CCS vs. Centra College

Comparable Facts

Compare College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI with Centra College in Lynchburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College for Creative Studies is larger than Centra College based on total student enrollment (1,433 students vs. 219 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College for Creative Studies is located in Detroit, MI (Large City setting); Centra College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• College for Creative Studies is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Centra College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College for Creative Studies 10:1; Centra College 3:1.

CCS vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCS or Centra College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centra College are 18.6% lower than at College for Creative Studies ($12,424 vs. $15,272).
• College for Creative Studies is 310.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Centra College (about $40,367 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 310.9% higher at CCS than at Centra College (about $40,367 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College for Creative Studies than at Centra College (98% vs. 0%).

CCS vs. Centra College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCS or Centra College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Centra College and CCS.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CCS - Test-free; Centra College - Test-free.
• Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than CCS (91.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.9% at CCS vs. 0% at Centra College.

CCS vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCS and Centra College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from College for Creative Studies earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than Centra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Centra College graduates have a $14,958 lower median loan debt than CCS graduates ($12,042 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Centra College graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCS graduates ($124 vs. $279).
• More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCS students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.