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| Admission and Financing a Centre Education |
| Admission I Financial Aid and Scholarships I Tuition, Payment Plans, and Refund Policies |
- Admission
Admission to Centre is selective. This means that the College
normally enrolls only students who have had strong college preparatory
high school programs and have achieved good academic records in
their course work. Though many students present high school programs
that include more college preparatory courses (including honors
and advanced-level work), the minimum preparation recommended
for admission to Centre includes:
English—4 units
Mathematics—4 units (algebra I and II, geometry, and at least
one advanced math course)
Science—2 units (laboratory courses)
Social studies—2 units
Foreign language—2 units (preferably in the same language)
The arts—some study in this area
If the "core" courses above are not available, or if
unusual circumstances such as home study or foreign travel preclude
such study, the Admission Committee may choose to exercise flexibility.
While the quality of the student’s high school program and
his or her level of achievement are the primary factors in admission
decisions here, we also examine several other items. First, the
results of either the ACT (American College Test) or the SAT I
(Scholastic Assessment Test) are considered. The highest score
attained on either test is used in the admission decision. Second
is a required written essay on a topic provided. Third is a secondary
school evaluation prepared by the high school college counselor.
In addition one written recommendation is required from a teacher
who has taught the student in a college preparatory course during
the junior or senior year. Additional recommendations from a coach,
employer, etc. may be submitted. We also evaluate the student’s
involvement in areas such as school activities, community groups,
and part-time work.
An interview is not a requirement for admission, but we strongly
recommend one to assure that there is a good match between the
student’s interests and talents and Centre’s academic
and nonacademic offerings.
Applications are available beginning in the summer prior to the
senior year. Centre accepts the Common Application in lieu of
its own form and gives equal consideration to both. Students may
obtain copies of the Common Application from their high schools.
Student may also choose to apply online via the College’s
Web site or any one of a number of sites including commonapp.org,
collegeboard.com, and petersons.com. Students are encouraged to
apply as soon as they have decided that Centre is one of their
choices. Students may apply in one of two ways: Early Action or
Regular Admission.
Early Action Plan. Students who want an early evaluation
of their credentials may apply under our Early Action Plan. If
a student postmarks all the required admission application papers
by December 1 of his or her senior year, we will evaluate the
application early and send our official admission decision by
January 1. Unlike the Early Decision Plan, there is no obligation
for the student to make a college choice at that time, as the
required response date is the same as for regular applicants—May
1 of the senior year (the National Candidate’s Reply Date).
Admitted Early Action applicants who complete the Early Estimate
Aid Form will learn of their need based institutional financial
aid in mid January.
Regular Admission Plan. The regular application deadline
is February 1. Students must postmark their applications by February
1. They can expect to receive notification of admission around
March 1, and admitted students must notify the College of their
intentions by May 1. Students are notified of scholarship and
financial aid beginning around the middle of March.
Advanced Placement and Credit
We participate in the Advanced Placement program of the College
Board. Entering freshmen presenting score reports of 4 or 5 on
the Advanced Placement examinations will be notified by the College
regarding placement and/or course credit on positive recommendation
from the appropriate Centre academic program committee. Centre
College also recognizes the International Baccalaureate program
and will generally grant college credit for exam scores of 6 or
7 earned on the higher-level exams. Credit may be awarded for
a grade of 5 or higher on either the subsidiary or higher-level
exams in foreign languages.
College credit earned at another college or university prior to
a student’s graduation from high school normally will not
be considered for transfer to Centre. However, students will be
considered for placement in higher-level courses on the basis
of such course work. Students wishing to transfer college credits
earned during the summer prior to enrollment at Centre must have
those courses approved for transfer in advance by Centre’s
registrar. Transferable credits become part of the student’s
Centre academic record after the satisfactory completion of one
long term at the College.
Admission of Transfer Students
We welcome applications from qualified students who want to transfer
from other colleges or universities. Transfer applications are
evaluated using the following criteria: first, the quality of
academic performance in previous college courses; second, the
level of preparation and academic achievement in secondary school;
third, academic aptitude and achievement as measured by such tests
as the ACT or SAT I; and fourth, a written essay. Involvement
in school or community activities or in employment is also considered.
At minimum, a transfer student should be in good academic and
social standing at his/her previous institution and be eligible
to return there. Normally, the student should have had high school
preparation equivalent to Centre’s freshman admission requirements.
Credit is given for courses comparable to those taught at Centre
or those which are compatible with a liberal arts education. Credit
will be granted only for courses in which the grade attained was
"C-" or better.
Transfer students must complete all of the College’s requirements
for graduation. In addition, they must complete at least 42 credit
hours at Centre, including 23 of the last 30. A portion of Centre’s
general education requirements may be required through course
work at Centre.
International Students
Centre welcomes applications from foreign citizens who have outstanding
secondary school records and who meet university entrance requirements
in their native countries.
Application forms and instructions for international students
are available from the Office of Admission. Foreign students should
not expect need-based financial assistance but may be considered
for competitive merit scholarships. Foreign applicants whose native
language is not English must present credentials attesting to
their proficiency in English. The Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL) is required for all nonactive speakers of English
unless they have studied in an institution in which English is
the sole medium of instruction. The minimum TOEFL score accepted
is 580. TOEFL registration information can be obtained by writing
to TOEFL; P.O. Box 6151; Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151, or
through the Web at www.toefl.org.
Campus Visits
We strongly encourage prospective students to visit the campus.
Normally a visit will include touring the campus with a Centre
student, meeting with an admission counselor, and attending a
class or meeting with an appropriate faculty member. Overnight
visits are encouraged and are normally available Sunday through
Thursday nights during the school year, with a week’s advance
notice. Airport pick-ups at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport
are also available.
The Admission Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST)
Monday though Friday all year and on selected Saturdays from September
through April from 9 a.m. until noon. We appreciate advance notice
of a visit to ensure the best arrangements. Please write for an
appointment or call 1-800-423-6236.
Financial
Aid and Scholarships
Need-Based Financial Assistance
Students seeking need-based financial assistance at Centre must
file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The
FAFSA serves as an application and need-analysis document for
federal and state financial aid funds (grants, loans, and student
employment) as well as Centre’s own generous grant program.
In addition to filing the FAFSA, each applicant must submit the
Centre Aid Form to our Student Financial Planning Office by March
1. Also, a copy of the parents’ and student’s previous
year’s federal income tax returns may be requested.
Consideration for financial aid and scholarships is made after
the student has officially been offered admission to the College.
The College does not discriminate in either admission or financial
assistance based upon race, sex, national or ethnic origin, age,
creed or disability.
All aid applicants receive consideration for federal and state
programs before the College provides additional aid from its own
funds. Because each need-based award reflects the financial circumstances
of the student’s family, strict confidentiality is maintained
concerning financial awards. Subject to the applicant’s annual
eligibility status, it is our intent to continue aid to a student
for the four-year undergraduate program at Centre. However, the
grant, loan, and work percentages of an individual’s aid
package may vary from year to year depending on the availability
of funds and Centre’s financial-aid policies.
Satisfactory Academic Requirements
for Financial Aid Availability
The Education Amendments of 1976 stipulate that no advance of
Title IV funds may be made to a student unless the educational
institution determines that the student is maintaining satisfactory
academic progress. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory
progress may not receive the following types of financial aid:
Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grants, KHEAA State Grants, Centre Endowment Grants, Federal Work-Study,
Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans,
other aid involving Title IV funds, or any other aid for which
satisfactory progress is a requirement. These policies apply only
to eligibility to receive financial aid.
Eligibility Requirements. A full-time student is considered to
have made satisfactory academic progress provided he/she passes
at least 21 credit hours per academic year. Three-quarter time
students must pass 15 credit hours, and half-time students must
pass nine credit hours. Also, the student must maintain a cumulative
minimum grade average as outlined below.
| long term # |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 and beyond |
| grade average |
1.65 |
1.75 |
1.85 |
1.93 |
1.97 |
2.00 |
(admitted fall term 1994/thereafter)
No student will be eligible to receive campus-based aid (Federal
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Centre Endowment Grant,
Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study) for more than 10 long
terms for a four-year program. Academic progress for transfer
students will be evaluated in accordance with the student’s
grade level classification and academic performance at Centre.
Withdrawal. A student will be allowed only two withdrawals
from the College per academic lifetime while receiving Title IV
assistance.
Aid for Part of a Term. If a student receives financial
aid for any part of a term, that term is counted as a complete
term of aid. Incompletes or repetitions will not be counted as
meeting the minimum course requirements.
Enrollment Requirement. A student must enroll in a minimum of
12 credit hours each long term to receive maximum financial aid.
Annual Review. Satisfactory academic progress will be reviewed
each June.
Probation. A student whose academic performance drops below
the minimum standards will be placed on financial-aid probation.
A student can retain financial aid while on probation for one
long term, but must come off probation before the next long term
in order to retain financial aid.
Re-Establishing Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students
may re-establish satisfactory academic progress by improving their
cumulative grade average and credit hours to meet the required
satisfactory academic progress standards in any subsequent term.
Students who comply and who submit a written request to the Enrollment
Management Committee may have their eligibility reinstated for
the Federal Pell Grant, KHEAA State Grant, Federal Stafford Loan,
Federal Work Study, and FPLUS Loan programs only. Eligibility
will begin in the next term. Consideration for any other aid will
be contingent upon the availability of funds.
Exception. The satisfactory progress requirements are waived
for students whose enrollment is continued on a probationary status
beyond one long term following an individual review by the Academic
Standards Committee.
Notification of Withdrawal of Aid. Any student receiving
financial aid who does not meet the satisfactory progress requirements
and whose aid must be withdrawn will be given written notice.
The student is responsible for seeing that the Office of the Registrar
has the correct mailing address at all times.
Right of Appeal. Any student whose financial aid has been
terminated may submit a written appeal to the Dean of Admission
and Student Financial Planning explaining why satisfactory progress
was not maintained and giving any reasons why aid should not be
terminated.
All appeals must be submitted within two weeks from the date the
student receives notification that his/her financial aid has been
terminated. The committee’s decision is final.
Students who receive the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship
(KEES) are required to meet a state-mandated minimum grade point
average in order to maintain eligibility for the scholarship.
Please consult the KHEAA.com Web site for further information.
Scholarships
Centre offers competitive scholarships to selected students who
have established outstanding academic and personal records in
high school. These scholarships (often referred to as "merit"
scholarships) are awarded without regard to financial need. All
admitted applicants will be considered for merit scholarship.
Admission applications must be postmarked on or before February
1.
Any scholarship received by a student is applied toward tuition
costs at the College. Scholarship winners may also be eligible
for additional need-based financial assistance. The Centre Aid
Form (CAF) and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
must be filed for need-based aid.
Merit awards require full-time enrollment. Retention of
merit awards requires meeting minimum grade point averages that
are graduated according to the size of the award. Such requirements
are communicated to the student in the original scholarship notification
in the spring of the student's high school year. Loss of a merit
scholarship for failing to meet the minimum grade point average
is not automatic; students are permitted to petition the Academic
Standards Committee for an exception based on credible reasons.
The Associate Dean of the College has been designated counselor
for merit scholarship recipients and is available to answer further
questions.
Tuition, Payment
Plans, and Refund Policies
Many families are concerned about financing a college education.
We provide a variety of options to assist students and their families
in meeting their financial obligation to the College.
Tuition and fees provide approximately 60 percent of the annual
income required to support the College operating budget. Other
funding is provided by endowment income, corporate, foundation,
and government grants, and by contributions from alumni and friends
of the College.
2003-2004 Tuition and Fees
| Tuition and Fees |
$20,400* |
| Room |
$3,500 (double) |
|
$4,600 (single) |
| Board |
$3,530 (16 meal w/$250 flex dollars) |
|
$3,400 (13 meal w/$275 flex dollars) |
|
$3,270 (10 meal w/$300 flex dollars |
*There are additional nonrefundable
surcharges for long-term residential study abroad programs.
Payment Plans
Term Plan. The net charges for the fall term are to be
paid in full by August 8, 2003. The spring term charges are due
by December 23, 2003. There is no carrying fee associated with
this plan.
Academic Management Services (AMS) Plan. A 10, 11, or 12
payment option will be offered through AMS. This program is interest
free with the first payments due on April 27, May 27 or June 27,
depending on the option selected. Monthly payments are made to
AMS based on the amount contracted. There is a $55.00 annual enrollment
fee. Caution: Contracting with AMS for the incorrect amount of
tuition and fees may result in additional amounts being owed.
Refunds
If a student withdraws from the College, a refund/reduction of
charges will be made based on the following schedule for the respective
14-week terms:
| Fall Term |
Spring Term |
Percent Refund |
| Sept. 8-14 |
Feb. 4-10 |
80% |
| Sept. 15-21 |
Feb. 11-17 |
60% |
| Sept. 22-28 |
Feb. 18-24 |
40% |
| Sept. 29 - Oct. 5 |
Feb. 25 - Mar. 2 |
20% |
| Oct. 6 & after |
Mar. 3 & after |
0% |
- Financial aid credits may be adjusted
as a result of any decrease in charges based on the above table
due to withdrawal from the College. If a student violates the
terms and conditions of the student housing contract or other
College regulations, and such violation results in disciplinary
action which includes some form of suspension or expulsion, this
refund policy does not apply and the student will be held liable
for the full charges for that term. Recipients of federal and
state financial aid are subject to the federal "Return of
Title IV Funds" policy, which mandates how funds are to be
refunded. A copy of this policy is available in the Finance Office.
Other Financial Information
Student billing statements are mailed to the student at his/her
permanent address. If a campus or alternate billing address is
required, a form containing such information must be completed
by the student in the Registrar's Office.
Interest will accrue at the rate of one and one-half percent (1-1/2%)
a month on the unpaid balance. This does not apply to those students
who have contracted with AMS and are paying by the terms of the
contract. A student's account must be paid in full before any
monies are accepted for the next year's Centre Term trip deposits.
Exceptions are any amounts contracted with AMS.
NOTE: A student cannot receive official certifications, including
transcripts and grades, from the College if he/she is delinquent
in any financial obligation to the College. Additionally, a student
will not be permitted to participate in any pre-registration activities
if there are unpaid balances owed to the College. If an unpaid
balance remains after the student has graduated or withdrawn,
the student will be responsible for all attorney fees and other
reasonable collection costs and charges necessary for the collection
of the unpaid balance.
During the course of the year additional charges may be assessed
for various miscellaneous items such as library fines, parking
fines, health service fees, and room damages. Monthly statements
will be sent to the student's permanent address indicating any
additional charges assessed in the prior month. These amounts
are due on receipt of the statement. Additionally, there are course
fees assessed for applied music courses and certain art courses.
A $250 tuition deposit is assessed for those students who plan
to return for fall term 2004. This deposit is due by April 14,
2004. Seniors are assessed a $50 graduation fee. This fee covers
the cost of diplomas, graduation expenses, and transcript services.
Note that a single room occupancy charge is assessed for any full
academic term that a student does not have a roommate unless the
Dean of Student Life or Assistant Director of Student Life for
Housing informs the Finance Office that an exception should be
made. The charge is $550 for each fourteen-week term.
Full tuition is assessed for all students, including regular students
permitted by the Associate Dean and the Dean of Student Life to
drop to part-time status. Nontraditional students permitted to
enroll part-time are assessed an appropriate part time rate.
Enrollment of readmitted students and of students returning from
a leave of absence is subject to clearance from the Finance Office
to make certain that the student has no outstanding financial
obligations to the College. In addition, the payment of a $250
nonrefundable deposit is to be made to the Finance Office.
Personal checks are accepted on campus and VISA and MasterCard
are accepted in the bookstore and the Finance Office. There is
a $15 charge for all returned checks. Personal checks up to $100
may be cashed at the Finance Office by showing a current student
ID card. The cashier's window is open from 8:30 a.m. - noon and
from 1:00 - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.
An elective health insurance plan is available through an independent
company. The Parsons Student Health Center provides detailed information
about the plan at the beginning of each academic year.
Students are responsible for the individual or family insurance
coverage of personal belongings and automobiles brought to the
campus. Centre College will not assume any liability for accidental
loss or damage incurred.
Students may change their meal plan option only during the first
two weeks of the fall and CentreTerms.
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