Central College vs. Simpson College

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

Central College
Simpson College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Central College (86.2% admitted vs 86.2%). Typical SAT 1090 vs 1090.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $23,848 at Central College vs $23,282 at Simpson College. Simpson College in-state tuition is about $26,668 more per year.
  • Graduation: Central College 63% vs Simpson College 69%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Central College $48,000 vs Simpson College $48,000 (median).
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Key differences

Central College Simpson College
Acceptance rate
Central College more selective
Central College86.2%
Simpson College86.2%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Simpson College higher
Central College1056-1120
Simpson College890-1280
Average net price
About even
Central College$23,848
Simpson College$23,282
In-state tuition
Central College $26,668 less
Central College$20,988
Simpson College$47,656
Out-of-state tuition
Central College $26,668 less
Central College$20,988
Simpson College$47,656
Graduation rate
Simpson College +6 pts
Central College63%
Simpson College69%
Median earnings (10 years)
Central College +$0
Central College$48,000
Simpson College$48,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Central College 1,706
  • Simpson College 2,046
  • Admitted
  • Central College 1,470
  • Simpson College 1,764
  • Acceptance rate
  • Central College 86.2%
  • Simpson College 86.2%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Central College 21%
  • Simpson College 21.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central College 1090
  • Simpson College 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central College 23
  • Simpson College 23
  • Average high school GPA
  • Central College 3.52
  • Simpson College 3.62
  • Typical high school grades
  • Central College A-
  • Simpson College A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Central College Easy
  • Simpson College Average
  • Applicant competition
  • Central College
  • Simpson College
  • SAT range
  • Central College 1056-1120
  • Simpson College 890-1280
  • ACT range
  • Central College 20-26
  • Simpson College 20-27
  • Submit test scores
  • Central College Test optional
  • Simpson College Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Central College
  • Simpson College Aug 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Central College $20,988
  • Simpson College $47,656
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Central College $20,988
  • Simpson College $47,656
  • Room & board
  • Central College $12,060
  • Simpson College $10,500
  • Average net price
  • Central College $23,848
  • Simpson College $23,282
  • Average grant aid
  • Central College $13,925
  • Simpson College $37,896
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Central College 100%
  • Simpson College 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Central College 63%
  • Simpson College 69%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Central College $48,000
  • Simpson College $48,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Central College 78%
  • Simpson College 77%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Central College $27,000
  • Simpson College $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Central College $279
  • Simpson College $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Central College 11:1
  • Simpson College 12:1
  • Popular majors
  • Central College
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Simpson College
    • Business (22%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Location
  • Central College Pella, IA
  • Simpson College Indianola, IA
  • Setting
  • Central College Distant Town
  • Simpson College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Central College 1,084
  • Simpson College 1,251
  • Type
  • Central College Private 4 Year
  • Simpson College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Central College #506
  • Simpson College #436

Comparable Facts

Compare Central College in Pella, IA with Simpson College in Indianola, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Simpson College is larger than Central College based on total student enrollment (1,251 students vs. 1,084 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central College is located in Pella, IA (Distant Town setting); Simpson College is in Indianola, IA (Distant Town setting).
  • Central College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Simpson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central College 11:1; Simpson College 12:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Simpson College are 12.9% lower than at Central College ($10,500 vs. $12,060).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 127.1% higher at Simpson College than at Central College (about $26,668 more per year; $47,656 vs. $20,988).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Central College as at Simpson College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Simpson College students is 172.1% larger than aid received by Central College students ($37,896 vs. $13,925).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Central College students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 23) as students at Simpson College (23).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Central College and Simpson College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Simpson College Aug 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Simpson College average a 3.62 high school GPA, 0.1 higher than at Central College (3.52).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at Central College vs. 21.6% at Simpson College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Simpson College and Central College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Simpson College and Central College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Simpson College students, three years after graduation (78% vs. 77%).

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

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