Paine College vs. Centra College

Comparable Facts

Compare Paine College in Augusta, GA with Centra College in Lynchburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Paine College is larger than Centra College based on total student enrollment (390 students vs. 219 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Paine College is located in Augusta, GA (Midsize City setting); Centra College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• Paine College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Centra College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Paine College 11:1; Centra College 3:1.

Paine College vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Paine College 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 Paine College are 39.5% lower than at Centra College ($7,512 vs. $12,424).
• Paine College is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Centra College (about $1,613 more per year; $14,596.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at Paine College than at Centra College (about $1,613 more per year; $14,596.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Paine College than at Centra College (100% vs. 0%).

Paine College vs. Centra College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Paine College 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 Paine College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Paine College 776/976.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Paine College 15/19.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Paine College - Test-free; Centra College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Paine College Jul 1, 2027.
• Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Paine College (95.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 3.6% at Paine College vs. 0% at Centra College.

Paine College vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Paine College 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 Centra College earn a median of about $16,400 more per year than Paine College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $28,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Centra College graduates have a $23,708 lower median loan debt than Paine College graduates ($12,042 vs. $35,750).
• Among borrowers, Centra College graduates have an estimated $245 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Paine College graduates ($124 vs. $369).
• More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Paine College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 15%)

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.