Centre College

Centre College's program mix is anchored in the social sciences, reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity and emphasis on analytical, policy-oriented, and humanities-adjacent fields. Economics is the largest program with 53 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Biology, General, and International/Globalization Studies.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 332 students annually, the institution's program portfolio reflects a concentration in Social Sciences at 26%, with meaningful presence in Arts at 5% and other STEM fields at 4%. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in fields where Centre College graduates enter the workforce directly.

Economics leads with median earnings of $75,885 four years after enrollment across 53 graduates, while International/Globalization Studies delivers median earnings of $59,531 for 23 graduates. American History (United States) rounds out the top performers with 19 graduates earning median earnings of $51,094 four years after enrollment.

These outcomes reflect the institution's ability to position liberal arts graduates into competitive labor markets, particularly in fields where analytical and communication skills command strong early-career compensation. The program mix balances traditional liberal arts breadth with career-oriented pathways.

Many of Centre College's strongest programs—particularly in Social Sciences and related analytical fields—are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly and earnings reflect competitive labor-market outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with national wage trends and employer demand.

Centre College's published cost of attendance is $67,787. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $11,364, middle-income families pay around $15,847, and higher-income families pay approximately $30,571.

Azimuth ranks Centre College #1037 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Centre College's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through the FAFSA and institutional merit and need-based aid programs. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid programs to help bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay.

Many students receive a combination of scholarships and grants that reduce their net price substantially below the sticker figure. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $50,378; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,933, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Centre College earn median 4-year earnings of $64,933, placing Centre College in the 64.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $57,042 median at comparable institutions.

Azimuth ranks Centre College #564 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Centre College's strength in fields where graduates move quickly into stable, professional roles.

The program lineup centers on Social Sciences, which accounts for a substantial share of degrees and drives consistent mid-career earnings growth. Economics is the largest program with 53 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $75,885, representing 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.

Psychology, General and Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services follow as substantial cohorts, while Biology, General and International/Globalization Studies round out the core academic portfolio. International/Globalization Studies graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $59,531, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for that field.

This concentrated program mix, anchored in Social Sciences, supports both strong early-career earnings and predictable long-term financial outcomes for graduates across Centre College's primary fields.