Dominican vs. Central College

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

Dominican University
Central College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Central College (86.2% admitted vs 90.3%). Typical SAT 1090 vs 990.
  • Cheaper after aid: Dominican. Average net price is $13,402 vs $23,848 at Central College.
  • Graduation: Dominican 63% vs Central College 63%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Dominican $48,000 vs Central College $48,000 (median).
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Key differences

Dominican University Central College
Acceptance rate
Central College more selective
Dominican90.3%
Central College86.2%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Central College higher
Dominican880-1100
Central College1056-1120
Average net price
Dominican $10,446 less
Dominican$13,402
Central College$23,848
In-state tuition
Central College $17,990 less
Dominican$38,978
Central College$20,988
Out-of-state tuition
Central College $17,990 less
Dominican$38,978
Central College$20,988
Graduation rate
Dominican +0 pts
Dominican63%
Central College63%
Median earnings (10 years)
Dominican +$0
Dominican$48,000
Central College$48,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Dominican 6,873
  • Central College 1,706
  • Admitted
  • Dominican 6,208
  • Central College 1,470
  • Acceptance rate
  • Dominican 90.3%
  • Central College 86.2%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Dominican 12.1%
  • Central College 21%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Dominican 990
  • Central College 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • Dominican 21
  • Central College 23
  • Average high school GPA
  • Dominican 3.74
  • Central College 3.52
  • Typical high school grades
  • Dominican A-
  • Central College A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Dominican Very Easy
  • Central College Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Dominican
  • Central College
  • SAT range
  • Dominican 880-1100
  • Central College 1056-1120
  • ACT range
  • Dominican 16-26
  • Central College 20-26
  • Submit test scores
  • Dominican Test optional
  • Central College Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Dominican Aug 31, 2027
  • Central College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Dominican $38,978
  • Central College $20,988
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Dominican $38,978
  • Central College $20,988
  • Room & board
  • Dominican $12,716
  • Central College $12,060
  • Average net price
  • Dominican $13,402
  • Central College $23,848
  • Average grant aid
  • Dominican $30,756
  • Central College $13,925
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Dominican 100%
  • Central College 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Dominican 63%
  • Central College 63%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Dominican $48,000
  • Central College $48,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Dominican 64%
  • Central College 78%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Dominican $25,000
  • Central College $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Dominican $258
  • Central College $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Dominican 12:1
  • Central College 11:1
  • Popular majors
  • Dominican
    • Business (29%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Central College
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Location
  • Dominican River Forest, IL
  • Central College Pella, IA
  • Setting
  • Dominican Large Suburban
  • Central College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Dominican 3,803
  • Central College 1,084
  • Type
  • Dominican Private 4 Year
  • Central College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Dominican #501
  • Central College #506

Comparable Facts

Compare Dominican University in River Forest, IL with Central College in Pella, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Dominican University is larger than Central College based on total student enrollment (3,803 students vs. 1,084 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dominican University is located in River Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); Central College is in Pella, IA (Distant Town setting).
  • Dominican University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Central College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dominican University 12:1; Central College 11:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central College are 5.2% lower than at Dominican University ($12,060 vs. $12,716).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 85.7% higher at Dominican than at Central College (about $17,990 more per year; $38,978 vs. $20,988).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Dominican University as at Central College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dominican University students is 120.9% larger than aid received by Central College students ($30,756 vs. $13,925).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Central College than at Dominican (23 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Dominican and Central College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Dominican Aug 31, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Dominican average a 3.74 high school GPA, 0.22 higher than at Central College (3.52).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at Dominican vs. 21% at Central College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dominican University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Central College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Dominican graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More Central College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dominican students, three years after graduation (78% vs. 64%).

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

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