Central College Acceptance Rate
Pella, Iowa · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 1,978
- Admitted
- 1,562
- Yield
- 17.5%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Central College's acceptance rate has risen from 68.9% in 2014–15 to 79% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 3,068 to 1,978 (-36%) over that period.
Its 79% rate makes Central College more selective than about 44% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 26 tracked Iowa schools, it is more selective than about 50%.
In 2023–24, men were admitted at a higher rate (77.1% for women vs 80.8% for men, a 3.7-point gap). Central College has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 17.5% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 3,068 | 2,114 | 68.9% | 429 |
| 2015–16 | 3,071 | 1,974 | 64.3% | 317 |
| 2016–17 | 3,899 | 2,863 | 73.4% | 323 |
| 2017–18 | 4,016 | 2,815 | 70.1% | 322 |
| 2018–19 | 2,772 | 1,940 | 70% | 278 |
| 2019–20 | 2,688 | 1,749 | 65.1% | 337 |
| 2020–21 | 2,340 | 1,490 | 63.7% | 325 |
| 2021–22 | 2,202 | 1,641 | 74.5% | 340 |
| 2022–23 | 1,970 | 1,561 | 79.2% | 351 |
| 2023–24 | 1,978 | 1,562 | 79% | 274 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 978 | 754 | 77.1% |
| Men | 1,000 | 808 | 80.8% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 490–580 | 8% |
| SAT Math | 445–625 | |
| ACT Composite | 19–25 | 58% |
How Central College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Central College's acceptance rate?
Central College's acceptance rate is 79% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (1,562 admitted of 1,978 applicants).
Is Central College test optional?
Central College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Central College?
Central College received 1,978 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 1,562.
What SAT score do you need for Central College?
Admitted students at Central College typically scored 490–580 on SAT Reading/Writing and 445–625 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Central College getting harder to get into?
Central College has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 68.9% in 2014–15 to 79% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.central.edu/.