Liberal arts college
Principia College
Elsah, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.74%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.83%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.6 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$32,709
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 338 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 59% · Women 41% |
| Total students | 338 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 74% |
| First-year retention | 83% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | No application fee |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $995 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 0% |
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Visual and performing arts | |
| Business | |
| Communication | |
| Education | |
| Social sciences |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Rural |
| Part-time undergraduates | 1% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 6% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $13,910 |
| Sports | NCAA Division III · St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 6 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 81%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $1,644,153IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Nearest airport with airline service | St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)About 14 miles away · about 50 minutes by car |
| Town population | 708Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | St. LouisAbout 22 miles away · about 55 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 31°F in January · 79°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from St Charles Co Airport, MO, about 4 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.00 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.00 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- How do Principia College’s graduates do?
- 74% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 148016
- Carnegie classification: Baccalaureate college (arts & sciences)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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