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Principia College campus

🇺🇸 USA · Illinois

Principia College

  • Private
  • Rural
  • 4-year degree
Sign in to save Apply via Common App Visit website Back to search
Reported admit rate
43.1%Year unverified
Tuition per year
₹32,57,562Out-of-state
Students
339Undergraduates
Students per teacher
6Student to faculty

About

Principia College is a private liberal arts college in Elsah, Illinois. It was founded in 1912 by Mary Kimball Morgan with the purpose of "serving the Cause of Christian Science." Morgan wrote in her book Education at the Principia that, "Although the College is not affiliated with the Christian Science Church, the practice of Christian Science is the cornerstone of campus life." Principia no longer requires its students or their parents to be students of Christian Science or Christian Science Church members. Presently, its student body represents 26 countries and a variety of faith backgrounds.
Principia sits on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River between Alton and Grafton in the Metro East region of Southern Illinois, thirty miles north of St. Louis. A portion of the school's 2,500-acre (1,000 ha) campus is a designated National Historic Landmark District, for its many buildings and design by architect Bernard Maybeck.

Admissions planning estimate

96% baseline · Medium data confidence

Sensitivity range: 81%–99%. This is a modelling range, not a statistical confidence interval or a personal admission probability.

Open-admission institution policy (IPEDS 2024); 96% is a planning prior conditional on eligibility, not an observed admit rate. Selective programmes may differ.

Reviewed 2026-10-01. Recommendations also use your grades, intended course, eligibility and available entrance cutoffs.

All / All Rounds: 44.4% (119/268; 2023). Fall 2023 first-time first-year applicants; historical, not 2026. Official source

Reported admit rate

43 in 100 applications received an offer in this reported cohort. Year unverified. This is not your personal chance.

From application to first day

Applied 327
Offered a place 141
Enrolled 69

48.9% of students offered a place chose to enrol (the yield).

Scores of enrolled test-submitters

The middle 50% of enrolled students who submitted scores. Test-optional selection can affect these bands.

SAT composite1060-1190
4001600
ACT composite21-26
136

What a year costs

₹46,58,088 published cost of attendance, per year
  • Tuition₹32,57,562
  • Housing₹13,06,594
  • Books & supplies₹93,932
Sticker price ₹46,58,088
After aid (average) ₹13,99,962

Tuition by who is paying

In-state ₹32,57,562
Out-of-state ₹32,57,562

Average aid awarded: ₹23,82,303 a year.

Outcomes and support

83.1%
Retention
74.3%
Graduation
82%
Get financial aid
86%
From out of state

One teacher for every 6 students

Small classes: professors will know your name.

Who studies here

As reported by the college; shares may not add up to 100.

White 35.4%
African American 10.6%
Hispanic 5%
Multiracial 4.7%
Unknown 2.4%
Asian 0.9%

1 programme

  • Bachelor's

Programmes

ProgrammeLevel
Area Studiesbachelor
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Techniciansbachelor
Business Administration, Management and Operationsbachelor
Chemistrybachelor
Communication and Media Studiesbachelor
Computer Sciencebachelor
Dancebachelor
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraftbachelor
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biologybachelor
Economicsbachelor
Education, Generalbachelor
Engineering Sciencebachelor
English Language and Literature, Generalbachelor
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operationsbachelor
Finance and Financial Management Servicesbachelor
Fine and Studio Artsbachelor
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciencesbachelor
Historybachelor
International Relations and National Security Studiesbachelor
International/Globalization Studiesbachelor
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Servicesbachelor
Marketingbachelor
Mathematicsbachelor
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Generalbachelor
Musicbachelor
Natural Resources Conservation and Researchbachelor
Philosophybachelor
Physicsbachelor
Political Science and Governmentbachelor
Religion/Religious Studiesbachelor
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studiesbachelor
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguisticsbachelor
Sociologybachelor
Sociology and Anthropologybachelor
Sustainability Studiesbachelor

Every detail

Admissions & Requirements

Acceptance Rate43.1%
Total Applicants327
Admitted Applicants141
Enrolled Applicants69
Fee Waiver AvailableYes
SAT/ACT RequirementConsidered if submitted
GPA RequirementRequired
Class Rank RequirementConsidered if submitted
Recommendations RequiredConsidered if submitted
AP Credit AwardedYes
AP Placement AwardedYes

Deadlines

Test Scores

SAT Composite 25th %1060
SAT Composite 75th %1190
ACT Composite 25th %21
ACT Composite 75th %26

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition₹32,57,562
Out-of-State Tuition₹32,57,562
Average Housing Cost₹13,06,594
Books & Supplies₹93,932
Average Net Price₹13,99,962
Students Receiving Aid82%
Average Aid Awarded₹23,82,303
Out-of-State Students86%

Student Body Diversity

African American10.62%
Asian0.88%
Hispanic5.01%
White35.4%
Multiracial4.72%
Native American0.00
Pacific Islander0.00
International41%
Unknown Race2.36%

Academics & Rankings

School TypePrivate
School SettingRural
Years4
Graduation Rate74.26%
Retention Rate83.13%
Student/Faculty Ratio6:1
Total Undergraduates339

Contact

Street Address1 Maybeck Pl
ZIP Code62028
Phone(618) 374-5181
Websitehttps://www.principiacollege.edu/
Apply (official portal)https://www.commonapp.org/