Central College vs Illinois College
Central College and Illinois College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Central College, nestled in Pella, Iowa, boasts a higher acceptance rate (88%) compared to Illinois College's (75%) in Jacksonville, Illinois. Central's student body is slightly larger, with an undergraduate population of 1,900, while Illinois College fosters a more intimate learning environment with approximately 1,000 undergraduates. While both colleges offer a diverse range of majors, Central College is known for its strong programs in business, education, and health sciences, while Illinois College excels in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover further distinctions between these two exceptional institutions and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Central College |
![]() Illinois College |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Pella, Iowa | Jacksonville, Illinois |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 79.0% | 76.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Protestant | Presbyterian |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 74.5% | 74.8% |
Application fees | $25 | |
SAT range | 1000 - 1260 | 950 - 1150 |
ACT range | 19 - 25 | 18 - 24 |
Students submitting SAT score | 10.0% | 57.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 67.0% | 32.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,202 | 3,522 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,641 | 2,633 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 340 | 249 |
Yield rate | 20.7% | 9.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $34,302 | $42,742 |
Average net price | $22,966 | $18,914 |
Tuition | $19,250 | $34,752 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,892
Meal plan:
$5,660
|
Room/dormitory:
$4,988
Meal plan:
$4,946
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $10,353 |
100.0%
Average amount $26,845 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
73.0%
Average amount $5,605 |
74.0%
Average amount $5,294 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $12,712 |
13.0%
Average amount $10,848 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
1,139
Men 51.3% Women 48.7% |
1,097
Men 47.6% Women 52.4% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 20.2% |
International students | 0.1% | 4.2% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 1,405 | 963 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Illinois Missouri Georgia Alabama Indiana |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 66.1% | 64.0% |
Dropout rate | 2.5% | 36.0% |
Transferred out | 31.0% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
































































































































































































































