Central College
Pella, Iowa · Private · 1,070 undergraduates · central.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
86%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1056 to 1120
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$41,250Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Central College
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
86% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$41,250
a year in 2027-28, from a $41,250 sticker price
What to do with your 1090
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1090).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
Source: Application for admission for new freshmen - Central College Course Catalog · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
86%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 2% of them sent SAT scores and 15% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1056 to 1120
Reading and Writing 528 to 560
Math 528 to 560
ACT composite 20 to 27
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.59
- 4.021%
- 3.75 to 3.9927%
- 3.50 to 3.7417%
- 3.25 to 3.4913%
- 3.00 to 3.2411%
- 2.50 to 2.999%
- Below 2.502%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$41,250
a year
- Tuition$23,270
- Fees$520
- Food and housing$12,540
- Books and supplies$1,390
- Transportation and other$3,530
Central College published $39,659 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$16,038
- $30,001 to $48,000$13,545
- $48,001 to $75,000$17,397
- $75,001 to $110,000$22,140
- Over $110,000$26,636
Financial aid
80%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$17,792
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
38%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $10,506 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 12/15
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
33 of 33
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $2,330Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART 151 2D Problem Solving (ART, EXP1) |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART 161AP: 3-D Problem Solving (ART, EXP1) |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | ART 100AP Art Elective (ART) |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BIOL 100AP Biology Elective (NS) |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | MATH 131 Calculus I (MR, EXP3) |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH 131/132 Calculus I & II (MR) |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CHEM 111: General Chemistry (NS, EXP3) |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 100AP Political Science Elective (SB) |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | COSC 110 Intro to Computer Science (EXP3) |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | COSC 100AP Computer Science Elective |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | ART 100AP Art Elective (ART) |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENGL 101 Composition (WRT) |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENGL 100AP English Elective(LP) |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 | ENVS 120 Intro to Environmental Science (GS, NS, EXP3) |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HIST 100AP History Elective (HP) |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | FREN 121/122 Beginning French I & II |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | GERM 121/122 Beginning German I & II |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | GEOG 210 Human Geography |
| Latin | 4 | 6 | LAT 121/122 Beginning Latin I & II |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 113 Principles of Macroeconomics (SB) |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 112 Principles of Microeconomics (SB) |
| Music Theory | 4 | 3 | MUS 100AP Music Elective |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 101 Introductory Physics I (NS) |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 102 Introductory Physics II (NS) |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 5 | PHYS 112 General Physics II (NS) |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 5 | PHYS 111 General Physics I (NS, EXP3) |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | PSYC 122 General Psychology (SB) |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | SPAN 121/122 Beginning Spanish I & II |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 8 | SPAN 221/222: Intermediate Spanish I & II (GPN, EXP1) |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 | MATH 105 Introduction to Statistics (MR, EXP3) |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 110: Introduction to American Politics (SB) |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | HIST 130 US History to 1877/131: US History Since 1877. Students with U.S. History AP may also receive credit for HIST-130 or HIST-131 (not both) (HP, EXP1) |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | HIST 100AP History Elective (HP) |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
59%
Come back for a second year
80%
Typical earnings
$57,387
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Central College$61,316
- All colleges$59,032
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 9 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Central College. The Central College logo is a trademark of the college.