Admissions
Central fast facts
Admission requirements
Dates and deadlines
Majors
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Plan a visit
Contact a counselor
Get info by mail
Get to know us!
Central College, founded in 1853, is a private four-year liberal arts college affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. Learn more about our history. Read our welcome statement.
Mission Statement:
Central College is a residential liberal arts college dedicated to helping students discover and develop their greatest potential. Guided by its ecumenical Christian tradition, the college community engages in vigorous, open inquiry in pursuit of academic excellence.
Majors at Central: 38 majors, with pre-professional advising available in several fields.
Internships: 76% of Central students complete at least one internship or pre-professional experience. Sites include Iowa, Chicago, Washington D.C., London, Paris, Vienna, or any of Central's eight study abroad locations.
Average class size: 20 students
Student to faculty ratio: 14-to-1
Number of faculty members: 89 full-time faculty members
Percent of faculty with Ph.D. or other terminal degree: 92 percent
Number of students: 1,700
Student Profile:
Residential Campus: Central students live on campus all 4 years creating a community of scholars that many students call "family." Learn more about housing/roommates.
Cost (tuition, room, board and fees): $33,378 (2009-10)
Percent of students receiving financial aid: 98 percent
Location: Pella, Iowa, just 45 miles southeast of Iowa's capital city of Des Moines and two minutes from Lake Red Rock. Pella is a thriving community of 10,000 and home to several large international companies such as Pella Corporation (Pella Windows), Vermeer Manufacturing, Heritage Lace, and Precision Pully. The city of Pella is known for tourism and the annual Tulip Time Festival that brings over 200,000 visitors each year.
Student Organizations: over 80
Students Studying Abroad: Over 50 percent of Central students study overseas, compared to 1 percent nationally. Find out more about Central's nationally recognized study abroad programs!
Off-campus programs: Chicago or Washington, D.C.
National Recognition:
Wired? Each room has internet and cable TV hookups.
Wireless? Central's campus is completely wireless - including academic buildings, residence halls, and common areas.
Safety: Pella offers a very safe community.
Athletics:
Accreditation:
Learn more about Central's accreditation.
Environmental Mission:
Central College is a leader in environmental stewardship in Iowa and the Midwest.
Learn more about Central College's commitment to the environment and campus sustainability efforts on the SUSTAIN Web site.
