Central College
Pella, IA
Affordability & debt
- Average net price
- $23,377per year, after aid
- Undergraduates with a federal loan
- 70%
- Undergraduates receiving a Pell grant
- 22%need-based, not repaid
- Typical debt at graduation
- $26,984federal loans, students who finished
- Reducing their balance within 3 years
- 77%of borrowers who entered repayment
What that debt costs to repay. Typical debt here is about $26,984. At 7% over 10 years — the standard federal plan — that is roughly $313 a month, about $37,597 repaid in total, of which $10,613 is interest.
Stretch the same balance over 25 years and the payment drops to $191 a month — but the total climbs to $57,215, roughly $19,618 more in interest. A smaller payment is not a smaller loan.
An estimate, not financial advice: straight amortization at a fixed rate, ignoring fees, interest accrued while enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Figures on this page are averages and medians — what any one family borrows and pays varies widely. Try your own numbers.
Central College’s net price calculator — every college is required to publish one. It is the only way to get a cost estimate based on your family’s own finances rather than an average.
Published tuition
- In-state tuition
- $20,988published rate
- Out-of-state tuition
- $20,988published rate
The sticker price before any aid. Most students pay less than this — the net price above is what aided students actually paid on average.
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1,147of admitted students
- Average ACT
- 22of admitted students
Context for the class as a whole, not a prediction about any one applicant.
Outcomes
- Median earnings
- $54,31710 years after entry
Median earnings of former students who received federal aid, measured 10 years after they started.
Campus life
- Campus setting
- Town: Distant
- Residential character
- Highly residential — most students live on campus
- Religious affiliation
- Reformed Church in America
Most common fields of study
- Parks, recreation & fitness21%
- Business & marketing20%
- Biological & biomedical sciences10%
- Social sciences7%
- Education7%
- Psychology6%
Share of degrees awarded, by broad field.
Athletics
NCAA Division III with football
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
What borrowing would really cost
Starting from the typical debt at Central College. Change any figure to see your own.
Standard plan — 10 years
$313per month
- Total repaid
- $37,597
- Interest paid
- $10,613
Longer term — 25 years
$191per month
- Total repaid
- $57,215
- Interest paid
- $30,231
Borrow $26,984 and repay it over 25 years instead of 10, and you pay $19,618 more — $57,215 in all, about 2.1× what you borrowed. The monthly payment is smaller; the loan is not.
An estimate, not financial advice. Straight amortization at a fixed rate: it assumes every payment is made on time and the rate never changes, and it leaves out fees, interest that accrues while you’re still enrolled, and any forgiveness or income-driven plan. Planning4College is not a financial advisor and sells no loans. Check real terms with your school’s financial aid office and studentaid.gov.
See if Central College fits you
Answer a few questions and we’ll show you where it lands — reach, match, or safety — alongside schools like it.
Get your free matchSimilar colleges in Iowa
- Loras CollegeDubuque, IA
- Cornell CollegeMount Vernon, IA
- Mount Mercy UniversityCedar Rapids, IA
- Morningside UniversitySioux City, IA
- Coe CollegeCedar Rapids, IA
- Northwestern CollegeOrange City, IA