First-Year Applicants

We are so excited to support your application journey! 

Start your application now with:

Principia Application 

The Common Application

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.

Plan ahead to have your application materials on hand.    

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.

We know applying to colleges can be a bit overwhelming and confusing. With our rolling admissions pathway, decisions are made on an ongoing basis. Applying earlier ensures we have the information we need to make an admissions decision, and you have the information you need to make your college choice.

Required Application Materials 

1. Common Application or use the Principia Application

You can apply using the Common Application or by completing the Principia Application directly. If you choose the Common App, just create an account and add Principia College to your list.    

2. Transcript    

What do we mean by "transcript"?
We are looking for a document that shows the subjects you have studied each year of high school and the grades or marks you earned in each one. This could be called a mark sheet, progress report, grade sheet, or report card.

How can you submit your transcript?
To get started, an unofficial copy of your transcript is enough for us to review your application. You can submit this directly to the Admissions Office.

An official transcript will be required before enrollment. These can be submitted through secure online platforms. Our preferred sources are Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, Scoir, or Encoura.

Your school counselor can also email an official transcript to CollegeAdmissions@principia.edu. If electronic submission is not available, your school may mail an official transcript directly to:

Principia College Admissions Office
1 Maybeck Place
Elsah, IL 62028

All high school transcripts are reviewed to determine your GPA, which helps us make both admission and scholarship decisions.

Optional Application Materials     

SAT/ACT Scores    

At Principia, we see you as more than a number. Our holistic review process is designed to understand you as a whole person. Your values. Your potential. Your story. Not just your test scores. That’s why submitting SAT or ACT scores is completely optional.

That said, test scores can still play a helpful role, especially when it comes to academic scholarships, where a strong score might qualify you for a higher award.

Wondering whether to submit your scores? Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• If your scores reflect your academic ability, go ahead and include them.

• If they don’t, feel free to leave them out. No penalty.

• If you’re proud of your score and it boosts your eligibility for merit aid, submitting it could be a smart move.

• A strong test score can help balance out a lower GPA. That gives us a fuller picture of your academic readiness.

Thinking about submitting test scores?
If you choose to send them, just remember:
Principia requires a minimum SAT score of 1010 or a composite ACT score of 19. We will always consider your best performance. We superscore both the ACT and the SAT to look at your highest possible combination of scores.

Send your best. We will take it from there.