Top 25: Centre College among nation’s best in latest U.S. News and World Report rankings

Centre College climbed the prestigious U.S. News and World Report 2024 Best Colleges rankings, with rankings for value and study abroad leading the way.

Centre is the top-ranked school in the state of Kentucky for best value. The College improved to 17th in “Best Value” rankings, up five spots from last year and the second-straight year with improvements in value.

“The return on a Centre College education cannot be overstated,” Centre College President Milton C. Moreland said. “Centre prepares its students for lives of learning, leadership and service and has proven its commitment to the student experience through robust study abroad opportunities, guaranteed undergraduate research and internship experiences, and career readiness."

“It’s rewarding to see our intentional, strategic focus on making a world-class liberal arts and sciences education available to all students be recognized,” Moreland said. “It’s a core value for Centre College and we will continue to knock down barriers for promising students and give them the tools to shape a rewarding future.”

The College has emphasized value and affordability, with nine out of ten students receiving aid. Centre ranks seventh in the nation for merit aid awarded, and first-generation student resources have ballooned with programs like the Grissom Scholars, Kessler Scholars and Thrive Enrichment funds. Centre’s efforts have resulted in significant growth in Pell-eligible students, who now comprise 22 percent of the student population. As part of a commitment to student success and support, Centre is working to reach a student body that is 25 percent Pell-eligible by 2027.

That emphasis is reflected strongly in the U.S. News rankings, which have placed an added importance on how often each schools’ students from all socioeconomic backgrounds earned degrees. U.S. News also looked at graduate outcomes, where Centre boasts incredible post-graduate success with 98 percent of graduates employed or engaged in advanced study within a year of graduation. Additionally, the introduction of all-new Career Exploration Communities will expand pathways to more personalized plans for internships, jobs and graduate school opportunities.

Centre also ranked in the top 25 in study abroad program rankings, just behind Yale University and tied with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Centre boasts the highest-ranked study abroad program in the state of Kentucky, with 85 percent of students studying abroad at least once. Nearly half of Centre’s student population does so more than once.

“Students can learn and explore in immersive study abroad programs around the world while at Centre,” Moreland said. “It is an opportunity that we guarantee to all students, opening doors to new cultures and experiences.”

Centre climbed 22 spots in the “Top Performers on Social Mobility” rankings and added marks in undergraduate economics and psychology programs.

Interested in becoming a Colonel? Learn more at centre.edu or take a virtual tour to see what makes Centre one of the top ranked colleges in the nation.