Central College

Private · Moderately Selective · IA

Photo: Central College Alumni (CC BY-SA 2.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationIA · Midwest

SettingRural

Undergrads1,070

Student:faculty11:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate56.8%

6-yr grad rate66.2%

Drop-out rate20.1%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$21k

Out-of-state tuition$21k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity12.1%

Gender diversity45.1%

International0.1%

IdentityReformed Church in America

Overview

Central College, in Pella, Iowa, is a liberal arts college set in a small town known for its Dutch heritage, including an annual tulip festival that draws visitors well beyond the college community. Affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, Central combines a traditional liberal-arts curriculum with a long institutional commitment to study abroad and sustainability.

Academics

Study abroad is a defining strength: Central operates or partners in programs across multiple countries and integrates international study into many majors rather than treating it as a rare add-on. Sciences and exercise science are also notably strong, with hands-on lab and applied-research opportunities typical of a smaller college's close faculty access.

Worth knowing

The college's sustainability commitment runs through campus operations as well as coursework, and the strength and breadth of its study-abroad offerings are unusual for a college of its size, worth investigating directly for students who want international study built into a normal four-year timeline rather than treated as an elective extra.

central.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate86.2%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1056–1120 · ACT 20–26

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying