University of St Francis vs. Central College

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

University of St Francis Central College
Location Joliet, IL Pella, IA
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 3,297 1,169
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #339 #519
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Reformed Church in America - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stfrancis.edu central.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of St Francis Central College
Tuition (In State) $36,000 $19,800
Tuition (Out of State) $36,000 $19,800
Room & Board $11,430 $10,860
Avg Net Price $18,560 $23,303
Avg Grant Aid $25,392 $10,999
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

University of St Francis Central College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,198 1,970
Admitted 1,284 1,561
Acceptance Rate 58.4% 79.2%
Enrolled % 16.8% 22.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.52
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/30 19/26
SAT Range 1030/1240 1040/1218
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 1, 2025

Academics

University of St Francis Central College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (41%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

University of St Francis Central College
Graduation Rate 63% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,600 $48,000
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

University of St Francis Central College
% Men 26% 52%
% Women 74% 48%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 87%
% Black 8% 2%
% Hispanic 16% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

University of St Francis Central College
% In-State 93% 73%
% Out-of-State 4% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of St Francis is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (3,297 students vs. 1,169 students)

University of St Francis vs. Central College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of St Francis or Central College?

  • University of St Francis is 81.8% more expensive to attend than Central College for in-state tuition ($36,000.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 81.8% higher at University of St Francis than Central College ($36,000.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of St Francis than Central College ($18,560 vs. $23,303)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central College are 5.2% lower than costs at University of St Francis ($10,860 vs. $11,430)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at University of St Francis as Central College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of St Francis students is 130.9% larger than aid received Central College ($25,392 vs. $10,999)

University of St Francis vs. Central College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of St Francis (1069) is 1 points higher than at Central College (1068)
  • Incoming University of St Francis students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Central College (23)
  • Accepted freshman Central College students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at University of St Francis (3.47)
  • Central College has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than University of St Francis (58.4%)

University of St Francis vs. Central College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of St Francis 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 University of St Francis.

  • The graduation rate at University of St Francis is the same as at Central College (63% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from University of St Francis earn on average $2,600 more per year than Central College graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $48,000)
  • University of St Francis students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • University of St Francis graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of St Francis students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 62%)

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