Financial Aid / Tuition
Tuition: $21,934
Yes, you read that right
Central College’s affordable tuition price opens doors to a high-quality, liberal arts education — and scholarships are still available. In fact, every admitted student is guaranteed a $1,000 Journey Scholarship, and that’s on donor and alumni commitment.
See How Central Stacks UpCrunch the Numbers
- #4 of 28 Best Value Colleges in Iowa*
- The median salary of a Central graduate six years after college is $44,700 — compared to $33,028 nationally.*
How Central Stacks Up
Our 2025-26 tuition of $21,934 is comparable with state schools. And way less than other Iowa private colleges.
$21,934 (Central’s Tuition) + $12,060 (Central’s Housing and Food) = $33,994
A Comparison of Tuition + Housing and Food With Other Iowa Institutions
$13,575
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. The University of
Northern Iowa is ranked first at an estimated total price of $20,151. Iowa State University
is ranked second at $21,032. The University of Iowa is ranked third at $24,523. Central College
is ranked fourth at $33,994. Wartburg College is ranked fifth at $38,000. Simpson is
ranked sixth at $57,610.
* Estimated price to attend based on 2023-24 published price plus 4%.
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:
- Career Kickstarter, a weeklong, career-focused program available to all sophomores as they explore career possibilities.
- 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
Behind the Lens
Katie Bower ’27, sports photographer and softball player from Kansas City, Missouri, captures the best moments of Central College athletics — both behind the lens and on the field. Whether she’s snapping action shots or stepping up to the plate, she’s passionate about telling the Central Dutch story.
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