Centre College

Your Future—Front and Centre

Students: Our greatest investment
Centre College is a selective independent liberal arts college where students enjoy a deeply engaging, intensely personal education with opportunities to explore the world through our renowned study abroad program, gain on-the-job experience, and conduct research alongside their professors. The College’s commitment to academic excellence and affordability positions it among the nation’s top educational values. At Centre, you are our greatest investment. That’s why 90% of our students receive financial aid, and 98% of graduates are either employed or pursuing advanced study one year after graduation.

Rigorous academics, better outcomes
Centre students can choose from over 50 majors, minors, and pre-professional programs. With a rigorous academic environment, The Princeton Review ranks the College’s faculty as #13 in the country for “Professors Get High Marks” and #24 nationally for “Most Accessible Professors.” Student success is further supported by a personalized academic experience due to a low 10:1 student-faculty ratio. Beyond the classroom, over 93% of students put classroom knowledge to use by participating in experiential learning opportunities such as internships, research, community-based learning, or study abroad. 

All these experiences add up to major post-graduate outcomes. In fact, within one year of graduation, 98% of Centre students are employed or enrolled in top graduate or professional schools, demonstrating how they've developed the skills, abilities, knowledge, and curiosity to change the world right here at Centre.

Affordability at a higher value
Ranked among the best values in higher education, Centre is committed to making a top-ranked education affordable for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA and Centre Aid Form to maximize funding opportunities. All admitted students are considered for merit scholarships regardless of financial need; consideration occurs at the time of admission (no additional application required) and is based on a comprehensive review of your academic credentials and contributions.

The College’s Special Scholarships for diversity, language, music, theatre, and visual art and the Premier Scholarships do require separate applications. Centre’s two most competitive scholarship programs, the Lincoln Scholars (world changers) and Grissom Scholars (first-generation college students), each recognize 10 incoming students annually with full tuition, fees, room, and board coverage.  

Nationally renowned international study
Centre ranks #2 for study abroad experiences among baccalaureate institutions, according to the most recent Open Doors survey. By graduation, 85% of students have studied abroad at least once and nearly half at least twice. Scholarships and financial aid travel with students, so the cost of semester-long study is the same for you on campus or across the world.

The College offers signature long-term residential programs directed by Centre professors in London, England; Strasbourg, France, across the Rhine River from Germany; and Merida, Mexico, on the Yucatan Peninsula. Partnering universities also provide opportunities to live and learn with locals in China, England, Japan, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Spain. For students looking for less of a time commitment, the CentreTerm, a three-week January intensive between semesters, is a great choice. Study the Celtic origins of bluegrass music in Ireland, agriculture and cuisine in Japan, myth and memory in South Africa, or politics in Myanmar and Thailand.

Campus life and community
With 98% of Centre students living on campus, the feeling of community is the highlight of the college experience. The College offers a variety of housing options for student comfort and over 80 clubs and organizations, including Greek Life. Our Norton Center for the Arts serves as a college and community showplace for top national and international acts like Yo-Yo Ma, ZZ Top, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. With Broadway musicals, international dance and theatre companies, and a lineup of award-winning culturally and ethnically diverse global artists, students are exposed to the world right on campus.

Excellence in athletics
Centre’s student athletes epitomize excellence on the field, on the court, and in the classroom. Competing in NCAA Division III athletics in the prestigious Southern Athletic Association—one of the nation’s premier conferences–the Colonels make up 25 diverse athletic teams. Their impressive achievements include 84 NCAA All-Americans, 67 conference titles, and seven national championships.