William Penn University vs Central College

William Penn University and Central College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. William Penn, a private university in Oskaloosa, Iowa, boasts a higher acceptance rate (75%) compared to Central College's 68%. Central College, a private liberal arts college in Pella, Iowa, has a slightly larger student body, with an undergraduate enrollment of 1,232 compared to William Penn's 1,080. While both universities offer a diverse range of majors, Central College is known for its strong programs in business, education, and nursing, while William Penn excels in areas such as criminal justice, psychology, and social work. Discover more key differences between these two institutions by exploring the comprehensive comparison table provided, helping you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
Central College logo

Central College

William Penn University logo

William Penn University

Overview

Location Pella, Iowa Oskaloosa, Iowa
Campus setting Town: Distant Town: Remote
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% 61.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation Protestant Protestant

Admission

Acceptance rate 74.5% 57.7%
Application fees $25
SAT range 1000 - 1260 830 - 1030
ACT range 19 - 25 16 - 21
Students submitting SAT score 10.0% 18.0%
Students submitting ACT score 67.0% 40.0%
Total number of applicants 2,202 1,387
Total number of admissions given out 1,641 800
Admitted students who chose to enroll 340 335
Yield rate 20.7% 41.9%
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 Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $34,302 $40,600
Average net price $22,966 $21,112
Tuition $19,250 $27,200
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,892

Meal plan: $5,660
Room/dormitory: $3,206

Meal plan: $4,050
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $10,353
100.0%
Average amount $18,221
Students receiving federal student loan 73.0%
Average amount $5,605
96.0%
Average amount $5,411
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $12,712
96.0%
Average amount $2,104

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,139
Men 51.3% Women 48.7%
1,304
Men 52.3% Women 47.7%
Graduate students N/A 68
Men 61.8% Women 38.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 0.1% 5.3%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 1,405 856
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Education
  • Business
  • English Language and Literature
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Education
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 66.1% 32.1%
Dropout rate 2.5% 67.2%
Transferred out 31.0% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $53,045
  • Year 3: $57,439
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,169
  • Year 2: $44,542
  • Year 3: $50,519
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,119
  • Year 3: $48,234
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,721
  • Year 3: $41,814
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $36,848
  • Year 3: $40,707
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: $37,077
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $31,314
  • Year 3: $33,927
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $46,790
  • Year 3: N/A
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: N/A
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $21,508
  • Year 3: N/A
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,560
  • Year 2: $58,402
  • Year 3: $61,842
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,860
  • Year 2: $40,089
  • Year 3: $45,725
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,675
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,031
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,693
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,205
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Human Resources Management and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $46,478
  • Year 3: N/A

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