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

Baton Rouge, Kentucky · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025

Acceptance rate
74%
47,065 applicants
Avg SAT
1250
Mid 50: 1180–1320
In-state tuition
$11,954
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$20,015
after aid, what families pay

Centre College is a public institution located in Baton Rouge, 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 74%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1248 and an ACT composite around 26. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $20,015 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Centre College is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.

What GPA does my child need for Centre College?

Centre College admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
36.6%
3.75–3.99
21.8%
3.50–3.74
17.8%
3.25–3.49
13.9%
3.00–3.24
9.1%
2.50–2.99
0.8%
Below 2.50
0.1%
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Centre College.

What does Centre College weight in admissions?

Centre College reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

Very Important4 factors
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
  • Standardized test scores
  • Recommendations
Important2 factors
  • Class rank
  • Talent/ability
Considered9 factors
  • Application essay
  • Interview
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Character/personal qualities
  • First generation status
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience
  • Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered3 factors
  • Geographical residence
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment

SAT and ACT scores Centre College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 560–660, with an EBRW midpoint near 620. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 24–29. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1180
50th percentile1250
75th percentile1320
% submitting SAT7%
ACT Composite
25th percentile24
50th percentile27
75th percentile30
% submitting ACT40%
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 class26%
Top 25% of class54%
Top 50% of class83%
% submitting class rank77%

How much does Centre College actually cost?

Published tuition is $11,954 for in-state students and $28,631 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,296 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $20,015 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 26% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

In-state tuition$8,038
Out-of-state tuition$24,715
Room and board$15,142
Average net price (after aid)$20,015
Application fee$50 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for Centre College

Regular admission
Regular deadlineApril 15
Notification dateRolling, beginning October 15
Reply deadlineMay 1 or within 2 weeks if notified thereafter
Rolling admissionsYes

Will my child graduate from Centre College?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Freshman retention
84.7%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
null%
finished on time
6-year graduation
68.8%
finished within 6 years

Other colleges in Kentucky parents ask about

How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Centre College

Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Centre College recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.

Common questions parents ask about Centre College

What GPA do I need for Centre College?

Centre College admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.

What SAT or ACT score does Centre College typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 560–660, with an EBRW midpoint near 620. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 24–29.

How much does Centre College actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Centre College after grants and scholarships is $20,015 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.

Is Centre College realistic for my child?

Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, Centre College is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.

Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Centre College, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.