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Is Central College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Central, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Central sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $54,317 helps, but median debt of $26,984 plus yearly net price of $23,377 creates a tighter path. For context, Central's net price is about 1% below the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$22,499
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $338 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $1,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price is manageable, but it makes the aid offer matter a lot.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$23,377
Median earnings 10 years out
$54,317
Median debt at graduation
$26,984
Graduation rate
68%
At Central, a typical graduate carries about $26,984 in student debt and earns roughly $54,317 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $307 per month, or 7% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Central is a private nonprofit four year school in Pella, IA. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA
Worth-It Score: 44/100
Median net price: $23,386
Private nonprofit 4-year
Cornell
Mount Vernon, IA
Worth-It Score: 57/100
Median net price: $23,634
Private nonprofit 4-year
Luther
Decorah, IA
Worth-It Score: 67/100
Median net price: $23,097
Private nonprofit 4-year
Briar Cliff
Sioux City, IA
Worth-It Score: 49/100
Median net price: $23,907
Private nonprofit 4-year
William Penn
Oskaloosa, IA
Worth-It Score: 43/100
Median net price: $22,601
Common questions about Central
The median net price at Central is $23,377 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Iowa? See the most affordable private colleges in Iowa →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →