Elmhurst College vs. Central College

Should I go to Elmhurst College or Central College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Elmhurst College or Central College 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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Elmhurst College vs. Central College comparison
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Elmhurst College Central College
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Overview

Elmhurst College Central College
Location Elmhurst, IL Pella, IA
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 3,906 1,095
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #386 #548
Religious Affiliation United Church of Christ Reformed Church in America - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elmhurst.edu central.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elmhurst College Central College
Tuition (In State) $41,258 $20,988
Tuition (Out of State) $41,258 $20,988
Room & Board $11,858 $12,220
Avg Net Price $22,760 $22,499
Avg Grant Aid $29,445 $12,678
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Elmhurst College Central College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,254 1,978
Admitted 4,737 1,562
Acceptance Rate 75.7% 79%
Enrolled % 12.8% 17.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.52
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/28 19/25
SAT Range 960/1210 935/1205
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

Elmhurst College Central College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

Elmhurst College Central College
Graduation Rate 70% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,200 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $279

Diversity

Elmhurst College Central College
% Men 7% 1%
% Women 12% 2%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 87%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 17% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Elmhurst College Central College
% In-State 78% 72%
% Out-of-State 13% 28%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Elmhurst College is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (3,906 students vs. 1,095 students)

Elmhurst College vs. Central College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elmhurst College or Central College?

  • Elmhurst College is 96.6% more expensive to attend than Central College for in-state tuition ($41,258.00 vs. $20,988.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 96.6% higher at Elmhurst College than Central College ($41,258.00 vs. $20,988.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central College than Elmhurst College ($22,499 vs. $22,760)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elmhurst College are 3.1% lower than costs at Central College ($11,858 vs. $12,220)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central College than Elmhurst College (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elmhurst College students is 132.3% larger than aid received Central College ($29,445 vs. $12,678)

Elmhurst College vs. Central College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Elmhurst College (1090) is 22 points higher than at Central College (1068)
  • Incoming Elmhurst College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Central College (23)
  • Accepted freshman Elmhurst College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Central College (3.52)
  • Central College has a higher acceptance rate (79%) than Elmhurst College (75.7%)

Elmhurst College vs. Central College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Elmhurst College is higher than Central College (70% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Elmhurst College earn on average $2,200 more per year than Central College graduates after ten years. ($50,200 vs. $48,000)
  • Elmhurst College students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Elmhurst College graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elmhurst College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 72%)

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