When Centre reviews an international applicant for admission, we need some reassurance that, if admitted, the student will be able to afford to attend our institution. That is why we ask for the Certificate of Finance which states the family’s ability to pay for education. It is sometimes the case that while a student’s credentials would make them a very qualified applicant, we will not be able to offer admission due to a lack of finances. We do sometimes place students on a financial aid waitlist, which indicates that while we would like to offer admission, we are unable to do so unless the student: a) receives a premier scholarship from Centre, or b) the family amends the Certificate of Finance to show a greater capacity to pay educational expenses.
If a student needs a significant amount of financial assistance to afford attendance to Centre College (beyond our general international student merit scholarships), they should apply separately for the Lincoln Scholars Program, which provides full financial support. The Program is open to international applicants and requires a separate online application. The deadline to apply for this program is December 1; finalists are named in February and recipients are named in April.
Financial Aid
Need-based financial aid grants are available to highly qualified students and can be combined with merit scholarships. Over the last three years, these grants ranged from $3,000-$21,000, with the average grant of $11,000 awarded to highly qualified admitted students who required additional financial support.
For students receiving financial aid, the college has limits to the aid available, leaving an average annual contribution of $25,000 USD per year for an international student receiving financial aid. If you are an international student who is unable to afford this approximate amount, you should apply for the Lincoln Scholars Program.
If a student wants/needs full funding to attend Centre, they can apply separately for the Lincoln Scholars Program, which is Centre’s only option for covering the full cost of attendance.