US CollegesGetting in
Central College admits 86% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1147 out of 1600 (midpoints: 565 in reading and writing, 565 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 22 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees for a year | $21,934 |
| Room and meals on campus | $12,060 |
| Books and supplies | $1,335 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $37,773 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $22,894 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off. It is 7% above the median net price of colleges in Iowa on this site ($21,412). International students normally pay the published tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $16,038 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $13,545 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $17,397 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $22,140 |
| Above $110,000 | $26,636 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | IA median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 80% | 73% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 59% | 54% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $57,387 | $57,656 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $25,125 | $21,381 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Iowa and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
23% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 65% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 45% women and 55% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 29 of the 43 colleges in Iowa on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,227.
Other colleges in Iowa of a similar size
- Loras CollegeDubuque, private nonprofit
- Cornell CollegeMount Vernon, private nonprofit
- Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids, private nonprofit
- Morningside UniversitySioux City, private nonprofit
- Coe CollegeCedar Rapids, private nonprofit
- Northwestern CollegeOrange City, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Central College?
Central College admits 86% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Central College?
Published tuition and fees are $21,934 a year. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Central College?
59% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.