Centre College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Danville, Kentucky · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2022-2023

Acceptance rate
62%
2,746 applicants
Avg SAT
1352
In-state tuition
$52,820
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$20,781
after aid, what families pay
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Quick answer

Centre College is a private nonprofit university in Danville, Kentucky that admits about 62% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $20,781 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Economics, Psychology, General and Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 87% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 8.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

Centre College is a private institution located in Danville, Kentucky with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Centre College admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 62%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1352 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $20,781 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Centre College?

52% of enrolled students at Centre College had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.8, according to its 2022-2023 Common Data Set.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
52.0%
3.75–3.99
20.0%
3.50–3.74
17.0%
3.25–3.49
6.0%
3.00–3.24
4.0%
2.50–2.99
1.0%
From the 2022-2023 Common Data Set submitted by Centre College.

What does Centre College weight in admissions?

Centre College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2022-2023). What the weights mean

Very Important2 factors
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
Important6 factors
  • Class rank
  • Standardized test scores
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Character/personal qualities

SAT and ACT scores Centre College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 570–730, with an EBRW midpoint near 650. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

SAT Composite
25th percentile
50th percentile1352
75th percentile
% submitting SAT11%
ACT Composite
25th percentile25
50th percentile30
75th percentile32
% submitting ACT51%
Current testing policy
  • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Policy detail: Considered if submitted

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class44%
Top 25% of class75%
Top 50% of class96%
% submitting class rank36%

How much does Centre College actually cost?

Published tuition is $52,820 for in-state students and $52,820 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,640 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $20,781 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 23% of students receive Pell Grants.

In-state tuition$48,070
Room and board$12,300
Average net price (after aid)$20,781
Application fee$0

Application deadlines and early decision data for Centre College

Regular admission
Regular deadline1/15
Notification date31-Mar
Reply deadlineMay 15
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadlineNovember 15
ED acceptance rate73%
Offers Early ActionYes
EA deadlineDecember 1

Will my child graduate from Centre College?

These predict outcomes at Centre College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Freshman retention
89%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
null%
finished on time
6-year graduation
86.75%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at Centre College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Centre College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Psychology, General and Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. Across all programs, Centre College confers roughly 209 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $84,284 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Economics53$84,284
Psychology, General26$48,226
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics23
Biology, General23$52,319
International/Globalization Studies23
Research and Experimental Psychology22
Political Science and Government20$70,170
History19$50,858
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is Centre College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Centre College disclosed 12 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 8.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 2 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

Total offenses
12
8.6 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
0
0.00 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
2
1.43 per 1,000
Burglary
10
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 1,400 enrolled.

What is campus life like at Centre College?

About 97% of undergraduates at Centre College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Live on campus
97%
of undergraduates
From the 2022-2023 Common Data Set submitted by Centre College.

Other colleges in Kentucky parents ask about

Colleges that admit at a similar rate

Next steps for Centre College

Common questions parents ask about Centre College

What GPA do I need for Centre College?

52% of enrolled students at Centre College had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.8, according to its 2022-2023 Common Data Set.

What SAT or ACT score does Centre College typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 570–730, with an EBRW midpoint near 650. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–32.

How much does Centre College actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Centre College after grants and scholarships is $20,781 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $52,820. Budget against the net figure.

Is Centre College realistic for my child?

Centre College admits 62% of applicants, so 570–730 SAT Math is target range and below 570 is a reach. Then check the $20,781 average net price against what your family can carry.

What is the acceptance rate at Centre College?

Centre College accepts about 62% of applicants out of roughly 2,746 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.

Is Centre College test-optional?

Yes. Centre College is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.

What is the graduation rate at Centre College?

About 87% of students at Centre College graduate within six years. 89% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Centre College?

Centre College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 73%, compared with its overall rate of 62%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.

What does Centre College look for in applicants?

Centre College rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.

Is Centre College a public or private school, and where is it located?

Centre College is a private nonprofit institution located in Danville, Kentucky.

What are the most popular majors at Centre College?

The largest undergraduate majors at Centre College by annual graduates are Economics, Psychology, General and Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. The school awards about 209 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is Centre College safe? What is its campus crime rate?

Centre College reported 12 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 8.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.

What is campus life like at Centre College?

At Centre College, 97% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Sources: the 2022-2023 Common Data Set submitted by Centre College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers