Central College vs. WSU

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

Central College WSU
Location Pella, IA Wichita, KS
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 1,169 16,216
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #519 #700
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website central.edu wichita.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central College WSU
Tuition (In State) $19,800 $6,848
Tuition (Out of State) $19,800 $16,208
Room & Board $10,860 $12,610
Avg Net Price $23,303 $13,553
Avg Grant Aid $10,999 $7,110
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 79%

Admission

Central College WSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,970 8,899
Admitted 1,561 8,441
Acceptance Rate 79.2% 94.9%
Enrolled % 22.5% 21.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 19/26
SAT Range 1040/1218 953/1260
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

Academics

Central College WSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Engineering (9%)

Outcomes

Central College WSU
Graduation Rate 63% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $43,800
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $211

Diversity

Central College WSU
% Men 52% 45%
% Women 48% 55%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 87% 63%
% Black 2% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 11%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 0% 6%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Central College WSU
% In-State 73% 76%
% Out-of-State 26% 20%

Campus

Central College WSU
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

  • Wichita State University is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (16,216 students vs. 1,169 students)

Central College vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central College or WSU?

  • Central College is 189.1% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($19,800.00 vs. $6,848.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.2% higher at Central College than Wichita State University ($19,800.00 vs. $16,208.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wichita State University than Central College ($13,553 vs. $23,303)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central College are 16.1% lower than costs at Wichita State University ($10,860 vs. $12,610)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central College than Wichita State University (100% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central College students is 54.7% larger than aid received Wichita State University ($10,999 vs. $7,110)

Central College vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wichita State University (1089) is 21 points higher than at Central College (1068)
  • Incoming WSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Central College (23)
  • Accepted freshman Central College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at WSU (3.48)
  • WSU has a higher acceptance rate (94.9%) than Central College (79.2%)

Central College vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Central College is higher than Wichita State University (63% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Central College earn on average $4,200 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $43,800)
  • Wichita State University students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $27,000)
  • WSU graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($211 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 55%)

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