Central College vs. AQ

Central College and Aquinas College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Central College
Aquinas College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Central College (86.2% admitted vs 89.9%). Typical SAT 1090 vs 1030.
  • Cheaper after aid: AQ. Average net price is $18,018 vs $23,848 at Central College.
  • Graduation: Central College 63% vs AQ 52%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Central College $48,000 vs AQ $40,000 (median).
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Key differences

Central College Aquinas College
Acceptance rate
Central College more selective
Central College86.2%
AQ89.9%
SAT range (middle 50%)
AQ higher
Central College1056-1120
AQ910-1140
Average net price
AQ $5,830 less
Central College$23,848
AQ$18,018
In-state tuition
Central College $19,230 less
Central College$20,988
AQ$40,218
Out-of-state tuition
Central College $19,230 less
Central College$20,988
AQ$40,218
Graduation rate
Central College +11 pts
Central College63%
AQ52%
Median earnings (10 years)
Central College +$8,000
Central College$48,000
AQ$40,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Central College 1,706
  • AQ 2,193
  • Admitted
  • Central College 1,470
  • AQ 1,971
  • Acceptance rate
  • Central College 86.2%
  • AQ 89.9%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Central College 21%
  • AQ 11.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central College 1090
  • AQ 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central College 23
  • AQ 23
  • Average high school GPA
  • Central College 3.52
  • AQ 3.52
  • Typical high school grades
  • Central College A-
  • AQ A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Central College Easy
  • AQ Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Central College
  • AQ
  • SAT range
  • Central College 1056-1120
  • AQ 910-1140
  • ACT range
  • Central College 20-26
  • AQ 20-26
  • Submit test scores
  • Central College Test optional
  • AQ Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Central College
  • AQ
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Central College $20,988
  • AQ $40,218
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Central College $20,988
  • AQ $40,218
  • Room & board
  • Central College $12,060
  • AQ $11,680
  • Average net price
  • Central College $23,848
  • AQ $18,018
  • Average grant aid
  • Central College $13,925
  • AQ $33,535
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Central College 100%
  • AQ 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Central College 63%
  • AQ 52%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Central College $48,000
  • AQ $40,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Central College 78%
  • AQ 60%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Central College $27,000
  • AQ $26,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Central College $279
  • AQ $268
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Central College 11:1
  • AQ 10:1
  • Popular majors
  • Central College
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • AQ
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Location
  • Central College Pella, IA
  • AQ Grand Rapids, MI
  • Setting
  • Central College Distant Town
  • AQ Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Central College 1,084
  • AQ 1,157
  • Type
  • Central College Private 4 Year
  • AQ Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Central College #506
  • AQ #753

Comparable Facts

Compare Central College in Pella, IA with Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Aquinas College is larger than Central College based on total student enrollment (1,157 students vs. 1,084 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central College is located in Pella, IA (Distant Town setting); Aquinas College is in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • Central College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central College 11:1; Aquinas College 10:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 3.2% lower than at Central College ($11,680 vs. $12,060).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 91.6% higher at AQ than at Central College (about $19,230 more per year; $40,218 vs. $20,988).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Central College as at Aquinas College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 140.8% larger than aid received by Central College students ($33,535 vs. $13,925).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Central College students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 23) as students at AQ (23).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Central College and AQ.
  • Enrolled freshman Central College students have the same average high school GPA (3.52) as students at AQ (3.52).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at Central College vs. 11.8% at AQ.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Central College graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central College graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation (78% vs. 60%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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