Central College vs. NCU

Should I go to Central College or Northwest Christian University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central College or NCU 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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Central College vs. Northwest Christian University comparison
Central College Northwest Christian University College 3 College 4
Central College
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Overview

 Central College NCU
Location Pella, IA Eugene, OR
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,169 699
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #519
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website central.edu nwcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Central College NCU
Tuition (In State) $19,800 $33,000
Tuition (Out of State) $19,800 $33,000
Room & Board $10,860 $10,480
Avg Net Price $23,303 $23,787
Avg Grant Aid $10,999 $20,642
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 Central College NCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,970 552
Admitted 1,561 369
Acceptance Rate 79.2% 66.8%
Enrolled % 22.5% 24.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 17/18
SAT Range 1040/1218 1140/1215
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

Academics

 Central College NCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Psychology (17%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (7%)

Outcomes

 Central College NCU
Graduation Rate 63% 100%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $45,900
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,731
Median Loan Payment $279 $245

Diversity

 Central College NCU
% Men 52% 42%
% Women 48% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 87% 77%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 8%
% Native American 0% 3%
% Pacific Islander 0% 2%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 Central College NCU
% In-State 73% 58%
% Out-of-State 26% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Central College is larger than than NCU based on total student enrollment (1,169 students vs. 699 students)

Central College vs. NCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central College or NCU?

  • Northwest Christian University is 66.7% more expensive to attend than Central College for in-state tuition ($33,000.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 66.7% higher at NCU than Central College ($33,000.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central College than NCU ($23,303 vs. $23,787)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest Christian University are 3.6% lower than costs at Central College ($10,480 vs. $10,860)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central College than Northwest Christian University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest Christian University students is 87.7% larger than aid received Central College ($20,642 vs. $10,999)

Central College vs. NCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Central College (1068) is 76 points higher than at NCU (992)
  • Incoming Central College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at NCU (21)
  • Accepted freshman Central College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at NCU (3.45)
  • Central College has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than NCU (66.8%)

Central College vs. NCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central College or NCU? 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 NCU and Central College.

  • The graduation rate at NCU is higher than Central College (100% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Central College earn on average $2,100 more per year than NCU graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $45,900)
  • Northwest Christian University students graduate with a $3,269 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($23,731 vs. $27,000)
  • NCU graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($245 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 56%)

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