by our College Data Analytics TeamA large number of students will never be charged the full sticker price of a school. Rather, they are offered a financial aid plan that includes a mix of loans, grants, scholarships, and possibly work-study opportunities. The total cost of going to Central College can seem tremendous, but do not forget that almost all students are given some form of financial help.
Just what financing solutions does Central provide, and just what are you going to be eligible for? Keep scrolling for answers. Read on to see what amount of financial assistance could be accessible to you.
Your financial aid package, which may contain grants and scholarships, will be determined on your financial need. Continue reading to find information to help you understand just how much assistance you can expect to receive from Central College.
Through a mix of loans, grants, work-study and scholarships, schools bring down the effective cost so more students can attend. However, some types of aid are more desirable than others, and some students will receive more than others.
For incoming first-year students at Central College, 100% of first-time, full-time freshmen received some form of financial aid some 274 new students).
| Type of Aid | % of Freshmen Receiving | Average Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grant or scholarship aid (all sources) | 100% | $13,925 |
| Institutional grants & scholarships | 100% | $9,529 |
| Federal Pell grants | 25% | $5,259 |
| State/local grants | 35% | $7,500 |
| Federal student loans | 71% | $5,573 |
Because grants and scholarships do not have to be repaid, they are the most sought-after type of financial aid. Across the undergraduate body at Central, around 97% of the undergraduate population received grant aid that averaged $12,354 (across approximately 1058 students).
| Award | % of Undergrads Receiving | Average Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grant or scholarship aid (all sources) | 97% | $12,354 |
| Federal Pell grants | 22% | $5,178 |
| Federal student loans | 70% | $6,484 |
On-campus students receiving title-IV aid were awarded grants averaging $14,396.
Since aid is largely need-based, the real cost of attendance falls steeply for lower-income families.
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 – $48,000 | $15,480 |
| $30,001 – $75,000 | $18,388 |
| Over $75,000 | $24,647 |
Remember these are net prices — what families pay after gift aid, not before.
After grants and scholarships come off the published price, what remains is the net price — the best estimate of true out-of-pocket cost.
| Cohort | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| On-campus title-IV students | $23,377 |
| Off-campus title-IV students | $22,401 |
For an estimate tailored to your family circumstances, see Central’s online cost calculator: www.central.edu/financial-aid/net-price-calculator/.
The median federal debt load at Central comes to $20,815 in federal loans.
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Median federal debt (all student-aid borrowers) | $20,815 |
| Median federal debt (graduates only) | $26,984 |
| Typical 10-year monthly payment (graduates) | $286.08/mo |
The 10-year payment estimate assumes a standard federal repayment plan and the median graduate debt amount.
Percentiles reveal the spread — half of all borrowers fall between the 25th and 75th percentiles. The four reference points below map the debt distribution at Central.
| Percentile | Cumulative Federal Debt |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (lowest-debt students) | $5,500 |
| 25th percentile | $9,500 |
| 75th percentile | $27,000 |
| 90th percentile (highest-debt students) | $38,194 |
The figures below break down median federal debt by income tier, first-generation status, and dependency.
By Family Income
| Income tier | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| Low income | $17,500 |
| Middle income | $23,250 |
| High income | $21,500 |
First-Generation Comparison
| Cohort | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| First-generation students | $19,829 |
| Continuing-generation students | $22,500 |
Federal data publishes pre-calculated indicators that summarize debt outcomes. Central.
The Stafford loan program is the largest source of federal direct loans to undergraduates. The totals below capture Stafford lending at Central:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Stafford loan recipients | 5200 |
| Total Stafford loan amount | $77,976,019 |
Veterans and active-duty service members may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill or DoD Tuition Assistance.
Post-9/11 GI Bill activity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| GI Bill recipients | 12 |
| Total GI Bill amount | $103,004 |
| Average GI Bill amount per recipient | $8,584 |
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.