Déjà vu all over again: Centre's entering freshman class again sets all-time records

DANVILLE, KY—A record 332 freshmen are scheduled to arrive at Centre College on Aug. 24. As was the case with the class of 2009, which came to Centre last year, the Class of 2010 is consistent with the high academic profile Centre has traditionally maintained and again features the most out of state students in Centre history.

"Once again, we're thrilled with the record number of new students," says Carey Thompson, dean of admission and student financial planning, who adds that "the Class of 2010 will also stand out as one of the most diverse and high-achieving groups in recent years."

Out-of-state students make up nearly 40 percent of the freshman class, with minority and international students representing eight percent of the total. Both figures are significant improvements over recent years. The strongest gains in out-of-state enrollment were in Massachusetts, Tennessee, Ohio and Georgia. The class is also quite diverse socio-economically: more than six out of 10 students receive need-based financial aid, a proportion that is unusually high for schools like Centre.

Academically, well over half of students (62 percent, up from 56 percent last year) were in the top 10 percent of their high school class, and the average ACT score is 27.44. Both are consistent with Centre's numbers from over the past 10 years and represent the strongest new student profile of any Kentucky college or university.

The class is 57 percent female and 43 percent male. Twenty-eight states are represented. More than four out of 10 Centre freshmen plan to compete on a varsity team. Twenty-three freshmen are receiving Fine Arts scholarships for music or drama. And the Class of 2010 includes the first group of students coming to Centre in partnership with the Posse Foundation. Posse recruits and trains youth leaders from urban public high schools and sends these groups as "posses" to top colleges and universities (click here for more about the Posse Foundation).

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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/

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