Centre College
Danville, Kentucky · Private Nonprofit · 54.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 72/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Centre College is a small private liberal arts school in Danville, Kentucky with 1,400 students and a Fair Value ROI score of 72. The school charges $52,820 in tuition but brings it down to a $20,781 net price average through aid. Completion rate is 80.7%, which is strong for a school this size. The challenge is debt: median debt sits at $27,000, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.701 drags down the ROI score. Six-year earnings of $38,500 are modest for a private college. The program mix is heavily liberal arts - Economics is the standout with 52 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $75,885, while programs like Psychology and Romance Languages produce ROI grades of F. For students aiming at graduate or professional school, Centre's strong completion rate and repayment rate (84.8%) suggest it works as a pipeline to further education - but students who stop at a bachelor's face a longer payback horizon of 7.1 years.
Centre College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $52,820/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $52,820/yr |
| Average net price | $20,781/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $83,124 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $66,240 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 80.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,400 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $52,820/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,781/year, or roughly $83,124 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $11,364/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,571/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $27,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $66,240 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.70, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,364 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,388 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,847 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,920 |
| $110,001+ | $30,571 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $11,364 per year - about $45,500 over four years. That is meaningfully higher than public flagship options in Kentucky but manageable if Centre's merit aid stacks well. With six-year earnings of only $38,500 and a 7.1-year payback, low-income families should compare carefully against UK or U of Louisville before committing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket actually pays less ($10,388) than the lowest bracket - an unusual result that may reflect grant packaging. The 48-75k bracket climbs to $15,847 and the 75-110k bracket to $18,920. The cost curve is relatively flat across the middle range, which is a positive signal for families in this range. The spread between brackets is modest.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $30,571 per year, approaching private school sticker territory. At this price, the 7.1-year payback and 0.701 debt-to-earnings are problematic unless the student is bound for graduate school. High-income families paying near full price should scrutinize program choice carefully - Economics gives the best shot at returns; most other majors at Centre do not justify full-price tuition on career earnings alone.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Centre College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $75,885 | C+ |
| Romance Languages | $19,503 | F |
| International/Globalization Studies | $59,531 | D |
| History | $51,094 | C+ |
| Sociology and Anthropology | $29,054 | D |
| Psychology | $26,636 | F |
| Computer Science | $93,000 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Economics
The highest-earning and highest-volume program at Centre, with 52 graduates and median 1-year earnings of $51,077 rising to $75,885 at four years. Debt-to-earnings of 0.529 earns a C+ grade - not great but not alarming for a private school. Economics graduates from Centre typically enter banking, consulting, or continue to MBA programs, where the Centre name carries weight in Kentucky and the broader South. The 4-year earnings trajectory shows meaningful growth, suggesting employers continue to invest in these grads.
History
20 graduates with no 1-year earnings data reported but $51,094 at four years. Debt-to-earnings of 0.528, ROI grade C+. History at Centre, like most liberal arts schools, is a pipeline to law school, government, and graduate education rather than direct-to-career employment. The four-year earnings figure is reasonable for graduates who advance, but students who stop at the bachelor's and don't continue to professional school will struggle with the $27,000 debt load on a modest starting salary.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 82.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 85.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Centre College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 54.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 570-730 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 590-720 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-32 |
| Enrollment | 1,400 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 22.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,723 |
Centre admits 54.4% of applicants - a moderately accessible private college. Admitted students show SAT Math 570-730, SAT Reading 590-720, and ACT 25-32. The middle range suggests a mix of academically driven students. Selectivity is real but not highly competitive; strong grades and activities matter more than test scores.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Centre's peers include Alice Lloyd College (ROI 18, $28,400 median earnings), Asbury University, University of the South (ROI 68, $38,200 earnings), and St. Lawrence University (ROI 69, $43,400 earnings). Centre edges out Alice Lloyd and Asbury on earnings and completion but trails St. Lawrence on earnings ($38,500 vs. $43,400). The University of the South has similar earnings with a better debt profile. Centre's 80.7% completion rate is its strongest comparative advantage - meaningfully higher than most peers. The weak link is the $27,000 median debt, which matches or exceeds every comparable in its peer set.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre College (this school) | 72 | $20,781 | $66,240 |
| St Lawrence University | 69 | $28,651 | $67,258 |
| The University of the South | 68 | $27,872 | $64,911 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Asbury University | 29 | $21,401 | $42,368 |
| Alice Lloyd College | 18 | $18,600 | $40,573 |
Who Thrives Here
Students who plan graduate or professional school after Centre and can access strong merit aid will find it a workable path. The ACT range of 25-32 and SAT Math 570-730 indicate a solid but not elite academic profile. At 22.6% Pell recipients, financial diversity is limited. Premeds and economics majors with graduate ambitions get the most out of Centre's small-class environment and tight alumni network in Kentucky and surrounding states.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Centre College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $20,781 a year after aid ($83,124 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $66,240 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.1 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 80.7% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $27,000 against $66,240 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.