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RELEASED: Sept. 2, 2004
DANVILLE, KY—In a time of rising higher education costs, Centre remains the most affordable of the U.S. News & World Report's top 50 liberal arts colleges. Centre was recently ranked in a three-way tie for 42nd among liberal arts colleges (the highest national ranking of any Kentucky institution).
With a total cost of $29,100, which includes tuition, and room and board for the 2004-05 academic year, Centre has the lowest price tag and is the only top-50 school with total costs less than $30,000. U.S. News ranked Centre 13th among liberal arts colleges offering the best value in education and the Princeton Review recently ranked the College as the No. 4 "best bargain private college" in the nation.
"Centre has held the distinction of being the most affordable top-50 liberal arts college for several years now," says Carey Thompson, dean of admission and financial planning at Centre. "We're able to do this thanks to the outstanding support of our alumni. Centre was again No. 1 in annual alumni-giving support this year. This type of commitment helps current and future Centre students receive a personal education at a lower cost."
Centre 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 public universities in the Commonwealth, Centre's value is amplified with a four-year graduation rate of around 80 percent—substantially higher than the four-year rates of the state's universities and the highest rate of any educational institution in Kentucky.
Centre also has the highest national ranking of any Kentucky college or university in the U.S. News and Princeton Review rankings.
To learn more about Centre and how to apply, go to http://www.centre.edu/web/admission/howtoapply.html.
Centre sophomore Rachel Tapley contributed to this article.
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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/
For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.
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Centre College
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Danville, KY 40422
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