NNU vs. Central College

Should I go to Northwest Nazarene University or Central College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NNU 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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Northwest Nazarene University vs. Central College comparison
Northwest Nazarene University Central College College 3 College 4
Northwest Nazarene University Central College
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Overview

NNU Central College
Location Nampa, ID Pella, IA
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,774 1,095
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #570 #548
Religious Affiliation Church of the Nazarene Reformed Church in America - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nnu.edu central.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NNU Central College
Tuition (In State) $38,570 $20,988
Tuition (Out of State) $38,570 $20,988
Room & Board $11,550 $12,220
Avg Net Price $27,291 $22,499
Avg Grant Aid $23,126 $12,678
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

NNU Central College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,571 1,978
Admitted 2,248 1,562
Acceptance Rate 63%Open 79%
Enrolled % 10.9%Open 17.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.52
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/31 19/25
SAT Range 940/1210 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 Aug 15, 2026

Academics

NNU Central College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

NNU Central College
Graduation Rate 52% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,000 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

NNU Central College
% Men 11% 1%
% Women 24% 2%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 87%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 10% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 6% 3%

Students

NNU Central College
% In-State 55% 72%
% Out-of-State 42% 28%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northwest Nazarene University is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (1,774 students vs. 1,095 students)

NNU vs. Central College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NNU or Central College?

  • Northwest Nazarene University is 83.8% more expensive to attend than Central College for in-state tuition ($38,570.00 vs. $20,988.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 83.8% higher at NNU than Central College ($38,570.00 vs. $20,988.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central College than NNU ($22,499 vs. $27,291)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Nazarene University are 5.8% lower than costs at Central College ($11,550 vs. $12,220)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central College than Northwest Nazarene University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Nazarene University students is 82.4% larger than aid received Central College ($23,126 vs. $12,678)

NNU vs. Central College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Central College (1068) is 12 points higher than at NNU (1056)
  • Incoming NNU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Central College (23)
  • Accepted freshman NNU 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 NNU (63%)

NNU vs. Central College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NNU 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 NNU.

  • The graduation rate at Central College is higher than Northwest Nazarene University (63% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Central College earn on average $5,000 more per year than NNU graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $43,000)
  • Northwest Nazarene University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • NNU graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NNU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 66%)

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