RELEASED: Sept. 25, 2003

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College students' pockets may not be pinched as tightly as most students attending U.S. News & World Report top-50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre was recently in a three-way tie for 45th among national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report and is the most affordable of the top-50.

With a total cost of $27,300 that includes tuition, fees and room/board for the 2003-2004 academic year, Centre has the lowest price tag and is one of only five top-50 schools with total costs less than $30,000. The rest of the top-50 had comprehensive costs ranging from $30,000 to more than $40,000. U.S. News ranked Centre 16th among the national liberal arts colleges that offer the best value in education.

"Centre has worked hard to remain one of the nation's best values," said Carey Thompson, dean of admission and student financial planning at Centre. "We owe a lot to our alumni. They give to make this happen."

Centre also offers need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships to a majority of its students. More than 80 percent of Centre students receive financial assistance, nearly 60 percent receive need-based financial aid, and more than half receive merit-based scholarships.

In comparison to the public universities in the Commonwealth, Centre's value is amplified with a four-year graduation rate of around 80 percent—approximately three times higher than the four-year graduation rate of the state's flagship public university, the University of Kentucky.

"The typical state flagship institution is graduating fewer than a third of their students in four years and most of those who do graduate, do so in six years resulting in two years worth of lost salary and career opportunity," Thompson said. "Centre's ability to provide a top-flight education, experience, move students into productive careers and the best graduate schools in four years, more than compensates for the expense."

Centre has the highest national ranking of any Kentucky college or university in the U.S. News rankings.

To learn more about Centre College and how to apply, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/admission/index.html.

Centre senior Jennifer Paul contributed to this article.

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