Central College vs. UIU

Should I go to Central College or Upper Iowa University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central College or UIU 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. Upper Iowa University comparison
Central College Upper Iowa University College 3 College 4
Central College
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Overview

 Central College UIU
Location Pella, IA Fayette, IA
Setting Distant Town Remote Rural
Enrollment 1,169 3,072
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #519 #737
Religious Affiliation Reformed Church in America - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website central.edu uiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Central College UIU
Tuition (In State) $19,800 $32,589
Tuition (Out of State) $19,800 $32,589
Room & Board $10,860 $9,644
Avg Net Price $23,303 $24,563
Avg Grant Aid $10,999 $25,788
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 Central College UIU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,970 1,405
Admitted 1,561 762
Acceptance Rate 79.2% 54.2%
Enrolled % 22.5% 28.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.34
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 18/24
SAT Range 1040/1218 890/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline

Academics

 Central College UIU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Business (40%)
  • Human Services (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (5%)

Outcomes

 Central College UIU
Graduation Rate 63% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,000 $42,100
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $248

Diversity

 Central College UIU
% Men 52% 41%
% Women 48% 59%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 87% 66%
% Black 2% 19%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

 Central College UIU
% In-State 73% 49%
% Out-of-State 26% 48%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Upper Iowa University is larger than than Central College based on total student enrollment (3,072 students vs. 1,169 students)

Central College vs. UIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central College or UIU?

  • Upper Iowa University is 64.6% more expensive to attend than Central College for in-state tuition ($32,589.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 64.6% higher at UIU than Central College ($32,589.00 vs. $19,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central College than UIU ($23,303 vs. $24,563)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Upper Iowa University are 12.6% lower than costs at Central College ($9,644 vs. $10,860)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Central College as Upper Iowa University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Upper Iowa University students is 134.5% larger than aid received Central College ($25,788 vs. $10,999)

Central College vs. UIU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Central College (1068) is 138 points higher than at UIU (930)
  • Incoming Central College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at UIU (20)
  • Accepted freshman Central College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at UIU (3.34)
  • Central College has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than UIU (54.2%)

Central College vs. UIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Central College is higher than Upper Iowa University (63% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Central College earn on average $5,900 more per year than UIU graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $42,100)
  • Upper Iowa University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Central College graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • UIU graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Central College graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 50%)

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