Centra College Tuition, Demographics & Completion (2026)
Centra College is a private two-year college in Lynchburg, Virginia, enrolling about 219 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $24,868 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $12,983. Student demographics in federal data include White (73.5%) and Black or African American (14.6%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $12,983
- 2024 Average Net Price: $24,868 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 100.00% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 219 12.8% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 100.00%
- Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Business and Management
- First-Generation Students: 56.0%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 12.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 56.6%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 340
- Applicants (IPEDS): 1
- Room & Board: $12,424 annual estimate
Centra College: what the data shows
Common questions about Centra College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Centra College?
Centra College is located in Lynchburg, VA (ZIP 24501).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Centra College public or private?
Centra College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Centra College cost?
Published tuition: $12,983.
Average net price after aid: $24,868.
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $51,932.
How hard is it to get into Centra College?
Admission rate: 100.00%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Centra College?
Total enrollment: 219 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 340 students.
About 13% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Centra College?
150%-time completion rate: 100.00%.
What do graduates of Centra College earn?
Median earnings: $60,052 six years after entry; $60,122 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $15,250.
46.70% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Centra College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (76 completions)
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training (19 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Centra College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 100.00%; completion rate 100.00%; median earnings $60,122 at 10 years; net price $24,868. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$12,983
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Centra College was $12,983.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$24,868
2024 Value
In 2024 Centra College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $24,868.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$99,472 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$24,868 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$51,932 4-Year Tuition
$12,424 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,373 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$26,780 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$107,120 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Centra College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
46.70% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
69.34% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Centra College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Centra College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2016–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $11,490 | $11,490 | — |
| 2017 | $10,528 | $10,528 | — |
| 2018 | $12,301 | $12,301 | $28,557 |
| 2019 | $12,325 | $12,325 | $32,754 |
| 2020 | $12,325 | $12,325 | $32,662 |
| 2021 | $12,664 | $12,664 | $28,887 |
| 2022 | $12,259 | $12,259 | $28,418 |
| 2023 | $12,263 | $12,263 | $24,868 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
100.00% Acceptance Rate
1 Total Applicants
1 Students Admitted
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Centra College reported total enrollment of about 219 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 9% male and 91% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (73.5%), Black or African American (14.6%), and Two or More Races (8.7%). About 46.70% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 56.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
12.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Centra College in 2024 is 219 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 340 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
N/A%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 73.5%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
91.67% 100% Completion Time
100.00% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 91.67% of students graduating from Centra College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 13% male / 87% female
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 5% male / 95% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Centra College.
Return on Investment
$15,250 Median Student Debt
$60,122 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
25.37% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
504.41% Return on Investment
2.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Centra College.
Top Programs by Completions
2 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 3 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 76 completions
2. Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 19 completions
Most popular programs at Centra College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Centra College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Centra College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 56.6%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,046
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $9,536
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Centra College is a private non-profit institution located in Lynchburg, VA, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Business and Management. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training. Enrollment is approximately 219 students. Student body composition includes White (73.5%), Black or African American (14.6%), Two or More Races (8.7%). The admission rate is 100.00%. The 150%-time completion rate is 100.00%. Approximately 46.70% of students receive Pell Grants. About 56.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Business and Management
Location
Lynchburg, VA 24501
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 100.00% graduation rate, Centra College demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Centra College located?
Centra College is located in Lynchburg, VA.
What is Centra College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Centra College is 100.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1 applicants and 1 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Centra College cost?
Reported tuition is $12,983 and average net price is $24,868 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,424 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Centra College?
Centra College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 340 students, White (73.5%), Black or African American (14.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Centra College?
About 56.0% of students at Centra College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Centra College earn?
Median earnings are $60,052 six years after entry and $60,122 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Centra College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 100.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Centra College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $15,250.
Is Centra College public or private?
Centra College is a private nonprofit institution located in Lynchburg, VA.
Is Centra College an HBCU?
No. Centra College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Centra College a tribal college?
No. Centra College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Centra College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Centra College does not meet that proxy (reported share 0.5%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Virginia college costs
- Virginia colleges by ROI
- Lynchburg, Virginia city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Virginia
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.