IU Northwest vs. Central College

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

Indiana University Northwest
Central College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: IU Northwest (73.4% admitted vs 86.2%). Typical SAT 1050 vs 1090.
  • Cheaper after aid: IU Northwest. Average net price is $5,745 vs $23,848 at Central College.
  • Graduation: IU Northwest 23% vs Central College 63%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: IU Northwest $39,500 vs Central College $48,000 (median).
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Key differences

Indiana University Northwest Central College
Acceptance rate
IU Northwest more selective
IU Northwest73.4%
Central College86.2%
SAT range (middle 50%)
IU Northwest higher
IU Northwest910-1180
Central College1056-1120
Average net price
IU Northwest $18,103 less
IU Northwest$5,745
Central College$23,848
In-state tuition
IU Northwest $12,564 less
IU Northwest$8,424
Central College$20,988
Out-of-state tuition
Central College $1,823 less
IU Northwest$22,811
Central College$20,988
Graduation rate
Central College +40 pts
IU Northwest23%
Central College63%
Median earnings (10 years)
Central College +$8,500
IU Northwest$39,500
Central College$48,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • IU Northwest 2,928
  • Central College 1,706
  • Admitted
  • IU Northwest 2,149
  • Central College 1,470
  • Acceptance rate
  • IU Northwest 73.4%
  • Central College 86.2%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • IU Northwest 23.5%
  • Central College 21%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU Northwest 1050
  • Central College 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU Northwest 22
  • Central College 23
  • Average high school GPA
  • IU Northwest 3.14
  • Central College 3.52
  • Typical high school grades
  • IU Northwest B
  • Central College A-
  • Admissions standards
  • IU Northwest Easy
  • Central College Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • IU Northwest Low
  • Central College
  • SAT range
  • IU Northwest 910-1180
  • Central College 1056-1120
  • ACT range
  • IU Northwest 18-26
  • Central College 20-26
  • Submit test scores
  • IU Northwest Test optional
  • Central College Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • IU Northwest
  • Central College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • IU Northwest $8,424
  • Central College $20,988
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • IU Northwest $22,811
  • Central College $20,988
  • Room & board
  • IU Northwest $10,972
  • Central College $12,060
  • Average net price
  • IU Northwest $5,745
  • Central College $23,848
  • Average grant aid
  • IU Northwest $8,327
  • Central College $13,925
  • % receiving grant aid
  • IU Northwest 76%
  • Central College 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • IU Northwest 23%
  • Central College 63%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • IU Northwest $39,500
  • Central College $48,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • IU Northwest 33%
  • Central College 78%
  • Median student loan debt
  • IU Northwest $25,030
  • Central College $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • IU Northwest $258
  • Central College $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • IU Northwest 15:1
  • Central College 11:1
  • Popular majors
  • IU Northwest
    • Health Professions (33%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Central College
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Location
  • IU Northwest Gary, IN
  • Central College Pella, IA
  • Setting
  • IU Northwest Small City
  • Central College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IU Northwest 3,041
  • Central College 1,084
  • Type
  • IU Northwest Public 4 Year
  • Central College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • IU Northwest #875
  • Central College #506

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Northwest in Gary, IN with Central College in Pella, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Indiana University Northwest is larger than Central College based on total student enrollment (3,041 students vs. 1,084 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Northwest is located in Gary, IN (Small City setting); Central College is in Pella, IA (Distant Town setting).
  • Indiana University Northwest is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Central College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Northwest 15:1; Central College 11:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Northwest are 9% lower than at Central College ($10,972 vs. $12,060).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.7% higher at IU Northwest than at Central College (about $1,823 more per year; $22,811 vs. $20,988).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central College than at Indiana University Northwest (100% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central College students is 67.2% larger than aid received by Indiana University Northwest students ($13,925 vs. $8,327).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Central College than at IU Northwest (23 vs. 22, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both IU Northwest and Central College.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Central College average a 3.52 high school GPA, 0.38 higher than at IU Northwest (3.14).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.5% at IU Northwest vs. 21% at Central College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Northwest graduates have a $1,970 lower median loan debt than Central College graduates ($25,030 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, IU Northwest 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 IU Northwest students, three years after graduation (78% vs. 33%).

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

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