Admission Requirements

Our decision to give you the opportunity to apply with or without standardized test scores is rooted in our mission to provide greater access, fairness, and individual choice in the admission process. We want you to be able to put your “best foot forward.” It is entirely up to you whether or not you choose to submit standardized test scores to Centre College. You can trust us to evaluate your application in a way that benefits you best, whether you send your scores or not.

Centre has long relied on a comprehensive approach to reviewing applications, and standardized test performance has only ever been one of many parts of that review.

You can trust us to evaluate your application in a way that benefits you best, whether you send your scores or not. Submitting standardized test scores gives us an additional data point in the process, and we will decide after reviewing your application if including your test score improves your evaluation. If so, great! If it doesn’t, we’ll simply ignore the score and go with the original evaluation. The process is designed to ensure the greatest benefit to you.

If you do not submit test scores, we will simply put more emphasis on other attributes, information, and accomplishments that are included in the application.

You may submit your standardized test scores knowing that submission of scores will never hurt and can only help the application review. Know, though, that the choice to not submit scores will not negatively impact the application review in any way.

Our application evaluation process is one with multiple checkpoints. Before we read your application for the first time, our office staff diligently uploads materials and combs through the details to make sure we’re honoring your request to not consider your standardized test scores. Even if we receive your scores, if you do not want us to see them, we assure you that we will not consider them during the review of your application. You may submit your scores if you have them. They will never hurt and can only help in the review of your file.

The short answer is “no, not really.” But your assigned counselor is here to be your ally and advocate in this college process. Keep in mind that submitting standardized test scores will not in any way negatively impact the evaluation of your application. Submitting your scores can only help you. Submitting your scores allows us to make the call on whether or not to incorporate them into the review process.

In the Centre College supplemental portion of the Common App, there is a question that asks you very specifically whether or not you would like us to review your test scores as part of your file review. You may select “Yes” (which will allow us the ability to incorporate those scores if they will help your review or ignore them if they will not) or select “No.” If you select “No,” we will not factor in your standardized test scores in any way in your application review.

In your application portal, you’ll be able to see if we have received test scores for your application file. You are most welcome to reach out to your assigned admission counselor at any time to check on the status of these or any of your other application materials.

In order to review applications with care and attention, we begin reviewing completed files even before the stated application deadline. For that reason, if you wish to change your testing plan (test-optional or test-included), we ask that you do so no later than the application deadline for your application plan. You should make your requests by email to the Admission Office so that a member of our staff can give you official confirmation. If you have a complication or change of heart after the deadline, contact us. We will work with individual cases if our process allows.

Email the Admission Office

Yes, but you should take these scores with a proverbial “grain of salt.” Centre, like many other institutions, is entering uncharted territory as a newly test-optional school, and we are confident that these numbers will shift moving forward. That said, our midranges for applicants last year were 26-32 (ACT) and 1200-1390 (SAT); approximately 25% of admitted students scored below the lower score while approximately 25% of admitted students scored above the higher score.

We award a maximum of 24 hours of pre-matriculation credits to first-year students from all sources (e.g., Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, dual-credit, all other college credit). Students who exceed the 24-hour limit may choose which credits will be awarded and you may adjust your choices later subject to the constraints of any other College policies. We will not award credit for any course or examination completed prior to the start of your junior year in high school. Regardless of credit granted, students must complete at least one general education course in residence in the following three areas: social studies, science, and fundamental questions.

Centre awards a minimum of three hours of credit for scores of 4 or 5 on most Advanced Placement exams. Credit for foreign language requires validation by an institutional exam. Academic programs may award additional credit and assign course equivalencies.

Learn More about Credits

Most of our students completed high school programs with honors, advanced, AP, or IB courses. Competitive applicants will have taken the most demanding courses available at their high schools. The committee will carefully consider your high school profile and the options offered at that school.

We recalculate each grade point average (GPA) using an unweighted, 4.0 scale. We include only core academic courses in the recalculation and will consider the trajectory of grades across the high school years.

Centre’s evaluation process places emphasis on steady involvement, leadership, and prominence of organizations and activities in which you are involved. You should include any work experience on your application as well.

The essay allows the admission committee to get a more personal sense of who you are. It should demonstrate your ability to write a well-crafted piece.

We accept teacher recommendations from core academic course teachers who have taught you in your sophomore, junior, or senior year.

Centre has a test-optional admission policy.

If you would like us to consider your test scores in our review process, you can send your score reports from the respective testing services, included on your high school transcript, or emailed to admission@centre.edu by your guidance counselor. You can self-report scores by submitting a screenshot or PDF of the score report via email to admission@centre.edu.

Centre superscores both the SAT and the ACT, meaning that if you have taken either test more than once, you should submit all your scores, and we will add your highest section scores together to give you the highest possible combined score.

International applicants applying to Centre do not need to submit the SAT or ACT but must demonstrate proficiency in English. Official results from the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) are acceptable. Our required minimum for the TOEFL is 93, IELTS is 7.0, and DET is 125.

Learn about International Applicant Test Scores