Financial Aid / Tuition
Tuition: $22,374
(You won’t find another college of this caliber at this price — trust us.)Central College is proud to be the home of the lowest tuition of any private college in Iowa. Our tuition price provides access to a high-quality, liberal arts education — and scholarships are still available!
See How Central Stacks UpCrunch the Numbers
- #2 Best Value College in Iowa*
- The median salary of a Central graduate five years after college is $51,385 — compared to $45,519 nationally.*
*This fee helps support facilities and campus infrastructure, digital learning and safety and security.
How Central Stacks Up
Our 2026-27 tuition of $22,374 is comparable with state schools. And way less than other Iowa private colleges.
$22,374 (Central’s Tuition) + $12,060 (Central’s Housing and Food) + $500 (Fee) = $34,934
A Comparison of Tuition + Housing and Food With Other Iowa Institutions
$14,598
Average aid and scholarships a student receives from Central, federal and state awards, which can be subtracted from total price for an incredibly affordable experience.
This bar chart compares the estimated prices of tuition and housing and food at Central
with five other Iowa institutions. The X-axis is price in increments of 10,000, and the
Y-axis is individual colleges, ordered from least to greatest price. Iowa State University
is ranked first at $22,020. The University of Iowa is ranked third at $25,302. Central College
is ranked fourth at $34,934*. Wartburg College is ranked fifth at $39,710. Simpson is
ranked sixth at $59,988. Coe is ranked seventh at $68,968.
* Central College data reflects 2026–27 total cost to attend; other institutions reflect 2025–26 costs.
And Scholarships Are Still Available!
Central will continue to offer scholarships and financial aid in proportion to the new tuition price. In fact, Central now offers more scholarships than ever before.
Commitments and Programs
Central has a number of initiatives to enhance the student experience, boost the value of a Central education and promote the career readiness of its graduates.
For students who meet specific standards and expectations for progress toward a degree, Central guarantees graduation in four years or the ninth semester tuition is free. In addition, every student in good academic and social standing will be offered at least one internship, shadowing experience or community service opportunity.
We are committed to the success of our students. These assurances allow students to join the Central community knowing they are receiving an affordable education with incredible value — and knowing they will be supported in their success now and beyond graduation.
These initiatives include:
- A campus chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha, an honor society for first-generation students.
- Membership into the National Society of Leadership and Success, the nation’s largest leadership honor society.
- Over 100 opportunities to get involved on campus.
Still Have Questions?
Check out these helpful Financial Aid FAQ videos, or see our Frequently Asked Questions page for more.
Getting Started
The FAFSA
Scholarships
Just As Good, If Not Better
Colton DeRocher ’24 has experienced an extraordinary journey as a record-setting hitter for Central College. As he smashes records and defies expectations, DeRocher’s path is marked by perseverance, proving that in the game of baseball, and in life, he’s just as good, if not better.
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