Centre College
#8 Best Computer Science Colleges in Kentucky- Graduation Rate
- 83% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $66,240 A
- Top 9% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $20,781 C-
- 21% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 54% B+
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.2 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Computer Science Colleges in Kentucky.
Every $1 spent returns $23.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,847,441.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 62% more than the national college median.
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A 83% graduation rate — 45% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Centre College Matters
Centre College is a private liberal arts college in Danville, KY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 9% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,400
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Centre College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 54% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1160–1450. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,781 a year after grants and scholarships — 21% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $66,240 ten years after enrolling — 62% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.74 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
At Centre College, with an enrollment of around 1,400 students and an acceptance rate of 54%, individuals looking for a tight-knit academic community will find a good fit. The college stands out for its strong programs in Social Sciences, Psychology, and the Biological and Physical Sciences. Students here engage deeply with their fields, preparing for diverse paths after graduation.
Graduates from Centre can expect a solid financial outcome, with earnings averaging $66,240 ten years after completing their degree. This reflects a promising return on investment, especially when you consider that the net price after aid is approximately $20,781. While 23% of students receive Pell Grants, suggesting a commitment to affordability, the overall financial landscape indicates that many students can move up economically after graduation.
When we look at the bottom line, the median debt for graduates is $27,000, which is manageable given the earning potential. Students who thrive here are often those who appreciate a collaborative environment and are eager to dive into their studies. With a graduation rate of 83%, it’s clear that many find the support they need to succeed and make the most of their College experience.
Rankings
- #8 Best Computer Science Colleges in Kentucky
- #8 Best Data Science Colleges in Kentucky
- #9 Best Biology Colleges in Kentucky
- #13 Best Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky
- #13 Best Master's Programs in Kentucky
- #16 Best Psychology Colleges in Kentucky
- #19 Best Colleges in Kentucky
- #21 Best Business Colleges in Kentucky
Can I Get In?
How selective Centre College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Centre College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Centre College, located in Danville, Kentucky, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 54% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,352. The graduation rate is roughly 83%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 54%
- Retention Rate
- 88%
- SAT Average
- 1352
- ACT Midpoint
- 30
- SAT Range
- 1160–1450
- ACT Range
- 25–32
- Full-Time Faculty
- 92%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,723
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.46
- First-Gen Students
- 20%
- Applicants
- 2,724
- Admitted
- 1,712
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Centre College is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 18% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 18%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 7%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 47%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 61.4%
- vs 48.2% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 223 Early Decision applicants, 137 were admitted — a 61.4% admit rate, roughly 1.3× the 48.2% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 38% of the entering class (137 of 357 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 55% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Centre College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Centre College is $52,820, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,781. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,364 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $52,820
- Out-of-State
- $52,820
- Avg Net Price
- $20,781
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 49%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,364
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,388
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,847
- Family Income $110K+
- $30,571
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Centre College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Centre College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Centre College earn a median of $66,240, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $50,073
- 8 Years
- $59,224
- 10 Years
- $66,240
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.41x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (315)
- 82%
- 100% (315)
- 82%
- 100% (315)
- 82%
- 100% (315)
- 82%
How Centre Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Centre College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Centre College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,781/year ($83,124 total). Graduates earn $66,240 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,930,565 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,847,441 (23.2× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 83% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $83,124
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,930,565
- Net Return
- $1,847,441
- ROI Multiple
- 23.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $20,781
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 83%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $349,155
- Investment Income
- $-1,853,016
Top Programs
The fields Centre College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 22% $57,547 early-career
- Psychology 18% $25,507 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 15% $27,056 early-career
- Business & Marketing 9%
- Physical Sciences 7%
- Computer Science & IT 6%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
- English & Literature 3% $28,100 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Centre College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Centre College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Centre College, located in Danville, Kentucky, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 54% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,352. The graduation rate is roughly 83%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Centre College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Centre College is $52,820, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,781. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,364 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Centre College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Centre College earn a median of $66,240, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Centre College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Centre College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Centre College offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Centre College offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 61%, about 1.3 times the overall 48% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 38% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Centre College is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Centre College really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 55% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Centre College (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Centre College?
About 18% of admitted students choose to enroll at Centre College — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Centre College.
- Wofford CollegeSpartanburg, SC · Close peer82% grad $68,964 earn 52% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- The University of the SouthSewanee, TN · Close peer81% grad $64,911 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rhodes CollegeMemphis, TN · Close peer83% grad $66,651 earn 50% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- DePauw UniversityGreencastle, IN · Close peer77% grad $70,527 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSaint Peter, MN · Close peer76% grad $65,607 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- St Lawrence UniversityCanton, NY · Close peer79% grad $67,258 earn 54% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Centre College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Centre College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note