After Central College: graduation, pay and debt
Pella, Iowa · Private · 1,070 undergrads
69% of Central College students finish within six years, the typical student earns $57,387 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $25,125 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$57.4k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
69%
finish within six years.
59%
finish in four years.
80%
of first-years come back for year two.
$25.1k
median federal debt at graduation.
77%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
59%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
69%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
80%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
66%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
73%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
321
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
66%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
29%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
320
Transferred to another collegeCollege Scorecard, earlier release
14%
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$52,192
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$57,387
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
77%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$25,125
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$20,815
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$22,500
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$20,181
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
77%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
83%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
86%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: IPEDS, fall 2024 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
Updated Oct 31, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers