Falls and Central College.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central College 1056/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central College 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Central College - Test optional; University of Sioux Falls - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman University of Sioux Falls students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Central College (3.52).
  • Central College has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than University of Sioux Falls (82.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at Central College vs. 15.3% at University of Sioux Falls.

Central College vs. University of Sioux Falls Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central College and University of Sioux Falls? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Central College's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than University of Sioux Falls's (59%).
  • Graduates from Central College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than University of Sioux Falls graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,000 vs. $43,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Sioux Falls graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Central College graduates ($22,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Sioux Falls graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central College graduates ($235 vs. $279).
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Sioux Falls students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.