Affordability
Dollars and Sense
Can I afford a Principia College education?
College is an extraordinary learning experience. We believe it should be an affordable one too, which is why we do our best to make sure everyone admitted to Principia College can afford it.
But College is Expensive, Right?
True, especially if you look at the sticker price alone. Use our Net Price Calculator and get an estimate of your net price and aid eligibility.
$42,240
2020–21 Principia College Cost
But don’t stop there! Let’s make sense of how much you’ll really pay.
The sticker price cost includes these three categories:
- $29,970: Tuition
- $5,810: Room
- $6,460: Board
From here, Principia College offers scholarships and/or need-based financial aid to help offset the sticker price cost. So, the actual cost to consider is what remains AFTER scholarships, grants, and loans have been applied. This number is often referred to as the net price. Your actual cost will be unique to you and tailored to your family’s situation, taking into consideration merit scholarship, need levels, and other criteria.
Average Percent of Students Who Apply for Financial Aid: 75%
Average Percent of Students Who Apply for and Receive Financial Aid: 95%
Average Percent of Need Met for Undergraduate Students: 92%
$33,300 Is the Average Need-Based Financial Aid Package for First-Time First-Year Students
What types of aid are available?
There are three main types of financial support you may qualify to receive. Your financial aid package may combine some or all of these items to help you cover the cost.
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Scholarships (for first-time students and transfers)
You are automatically considered for all scholarships when you complete your admissions application process. Scholarship money does not have to be repaid.
Scholarships -
Need-Based Grants
Principia College does not use or accept any federal or state funding. Instead we use our own institutional funding and we award this money based on financial need. This is also money that does not have to be repaid. -
Need-Based Student Loans – Up to $6,000
That’s the maximum loan amount that Principia awards per year to ensure that students don’t graduate with crushing levels of debt.
Among Principia students who’ve taken out loans, their average four-year loan amount is around $20,000. The national average for college debt is $31,172. (Source: credit.com)
What Others Say about Our Affordability
Principia College is frequently recognized for value and affordability. Here are a few recent reviews and rankings:
Kiplinger ranks Principia College #42 in the nation among its 2018 best value liberal arts colleges.
U.S. News & World Report ranked us #5 on its 2019 Best Value listing of national liberal arts colleges.
LendEDU ranked us in the top 10 percent in the nation for students graduating with low amounts of debt.
Of course, an affordable education isn’t much of a bargain unless it comes with exceptional value—and students graduate from Principia with a long list of noteworthy accomplishments and are well prepared for wherever their journey takes them.