Central College vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Deciding between Central College and University of Wisconsin River 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
University of Wisconsin River Falls

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Central College Pella, IA
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI
  • Setting
  • Central College Distant Town
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Central College 1,084
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5,243
  • Type
  • Central College Private 4 Year
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Central College #506
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls #768
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Central College Reformed Church in America
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls -
  • Status
  • Central College Non-profit
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Central College
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Central College $20,988
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $9,008
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Central College $20,988
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $17,470
  • Room & Board
  • Central College $12,060
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $7,982
  • Average Net Price
  • Central College $23,848
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $14,769
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Central College $13,925
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $4,176
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Central College 100%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 81%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Central College Calculate
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Calculate
  • Applied
  • Central College 1,706
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5,519
  • Admitted
  • Central College 1,470
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 4,510
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Central College 86.2%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Central College 21%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 25.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central College 1090
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central College 23
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Central College 3.52
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3.44
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Central College A-
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Central College Easy
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Central College
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • ACT Range
  • Central College 20/26
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • Central College 1056/1120
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Central College Test optional
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Central College
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Central College 11:1
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Central College
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
    • Agriculture (17%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Central College 63%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 51%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Central College $48,000
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $44,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Central College 78%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Central College $27,000
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $22,725
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Central College $279
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $234

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Central College 55%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 37%
  • % Women
  • Central College 45%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Central College Very Low
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Central College No
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls No
  • % White
  • Central College 87%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 89%
  • % Asian
  • Central College 1%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3%
  • % Black
  • Central College 2%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Central College 4%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3%
  • % Native American
  • Central College 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Central College 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Central College 1%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2%
  • % International
  • Central College 0%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Central College 3%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Central College 75%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 47%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Central College 25%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 52%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wisconsin River Falls is larger than Central College based on total student enrollment (5,243 students vs. 1,084 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central College is located in Pella, IA (Distant Town setting); University of Wisconsin River Falls is in River Falls, WI (Distant Town setting).
  • Central College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin River Falls is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central College 11:1; University of Wisconsin River Falls 19:1.

Central College vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central College or University of Wisconsin-River 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 Wisconsin River Falls than Central College ($14,769 vs. $23,848).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin River Falls are 33.8% lower than at Central College ($7,982 vs. $12,060).
  • Central College is 133% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Wisconsin-River Falls (about $11,980 more per year; $20,988.00 vs. $9,008.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.1% higher at Central College than at University of Wisconsin River Falls (about $3,518 more per year; $20,988.00 vs. $17,470.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central College than at University of Wisconsin River Falls (100% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central College students is 233.5% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin River Falls students ($13,925 vs. $4,176).

Central College vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central College or University of Wisconsin-River 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 Wisconsin-River Falls and Central College.

  • Incoming Central College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at University of Wisconsin-River Falls).
  • 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; University of Wisconsin River Falls 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Central College - Test optional; University of Wisconsin-River Falls - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Central College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at University of Wisconsin-River Falls (3.44).
  • Central College has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than University of Wisconsin-River Falls (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at Central College vs. 25.1% at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Central College vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central College and University of Wisconsin-River 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 Wisconsin River Falls's (51%).
  • Graduates from Central College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,000 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin River Falls graduates have a $4,275 lower median loan debt than Central College graduates ($22,725 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central College graduates ($234 vs. $279).
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Wisconsin-River 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.