Central College vs. UIU

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

Central College
Upper Iowa University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Central College (86.2% admitted vs 96.5%). Typical SAT 1090 vs 1070.
  • Cheaper after aid: UIU. Average net price is $20,426 vs $23,848 at Central College.
  • Graduation: Central College 63% vs UIU 45%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Central College $48,000 vs UIU $42,100 (median).
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Key differences

Central College Upper Iowa University
Acceptance rate
Central College more selective
Central College86.2%
UIU96.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UIU higher
Central College1056-1120
UIU970-1160
Average net price
UIU $3,422 less
Central College$23,848
UIU$20,426
In-state tuition
UIU $1,513 less
Central College$20,988
UIU$19,475
Out-of-state tuition
UIU $1,513 less
Central College$20,988
UIU$19,475
Graduation rate
Central College +18 pts
Central College63%
UIU45%
Median earnings (10 years)
Central College +$5,900
Central College$48,000
UIU$42,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

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  • Applied
  • Central College 1,706
  • UIU 452
  • Admitted
  • Central College 1,470
  • UIU 436
  • Acceptance rate
  • Central College 86.2%
  • UIU 96.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Central College 21%
  • UIU 33.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central College 1090
  • UIU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central College 23
  • UIU 17
  • Average high school GPA
  • Central College 3.52
  • UIU 3.34
  • Typical high school grades
  • Central College A-
  • UIU B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Central College Easy
  • UIU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Central College
  • UIU
  • SAT range
  • Central College 1056-1120
  • UIU 970-1160
  • ACT range
  • Central College 20-26
  • UIU 14-21
  • Submit test scores
  • Central College Test optional
  • UIU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Central College
  • UIU
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Central College $20,988
  • UIU $19,475
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Central College $20,988
  • UIU $19,475
  • Room & board
  • Central College $12,060
  • UIU $10,121
  • Average net price
  • Central College $23,848
  • UIU $20,426
  • Average grant aid
  • Central College $13,925
  • UIU $13,596
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Central College 100%
  • UIU 97%
  • Graduation rate
  • Central College 63%
  • UIU 45%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Central College $48,000
  • UIU $42,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Central College 78%
  • UIU 50%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Central College $27,000
  • UIU $24,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Central College $279
  • UIU $248
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Central College 11:1
  • UIU 25:1
  • Popular majors
  • Central College
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • UIU
    • Business (40%)
    • Human Services (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (5%)
  • Location
  • Central College Pella, IA
  • UIU Fayette, IA
  • Setting
  • Central College Distant Town
  • UIU Remote Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Central College 1,084
  • UIU 3,941
  • Type
  • Central College Private 4 Year
  • UIU Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Central College #506
  • UIU #938

Comparable Facts

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

Upper Iowa University is larger than Central College based on total student enrollment (3,941 students vs. 1,084 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central College is located in Pella, IA (Distant Town setting); Upper Iowa University is in Fayette, IA (Remote Rural setting).
  • Central College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Upper Iowa University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central College 11:1; Upper Iowa University 25:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Upper Iowa University are 16.1% lower than at Central College ($10,121 vs. $12,060).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.8% higher at Central College than at Upper Iowa University (about $1,513 more per year; $20,988 vs. $19,475).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central College than at Upper Iowa University (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central College students is 2.4% larger than aid received by Upper Iowa University students ($13,925 vs. $13,596).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 6 points higher at Central College than at UIU (23 vs. 17, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Central College and UIU.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Central College average a 3.52 high school GPA, 0.18 higher than at UIU (3.34).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at Central College vs. 33.9% at UIU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Upper Iowa University graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Central College graduates ($24,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UIU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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