Acceptance Rate
54%
Avg. SAT
1450
75th percentile
“Kentucky's tight-knit liberal arts powerhouse where you'll debate policy over bourbon in a historic town that feels worlds away from everywhere else.”
Danville, KY
Location
Town
Campus Setting
You'll step onto Centre College's red-brick campus in Danville, Kentucky—a town of 17,000 frozen in time since 1784, with Federal-style homes and a courthouse square where locals still gather for Friday night fish fries. Founded in 1819 by Presbyterian pioneers as one of the first colleges west of the Appalachians, Centre carries a legacy of producing Southern statesmen; alumni include two U.S. Vice Presidents (Adlai Stevenson I and II) and even brief stints from Jefferson Davis and John C. Breckinridge. But don't expect a stuffy relic—today's Centre buzzes with ambitious go-getters who crave deep discussions and small-town charm over big-city distractions. The type of student who thrives here loves leading Model UN sessions or hiking the nearby knobs, but if you need urban nightlife or endless major choices (only 26 undergrad options), the isolation 40 minutes south of Lexington might wear thin after freshman year.
Photo Gallery
+28
+20
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
Test-optional schools still weigh strong scores. Submitting can help.
Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In classes capped at 20, you'll dissect quantum mechanics with a physics professor who's published in Nature or debate fiscal policy in economics seminars that mimic Wall Street trading floors—Centre punches above its weight in sciences and pre-professional tracks, sending more grads per capita to med school than nearly any liberal arts college. The 10:1 student-faculty ratio means professors know your name and push you into undergrad research early, like sequencing DNA in the state-of-the-art Jones Visual Communications Center. Yet the small size limits niche majors—no aerospace engineering here—and while the intellectual vibe is collaborative, not cutthroat, rural Danville means fewer guest lecturers from Silicon Valley.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
1,404 undergrad • 0 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
73%
Black / African American
5%
Hispanic / Latino
8%
Asian
4%
Other / Multi-racial
10%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Danville, KY
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Expect a quintessential small-college rhythm: mornings in seminar-style classes, afternoons dominating club soccer or intramurals on the Kentucky River bluffs, and weekends tailgating the legendary Centre-Cumberland 'Wreck' football game, the oldest west of the Alleghenies. Greek life claims half the campus but doesn't rule it, fostering house parties in restored Victorian dorms where everyone knows the lyrics to the fight song; traditions like the pre-finals 'Phantom Leap' into a frigid creek build unbreakable bonds. You'll live on campus all four years in communities like the all-women's dorm or honors houses, but the social scene skews wholesome—think bonfires and barn dances over ragers—and brutal winters plus a dry county (no bars in town) test your adaptability.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Southern Athletic Association
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$12,849
$30K – $48K
$12,870
$48K – $75K
$16,205
$75K – $110K
$19,225
$110K+
$27,398
Apply for Financial Aid
Complete the FAFSA to unlock grants, scholarships, and federal loans.
Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
88%
4 Years Graduation Rate
86%
6 Years Graduation Rate
87%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$66,240
88% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Centre College and return in the fall. 86% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 87% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
86%
4-5 years
1%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
12%
Let’s find your perfect tutor
Answer a few quick questions. We’ll recommend the right plan and match you with a top 5% tutor.
Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$48,070
Acceptance
54%
Undergrads
1,404
4-Year Grad Rate
86%
Endowment
$314M
Danville, KY 40422-1394
Explore More