Menlo vs. Centra College

Comparable Facts

Compare Menlo College in Atherton, CA with Centra College in Lynchburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Menlo College is larger than Centra College based on total student enrollment (810 students vs. 219 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Menlo College is located in Atherton, CA (Large Suburban setting); Centra College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• Menlo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Centra College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Menlo College 14:1; Centra College 3:1.

Menlo vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo 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 31.9% lower than at Menlo College ($12,424 vs. $18,236).
• Menlo College is 313.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Centra College (about $40,647 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 313.1% higher at Menlo than at Centra College (about $40,647 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Menlo College than at Centra College (100% vs. 0%).

Menlo vs. Centra College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Menlo 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 Menlo.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Menlo - Test-free; Centra College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Menlo Apr 1, 2027.
• Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Menlo (68.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.3% at Menlo vs. 0% at Centra College.

Menlo vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Menlo 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 Menlo College earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than Centra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,900 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Centra College graduates have a $9,020 lower median loan debt than Menlo graduates ($12,042 vs. $21,062).
• Among borrowers, Centra College graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Menlo graduates ($124 vs. $217).
• More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 55%)

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.