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Pella , IA
Central College is a private liberal arts college located in Pella, Iowa. Founded in 1853, it is one of the oldest institutions in the state. The college prides itself on offering a well-rounded education, combining academic excellence with a strong commitment to community, leadership, and global engagement. Central College has a beautiful 130-acre campus with state-of-the-art facilities, providing students with an inclusive and supportive environment to thrive academically and socially.
At Central College, students have a wide range of academic programs to choose from. The college offers more than 70 majors, minors, and pre-professional programs in fields such as business, education, science, arts, humanities, and social sciences. The faculty members are highly dedicated and experienced professionals who work closely with students to ensure their success. Small class sizes enable personalized attention and foster meaningful relationships between professors and students.
Central College is also known for its commitment to a well-rounded college experience. The college offers numerous opportunities for students to get involved in extracurricular activities, including athletics, clubs, and organizations. The Dutch compete as a part of the NCAA Division III in 20 different sports, fostering teamwork and competitive spirit. In addition, the college encourages community service and provides opportunities for students to engage in volunteer work locally, nationally, and internationally, fostering a sense of global citizenship. Central College is an ideal place for students seeking a comprehensive education that combines academic rigor, personal growth, and active engagement with the community.
Central College is a private four-year college located in Pella, IA. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 86%. The freshman retention rate at Central College is 79.93% and the six-year graduation rate is 66%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is August 1. Here are some latest data on important things to consider about Central College.
Quick Facts
1,084
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$21,934
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
66%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Check out some essential data about admission policy and requirements at Central College.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,470 in 2025.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 3% and ACT scores 42%. 100% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 5.34, 43.51 between 24-29, 41.98 in the range between 18-23, 8.4 between 12-17, and 0.77 between 6-11.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.56. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by August 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Central College was 79.93%, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 66%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Central College in 2025 was 1,084.
That year, the school had 25% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 1,084 undergraduate students, including 2 international students. 27 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 572 male and 477 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 3 Asian students and 13 Afro-American students in 2025. 35 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 25 as multirace. There were also 19 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Central College estimated tuition costs.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $21,934 for all full-time domestic students. Since Central College is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to consider is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to spend about $1,335 for books and supplies during their time at Central College.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, room and board cost at Central College amounted to $12,060 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school amounted to $5,800, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $5,800.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 21,934 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,060 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,335 |
| Total Expense | $ 35,329 |
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Central College, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 195 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $19,865 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
611 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Central College is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 613. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $1,513,616, and state $2,676,500. The students of Central College received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $5,119,004, and external in the amount of $266,992.
$9,071
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
173 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 73 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $1,513,616 while the state aid is $260,268. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $4,022,074. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $256,522 USD.
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at Central College was 12:1. That means that there were 12 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 107 teachers at this school. This number included 49 men and 58 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Central College.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about campus life at Central College.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
If you have an interest in acting, there's a drama club you can be a part of.
FAQ
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Central College is located in Pella, IA.
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Central College offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 21,934 USD per academic year for Central College.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Central College is 86%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Central College is 79.93%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.