Central College vs. UNI

Central College and University of Northern Iowa side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Central College
University of Northern Iowa

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Central College (86.2% admitted vs 92.7%). Typical SAT 1090 vs 1150.
  • Cheaper after aid: UNI. Average net price is $16,437 vs $23,848 at Central College.
  • Graduation: Central College 63% vs UNI 67%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Central College $48,000 vs UNI $47,700 (median).
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Key differences

Central College University of Northern Iowa
Acceptance rate
Central College more selective
Central College86.2%
UNI92.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UNI higher
Central College1056-1120
UNI1020-1280
Average net price
UNI $7,411 less
Central College$23,848
UNI$16,437
In-state tuition
UNI $11,052 less
Central College$20,988
UNI$9,936
Out-of-state tuition
Central College $724 less
Central College$20,988
UNI$21,712
Graduation rate
UNI +4 pts
Central College63%
UNI67%
Median earnings (10 years)
Central College +$300
Central College$48,000
UNI$47,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Central College 1,706
  • UNI 5,360
  • Admitted
  • Central College 1,470
  • UNI 4,971
  • Acceptance rate
  • Central College 86.2%
  • UNI 92.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Central College 21%
  • UNI 31.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central College 1090
  • UNI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central College 23
  • UNI 22
  • Average high school GPA
  • Central College 3.52
  • UNI 3.61
  • Typical high school grades
  • Central College A-
  • UNI A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Central College Easy
  • UNI Average
  • Applicant competition
  • Central College
  • UNI
  • SAT range
  • Central College 1056-1120
  • UNI 1020-1280
  • ACT range
  • Central College 20-26
  • UNI 19-26
  • Submit test scores
  • Central College Test optional
  • UNI Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Central College
  • UNI
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Central College $20,988
  • UNI $9,936
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Central College $20,988
  • UNI $21,712
  • Room & board
  • Central College $12,060
  • UNI $9,986
  • Average net price
  • Central College $23,848
  • UNI $16,437
  • Average grant aid
  • Central College $13,925
  • UNI $5,865
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Central College 100%
  • UNI 83%
  • Graduation rate
  • Central College 63%
  • UNI 67%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Central College $48,000
  • UNI $47,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • Central College 78%
  • UNI 72%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Central College $27,000
  • UNI $20,625
  • Median loan payment
  • Central College $279
  • UNI $213
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Central College 11:1
  • UNI 18:1
  • Popular majors
  • Central College
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • UNI
    • Business (22%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • Location
  • Central College Pella, IA
  • UNI Cedar Falls, IA
  • Setting
  • Central College Distant Town
  • UNI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Central College 1,084
  • UNI 9,278
  • Type
  • Central College Private 4 Year
  • UNI Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Central College #506
  • UNI #479

Comparable Facts

Compare Central College in Pella, IA with University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Northern Iowa is larger than Central College based on total student enrollment (9,278 students vs. 1,084 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central College is located in Pella, IA (Distant Town setting); University of Northern Iowa is in Cedar Falls, IA (Small City setting).
  • Central College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Northern Iowa is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central College 11:1; University of Northern Iowa 18:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Northern Iowa are 17.2% lower than at Central College ($9,986 vs. $12,060).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.4% higher at UNI than at Central College (about $724 more per year; $21,712 vs. $20,988).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central College than at University of Northern Iowa (100% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central College students is 137.4% larger than aid received by University of Northern Iowa students ($13,925 vs. $5,865).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Central College than at UNI (23 vs. 22, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Central College and UNI.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UNI average a 3.61 high school GPA, 0.09 higher than at Central College (3.52).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at Central College vs. 31.1% at UNI.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Northern Iowa graduates have a $6,375 lower median loan debt than Central College graduates ($20,625 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UNI graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central College graduates ($213 vs. $279).
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNI students, three years after graduation (78% vs. 72%).

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

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