CHC vs. Centra College

Comparable Facts

Compare Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA with Centra College in Lynchburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Chestnut Hill College is larger than Centra College based on total student enrollment (1,288 students vs. 219 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chestnut Hill College is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Centra College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• Chestnut Hill College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Centra College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Chestnut Hill College 10:1; Centra College 3:1.

CHC vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

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

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centra College are 1.4% lower than at Chestnut Hill College ($12,424 vs. $12,600).
• Chestnut Hill College is 207.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Centra College (about $26,887 more per year; $39,870.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 207.1% higher at CHC than at Centra College (about $26,887 more per year; $39,870.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chestnut Hill College than at Centra College (100% vs. 0%).

CHC vs. Centra College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CHC or Centra College? 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 Centra College and CHC.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chestnut Hill College 900/1090.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CHC - Test-free; Centra College - Test-free.
• Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than CHC (74.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.2% at CHC vs. 0% at Centra College.

CHC vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CHC and Centra College? 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).

• Graduates from Chestnut Hill College earn a median of about $500 more per year than Centra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,300 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Centra College graduates have a $14,439 lower median loan debt than CHC graduates ($12,042 vs. $26,481).
• Among borrowers, Centra College graduates have an estimated $149 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CHC graduates ($124 vs. $273).
• More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CHC students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 47%)

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.