Central College vs. Purdue Northwest

Central College and Purdue University Northwest side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Central College
Purdue University Northwest

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Purdue Northwest (72.4% admitted vs 86.2%). Typical SAT 1020 vs 1090.
  • Cheaper after aid: Purdue Northwest. Average net price is $7,916 vs $23,848 at Central College.
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Key differences

Central College Purdue University Northwest
Acceptance rate
Purdue Northwest more selective
Central College86.2%
Purdue Northwest72.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Purdue Northwest higher
Central College1056-1120
Purdue Northwest890-1140
Average net price
Purdue Northwest $15,932 less
Central College$23,848
Purdue Northwest$7,916
In-state tuition
Purdue Northwest $12,313 less
Central College$20,988
Purdue Northwest$8,675
Out-of-state tuition
Purdue Northwest $4,894 less
Central College$20,988
Purdue Northwest$16,094
Graduation rate
Central College +63 pts
Central College63%
Purdue Northwest-
Median earnings (10 years)
Central College +$48,000
Central College$48,000
Purdue Northwest-

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Central College 1,706
  • Purdue Northwest 8,617
  • Admitted
  • Central College 1,470
  • Purdue Northwest 6,235
  • Acceptance rate
  • Central College 86.2%
  • Purdue Northwest 72.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Central College 21%
  • Purdue Northwest 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central College 1090
  • Purdue Northwest 1020
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central College 23
  • Purdue Northwest 20
  • Average high school GPA
  • Central College 3.52
  • Purdue Northwest 3.19
  • Typical high school grades
  • Central College A-
  • Purdue Northwest B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Central College Easy
  • Purdue Northwest Very Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Central College
  • Purdue Northwest Low
  • SAT range
  • Central College 1056-1120
  • Purdue Northwest 890-1140
  • ACT range
  • Central College 20-26
  • Purdue Northwest 16-24
  • Submit test scores
  • Central College Test optional
  • Purdue Northwest Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Central College
  • Purdue Northwest Aug 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Central College $20,988
  • Purdue Northwest $8,675
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Central College $20,988
  • Purdue Northwest $16,094
  • Room & board
  • Central College $12,060
  • Purdue Northwest $8,907
  • Average net price
  • Central College $23,848
  • Purdue Northwest $7,916
  • Average grant aid
  • Central College $13,925
  • Purdue Northwest $6,992
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Central College 100%
  • Purdue Northwest 89%
  • Graduation rate
  • Central College 63%
  • Purdue Northwest -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Central College $48,000
  • Purdue Northwest N/A
  • Making student loan payments
  • Central College 78%
  • Purdue Northwest -
  • Median student loan debt
  • Central College $27,000
  • Purdue Northwest N/A
  • Median loan payment
  • Central College $279
  • Purdue Northwest N/A
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Central College 11:1
  • Purdue Northwest 17:1
  • Popular majors
  • Central College
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Purdue Northwest
  • Location
  • Central College Pella, IA
  • Purdue Northwest Hammond, Indiana
  • Setting
  • Central College Distant Town
  • Purdue Northwest Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Central College 1,084
  • Purdue Northwest 9,051
  • Type
  • Central College Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Northwest Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Central College #506
  • Purdue Northwest

Comparable Facts

Compare Central College in Pella, IA with Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, Indiana on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Purdue University Northwest is larger than Central College based on total student enrollment (9,051 students vs. 1,084 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central College is located in Pella, IA (Distant Town setting); Purdue University Northwest is in Hammond, Indiana (Large Suburban setting).
  • Central College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Northwest is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central College 11:1; Purdue University Northwest 17:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 26.1% lower than at Central College ($8,907 vs. $12,060).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.4% higher at Central College than at Purdue University Northwest (about $4,894 more per year; $20,988 vs. $16,094).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central College than at Purdue University Northwest (100% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central College students is 99.2% larger than aid received by Purdue University Northwest students ($13,925 vs. $6,992).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Central College than at Purdue Northwest (23 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Central College and Purdue Northwest.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Purdue Northwest Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Central College average a 3.52 high school GPA, 0.33 higher than at Purdue Northwest (3.19).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at Central College vs. 18.3% at Purdue Northwest.

Loans and repayment

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

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