Financial Aid / Tuition
Tuition: $19,800
Yes, you read that right
Central College’s tuition price of less than $20,000 opens doors to a high-quality, liberal arts education for more students than ever before—and scholarships are still available.
See How Central Stacks UpCrunch the Numbers
- The median salary of a Central graduate six years after college is $44,700 — compared to $33,028 nationally.*
- 92% of Central College students who graduate do so in four years or fewer, which reduces your price and allows you to earn a paycheck faster.
How Central Stacks Up
Our annual price to attend is on par with state universities. And way less than any other Iowa private college.
$19,800 (Central’s Tuition) + $10,860 (Central’s Room & Board) = $30,660
A Comparison of Tuition + Room and Board With Other Iowa Institutions
$10,401
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.
* Estimated price to attend based on 2021-22 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.
New Commitments and Programs
Central has launched a number of new 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 and that’s why we are doing this. 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.
Our new programs include:
- Career Kickstarter, a weeklong, career-focused program available to all sophomores as they explore career possibilities.
- A new varsity sport, women’s triathlon. Central is the 31st school in the nation and second in Iowa to offer women’s triathlon.
- Two new club sports, men’s volleyball and women’s bowling, with the possibility of both becoming varsity sports.
- A handful of new clubs and organizations, including clay target sports.
- 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.
Still Have Questions?
Check out these helpful Financial Aid FAQ videos, or see our Frequently Asked Questions page for more.
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