Danville, KY · Private University
Is Centre College Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$66,240
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$50,550
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$50,550
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$202,200
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.31x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
6.5 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
85.3%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$27,000
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$21,497
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Centre College graduates earn $21,240 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Centre College ranked by graduate earnings
71 graduates
18 graduates
22 graduates
30 graduates
20 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Centre College
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Centre College, the gap between the highest-earning major (Economics: $67,177) and the lowest (International/Global Studies: $35,367) is $31,810/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| EconomicsBest ROI | $67,177 | 1.3x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $65,445 | 1.3x |
| Sociology and Anthropology | $54,158 | 1.1x |
| Psychology, General | $48,226 | 0.9x |
| International/Global StudiesLowest(1yr data) | $35,367 | 0.7x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre College | 1.31x | $66,240 | Average ROI |
| The University of the South | 1.21x | $64,911 | Average ROI |
| Austin College | 1.32x | $61,296 | Average ROI |
| DePauw University | 1.24x | $70,527 | Average ROI |
| Yeshiva University | 1.43x | $71,353 | Average ROI |
| Wofford College | 1.27x | $68,964 | Average ROI |
The Bottom Line
Centre College delivers returns in line with the national college average. Graduates earn $66,240 10 years after starting — $21,240 above the national median of $45,000. Graduates typically break even on their investment within 6.5 years, a reasonable timeline.
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See your odds of admission based on your GPA and test scores.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.