Private not-for-profit

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Central College SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements

SAT RangeN/A

ACT Range20 to 26

Average GPA3.56

Acceptance Rate86.2%

Central College’s 86% acceptance rate means your main task is to show steady academic fit, not chase a long-shot admit. If you submit scores, aim for the upper half of the ACT range, around 24 to 26, while keeping your GPA near or above the 3.56 average.

Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.

Central College facts and stats

Quick Facts

Central College enrolls 1,084 undergraduate students. Central College’s freshman retention rate is 80%, above the national average of roughly 70%, and its 6-year graduation rate is 66%. The student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1.

Location

Pella, IA

Undergrad Enrollment1,084

Freshman Retention80%

SettingN/A

Student to Faculty Ratio12:1

Graduation Rate66%

Test PolicyTest-optional

How do your scores compare at Central College?

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Key Central College application dates

Key dates

Application deadlines

Regular Decision

August 1

Early Action

Not offered

Early Decision

Not offered

Priority Deadline

—

Financial aid deadlines

Financial Aid Priority

January 5

Test dates

SAT test dates

August 22, 2026

Registration deadline: August 7, 2026

September 12, 2026

Registration deadline: August 28, 2026

October 3, 2026

Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

ACT test dates

September 19, 2026

Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

October 17, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026

December 12, 2026

Registration deadline: November 6, 2026

Take tests early for the best outcomes

If you choose to submit scores to test-optional Central College, plan to take your first SAT or ACT by the spring of junior year. Use the summer before senior year and a fall retake for another chance at stronger scores; a December test should still arrive well before the August 1 Regular Decision deadline.

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What you'll actually pay

Central College is a private not-for-profit, so the same rate applies to all students. Tuition and fees are $20,988, and 63% of students receive aid. The average merit award is $10,330, and the FAFSA priority deadline is January 5.

Tuition and Fees$20,988

Room and Board$12,060

Average Merit Award$10,330

Application Fee$25

Students on Aid63%

Average Aid Package$20,117

Average Debt at Grad$33,770

At Central College, tuition, fees, room, and board total about $33,048 before aid. Aid is common: 63% of students receive assistance, with an average aid package of $20,117. Merit awards average $10,330, which can make a meaningful difference for students who qualify. Graduates leave with an average debt of $33,770.