First-Year Applicants
We are so excited to support your application journey!
Start your application now with:
Domestic Applicants
*A domestic first-year applicant is defined as a US Citizen or Permanent Resident. Applicants with DACA status should apply as a domestic student.
Deadlines: Important Dates to Remember
Principia College offers multiple application paths for domestic first- year applicants. We encourage you to apply early and receive an early response from us on admission and merit scholarship awards.
Plan ahead to have your application materials in before the deadline.
An application submission and transcript must be received to be considered complete. Please contact your admissions counselor or call the Office of Admissions if you have questions or have difficulty submitting any part of your application.
Application Path: | Apply By: | Decision By: | Enroll By: |
Early Decision | November 1 | December 2 | January 10 |
Early Action I | December 2 | January 6 | May 1 |
Early Action II | January 6 | February 10 | May 1 |
Regular Decision | March 3 | April 7 | May 1 |
Regular Decision (Space Available) | After March 3 | Rolling | June 13 |
Application Pathways
Early Decision
If Principia is your first choice, consider applying Early Decision. You can reduce the level of stress in selecting a college by being among the first to receive an admissions decision and knowing months earlier than if you apply Regular Decision.
Applying Early Decision indicates a commitment to attend if admitted. When admitted under Early Decision, you agree to withdraw applications to any other colleges, so it is expected you would not apply Early Decision to more than one institution.
Early Action
Early Action applications will receive an earlier decision but may apply to other colleges and can wait to hear from them before making a final decision. Principia offers two rounds of early application consideration.
Complete your application by December 2 (Early Action I), and we'll send an admission decision by January 6. Apply by the January 6 deadline (Early Action II) and receive an admission decision by February 10.
Regular Decision
Apply by March 3 to receive an admission decision by April 7. You'll need to reply to our offer by May 1.
Regular Decision (space available)
Applications received after March 3 will be reviewed on a rolling basis. You'll typically receive an admission decision within 2-4 weeks after submitting a complete application. After May 1, you’ll need to reply to our offer within two weeks of being admitted.
Required Application Materials
1. Common Application
- Create a Common Application and add Principia College to your college list.
2. Transcript
- What do you mean by “transcript”?
- We are looking for a document (i.e., mark sheet, progress report, grade sheet, report card) that shows us what subjects you have studied each year of high school and the grades/marks you earned in each subject.
- What are the options for submitting a transcript?
- For evaluation purposes, an unofficial copy of your high school transcript submitted to the Admissions Office is sufficient until the official copy is received.
- Official transcripts can be submitted using an online platform. Our preferred delivery sources are Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, Scoir or Encoura.
- A final official transcript will be required prior to enrollment. Your guidance counselor can send an official copy of your transcript to the Admissions Office college.admissions@principia.edu. If an electronic submission is not possible, official transcripts may be mailed directly from your high school to the Principia College Admissions Office at 1 Maybeck Place, Elsah, IL 62028.
- All high school transcripts are evaluated to determine GPA scores which are used for admission and scholarship decisions.
Optional Application Materials
SAT/ACT Scores
Our holistic approach ensures that each student is seen as their unlimited self, not simply as a test score. Standardized test scores are not required for admission consideration, however they can be used to determine academic scholarships, often improving a student’s eligibility for a higher award level.
Students wondering whether to submit a standardized test score or not, should consider the following:
- If scores are an accurate representation of the student’s ability, feel free to submit them. If they are not, then don’t submit them.
- If the student gets the score they hoped for, and especially if it qualifies the student for a higher level of academic scholarship, submitting the score may be helpful in the admission process.
- A high SAT or ACT score can offset a low GPA. If a student does not submit a score, Principia has less information about academic performance. If a student has a low GPA but does well on the SAT or ACT, the test score can be an important indicator of the applicant’s potential to succeed in college-level classes.
Applicants choosing to submit test scores should be aware that Principia requires a minimum score of 1010 on the SAT and a minimum composite score of 19 on the ACT. Principia will consider the applicant’s best superscored ACT composite scores and best superscored SAT math and evidence-based reading and writing (ERW) scores.
Other Process Steps and What to Expect
- Information Session with Admissions Counselor
- During the application process, you will meet with a member of our Admissions Team as part of our holistic approach. Our staff will use this session to get to know you as a prospective student, provide you with important information about our campus community, and discuss scholarship opportunities.
- This conversation will be an opportunity for you to share more about who you are and ask any questions you may have at that time.
- Admission Decision
- We know that you’re eager to hear back about your admission decision. Once your application is complete, your decision will be released by the appropriate date corresponding to the decision path you selected when submitting your application.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Principia offers scholarships to recognize a range of achievements and contributions. You'll automatically be considered for scholarships based on information provided in your admissions application.