Central College

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Central College was $20,988 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 6%–from $19,800 the prior year. Usually, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

If this information makes going to college sound impossible, remember, the total cost of tuition isn't the final cost for attending college. Many students owe far less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Plus, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay out of pocket feel more doable until after graduation.

Central College meets 77.9% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Central College is around $17,231 a year.

The average student debt for graduates in the class of 2023 was around $41,825 per student, not including those with no debt.

Central College: In-state vs. Out-of-State Tuition

Central College is a private, religious institution, so it has the same tuition for residents of Iowa as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public insitutions often offer reduced tuition for those who qualify as Iowa residents.

Choosing a school where you are eligible for the reduced tuition offered to state residentscan drastically reduce the overall cost of college. Be sure to verify your state's rules for as an in-state resident. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be other criteria as well, depending on the state you and your parents currently live in.

Explore other Iowa colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to Central College?

Tuition at Central College is the same for all students.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may be eligible for private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students with need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Central College:

•On-campus jobs •Loans from outsideCentral College •Central College-specific loans •Central College-specific scholarships •International Students Tuition Waivers

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.

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Central College Living Expenses, Fees, and More

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Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Central College.

House and Food Costs at Central College

Room and board at Central College is $12,060 a year. This number covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that enables you to eat all or some of your meals the school dining facilities. Students who do not live on-campus but would like to be able to eat in the campus dining can choose to be on a meal plan. The cost of a mean plan, or board-only, is $5,800.

Meal-plan costs can depend on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at Central College

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Annual Fees

The majority of colleges also have fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in special activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools offer ways for students with financial need to find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

The Cost of Transportation at Central College

The cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or are you planning to use public transportation? All of these factors can make a big difference in your estimated cost of transportation. At Central College, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

Where are a college is located can also have a big effect on your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand transportation in an urban area is sometimes pricey, but there may be more buses, trains or affordable flights to actually get to school. Central Collegeis in a rural area in Iowa, not far from Des Moines and Iowa.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, don’t forget to take into account personal expenses, like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.

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The Full Cost of Attending Central College

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Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better estimate of what is really costs to go to Central College.

Total Cost of Central College

What will the cost of attending Central College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$20,988
Room and Board	$12,060
Board Only	$6,260
Other expenses	$1,844

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$34,892
Off-Campus	$29,092

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Financial Aid at Central College

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The majority of Central College undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2023, 692 of the 1,172 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Central College meets 77.9% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $17,231 a year. Around 77% of Central College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Central College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $41,825 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$29,779
Central College-Specific Loans	$7,134
Private Loans	$33,272

Most Common Loans for Central College Students
Federal Loans	77%
Institutional Loans	4%
Private loans	26%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Central College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Central College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Central College awarded 692 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $9.2 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $3.95 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Central College

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Central College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Central College was $17,231 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Central College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$17,661
Off-Campus	$11,861

What will attending Central College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Central College's net cost calculator on their website.

Central College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Does Central College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to reduce the total cost of attendance. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Central College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - International Students

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Central College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of Central College's endowment was $97.7 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Central College spends about $13,711 a year.

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Learn More About Central College

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