Principia College
Elsah, IL
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$34,680
Avg Cost (In-State)
$34,680
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
75.1%
Graduation Rate
339
Total Enrollment
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Application requirements
Regular Deadline
March 1
Early Deadline
December 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
2
Interview
Available
Essays: Common App personal essay required; additional supplemental essay about Christian Science commitment required
Note: Applicants must be Christian Scientists in good standing. Pastoral reference from Christian Science practitioner or church official required. Character reference also required.
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
75%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
What current students say
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Northwestern Pell Promise
100% need met, no loans, for Pell-eligible families
universityAdmitted Northwestern students eligible for federal Pell Grant; institutional aid replaces loans.
Deadline: FAFSA + CSS Profile
Learn more ↗Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago Scholarship
Varies
localJain youth members of JSMC in greater Chicago area pursuing higher education.
Deadline: Spring
Learn more ↗Illinois State Bar Foundation Scholarship
$1,500-$5,000
stateIL law students with academic merit.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Illinois CPA Society Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Award
$2,000-$5,000
stateIL accounting students with academic merit + service.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Northwestern Good Neighbor Great University Scholarship
Full need-met + housing
universityChicago Public Schools graduates admitted to NU with demonstrated need.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗Loyola University Chicago Damen Scholarship
Full tuition + summer programs
universityTop Loyola Chicago incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Northwestern Stamps Scholars
Full cost of attendance + summer enrichment + research stipend
universityTop ~10 NU freshmen nationally via competitive Stamps process.
Deadline: November 1
Learn more ↗U Chicago Odyssey Scholarship
Replaces loans with grants for families under $200k
universityU Chicago students with family income under $200,000; no loans in aid package.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗U Chicago Empower Initiative
Full tuition for families under $125k; reduced for under $300k
universityAll admitted U Chicago students with demonstrated need at multiple income tiers.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
0.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
15.6%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
83.1%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
74.3%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
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