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Elsah , IL
Principia College is a private liberal arts college located in Elsah, Illinois. Established in 1912, the college is affiliated with the Christian Science Church. The focus of Principia College is on providing a challenging academic environment where students can develop their intellectual, spiritual, and ethical capacities.
At Principia College, students have the opportunity to pursue a range of majors and minors in fields such as the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and fine arts. The college's curriculum is designed to emphasize critical thinking, clear communication, and experiential learning. With a low student-to-faculty ratio, students benefit from personalized attention and guidance from professors who are committed to their success.
Additionally, Principia College places a strong emphasis on character development and spiritual growth. The college's commitment to the teachings of Christian Science is reflected in its mission to empower students to live principled lives of strong moral integrity. Students are encouraged to explore ethical, moral, and spiritual issues and to develop values that will guide them in their personal and professional lives.
Overall, Principia College provides a holistic education that combines intellectual rigor with spiritual development. With a strong academic program and a supportive community, students at Principia College are prepared to make positive contributions to society and to lead principled lives.
Located in Elsah, IL and set in a rural environment, Principia College is a private four-year college. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 42%. The freshman retention rate at Principia College is 82.14% and the six-year graduation rate is 75%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is June 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is June 15.
Learn more about what Principia College has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
339
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$34,800
Tuition
6:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
75%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to maximize your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Learn some important facts about admission policy and requirements at Principia College.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 141 in 2025. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 35% and ACT scores 22%. 6% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 42% between 1,200 and 1,399, 42% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 17% between 800 and 999. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 7, 40 between 24-29, 53 in the range between 18-23, and 18 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 24 while the average GPA was 3.63. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Principia College; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 581 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 565.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by June 15. If you are applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is June 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Principia College was 82.14%, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 75%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 339 students.
The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 339, 139 of which were foreign students. The school reported to have a total of 21 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 199 male and 140 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 3, while the number of Black American students was 36. 17 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 16 as multirace. There were also 8 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this institution have.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Principia College? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $34,800 in 2025. Principia College is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,130.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to consider is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to allocate about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at Principia College.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, room and board cost at Principia College amounted to $14,360 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school totaled $7,180, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $7,180.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 34,800 |
| Room and Board | $ 14,360 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 50,160 |
Financial Aid
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based aid at Principia College.
The most recent records show that 62 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students added up to $35,755.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
277 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 305.
$11,500
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 310 students overall (including freshmen) at Principia College in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 58 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $5,060,884. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
6:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at Principia College was 6:1. That means that there were 6 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 71 teachers at this school. This number included 38 men and 33 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some information about social life at Principia College.
Its campus spans 2,600 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
According to recently gathered data, there are 34 open-membership organizations at Principia College. The most popular student organization is Student Government, followed by Rugby Club and Solidarity (Multi-club group). Other popular organizations at Principia College are Community Service Team and Christian Science Organization.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Principia College publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Principia College offers a number of services crucial for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol available 24/7. There is a medical clinic. All in all, campus life at Principia College is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Principia College.
Career Counselling
At Principia College, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career.
FAQ
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Principia College is located in Elsah, IL.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Principia College is 34,800 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Principia College is 42%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Principia College is 82.14%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.