Central College Average GPA (3.56) & Acceptance Rate (86%)

Q: What percent of applicants does Central College accept?

Central College's acceptance rate was 86% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,470 of 1,706 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.

Acceptance rate: 86% for fall 2024

Average high school GPA: 3.56, as reported by the college for 2024–25

SAT, middle 50%: 528–560 reading and writing, 528–560 math

ACT, middle 50%: 20–26 composite

Average net price: $22,499 a year (2022–23)

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Type your GPA to compare it with what Central College reported: an average GPA of 3.56 (2024–25), an acceptance rate of 86% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 20–26.

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A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Central College reviews each application.

Central College average GPA

Central College reported an average high school GPA of 3.56 for its first-year students, in its 2024–25 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.

An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so this figure can't be compared directly with your own GPA.

Central College acceptance rate

Central College admitted 1,470 of 1,706 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 86%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Central College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Pella, Iowa, with 1,084 undergraduates.

SAT and ACT scores

Scores of the first-year students who entered Central College in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:

Test	25th percentile	Median	75th percentile
SAT Reading and Writing	528	550	560
SAT Math	528	550	560
ACT Composite	20	23	26
ACT English	19	21	23
ACT Math	17	23	27

3% submitted SAT scores and 42% submitted ACT scores, as Central College reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1147 for admitted students.

Admission requirements

What Central College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:

Admission factor	Status
High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average.	Required
High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned.	Required
High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class.	Considered if submitted
College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school.	Considered if submitted
Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application.	Considered if submitted
Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores.	Considered if submitted
Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college.	Considered if submitted
RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors.	Not considered
Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III.	Not considered
Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations.	Not considered
Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work.	Not considered

Requirements can differ by program and applicant type, so check with Central College's admissions office before you apply.

AP credit

Central College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

It doesn't award credit for life experience.

Average net price

First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $22,499 a year at Central College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Frequently asked questions

Can a 3.0 GPA get you into Central College?

GPA alone can't tell you here. Central College admitted 86% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.

Does Central College require the SAT or ACT?

No. Central College is test optional: it considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 3% sent SAT scores and 42% sent ACT scores.

How hard is it to get into Central College?

Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Central College admitted 86% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.

What percent of applicants does Central College accept?

Central College's acceptance rate was 86% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,470 of 1,706 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.

What GPA do you need to get into Central College?

Central College doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.56, as reported by the college in its 2024–25 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.

What are Central College's SAT and ACT score ranges?

The middle 50% of Central College's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 528–560 in reading and writing and 528–560 in math; ACT composite 20–26, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.

How much does GPA matter at Central College?

A lot: Central College requires high school GPA and high school record. It considers high school class rank, college preparatory program, essay or personal statement, test scores and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider recommendations, other tests, demonstration of competencies and work experience. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Does it matter at Central College if a parent went there?

Yes. Central College considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.

Can you get college credit for AP scores at Central College?

Yes. Central College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.

How much does Central College cost after financial aid?

First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $22,499 a year at Central College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.

Before you apply, check Central College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.

Sources

College Navigator: Central CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
Central College Common Data Set 2024–25Central College: average high school GPA of first-year students.
College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).

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