Principia College Admissions

Principia College Admissions Overview:

With an acceptance rate of 91%, Principia College is a generally accessible school. Students with good grades and test scores are likely to be admitted. Those interested in applying to Principia will need to submit an application, which can be completed online. Additional required material include official high school transcripts, scores from the SAT or ACT, and letters of recommendation. For more information and guidelines, check out the school's website, or get in touch with a member of the admissions office. Students are encouraged to visit the campus, to see if the school would be a good fit for them.

Admissions Data (2016):

• Principia College Acceptance Rate: 91%
• Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
  • SAT Critical Reading: 490 / 620
  • SAT Math: 480 / 620
  • SAT Writing: - / -
    • What these SAT numbers mean
  • ACT Composite: 22 / 28
  • ACT English: 21 / 29
  • ACT Math: 20 / 27
  • ACT Writing: - / -
    • What these ACT numbers mean

Principia College Description:

Principia College is a small, private liberal arts college located in Elsah, Illinois. The rural, 2,600-acre campus is a National Historic Landmark and overlooks the Mississippi River, just 30 miles from St. Louis, Missouri. Although the college is not affiliated with the Christian Science Church, its principles are significant to community life at Principia. From an academic perspective, the college has a 8 to 1 student faculty ratio and offers 28 undergraduate majors; the most popular among these include mass communication, art and business administration. Students are active on campus, participating in 43 student clubs and organizations, remarkable for the college’s small size. The Principia College Panthers compete in the NCAA Division III St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis and track and field, men’s baseball and rugby and women’s softball and volleyball.

Enrollment (2016):

• Total Enrollment: 479 (all undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 49% Male / 51% Female
• 97% Full-time

Costs (2016 - 17):

• Tuition and Fees: $27,980
• Books: $1,000 (why so much?)
• Room and Board: $11,030
• Other Expenses: $1,000
• Total Cost: $41,010

Principia College Financial Aid (2015 - 16):

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 97%
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 97%
  • Loans: 57%
• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $25,751
  • Loans: $5,856

Academic Programs:

• Most Popular Majors: Art, Biology, Business Administration, Mass Communication, Theatre

Graduation and Retention Rates:

• First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 91%
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 61%
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 68%

Intercollegiate Athletic Programs:

• Men's Sports: Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, Rugby, Basketball, Swimming, Track and Field
• Women's Sports: Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, Track and Field, Basketball, Soccer

Data Source:

National Center for Educational Statistics

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