Centre College

Danville, KY · founded 1819 · 1,450 students · liberal arts college · NCAA Division III, Southern Athletic Association

Known for: Centre College is a small, selective liberal arts college famous for its high study abroad participation rate, strong science programs, and for hosting a U.S. Vice Presidential debate.

Rankings

U.S. News liberal arts: #46
Forbes: #99

Top programmes

Chemistry
Economics
History
Dramatic Arts
Psychology
International Studies

Notable alumni

John Marshall Harlan — U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Steven Curtis Chapman — Grammy Award-winning Christian music artist
A. B. 'Happy' Chandler — Former Governor of Kentucky and MLB Commissioner
John Sherman Cooper — Former U.S. Senator and Ambassador
Michele Norris — Former host of NPR's 'All Things Considered'
Joe B. Hall — Championship-winning University of Kentucky basketball coach

Traditions

CentreTrip (freshman orientation)
Running the Flame (homecoming)
Midway Mayhem
Faculty/Staff Christmas Dinner

If Centre College were…

As a food: Kentucky Hot Brown — Regional, hearty, unpretentious but surprisingly refined when done right, and deeply tied to place. Centre is Kentucky through and through—traditional, warm, and more substantial than outsiders expect from a small-town s
As an athlete: Christian Laettner — Prep-school polished, wildly successful in a traditional system, peak performance in high-pressure moments (hello, VP debate), and beloved by the in-group even if outsiders find the whole thing a bit much. Centre kids ar
As a person alive today: Jennifer Lawrence — Kentucky-born, down-to-earth despite elite status, relatable charm masking serious talent and work ethic. Centre students have that same accessible confidence—they'll crush the LSAT but also shotgun a beer at a tailgate
As a historical figure: Henry Clay — Kentucky statesman, the Great Compromiser, traditional values with pragmatic flexibility, and deeply invested in building institutions. Centre embodies that same civic-minded, consensus-building ethos wrapped in Southern
As a movie or TV show: Friday Night Lights (TV series) — Tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone, athletics matter deeply, tradition runs strong, and beneath the small-town surface are real ambition and genuine relationships. Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose—that
As a US president: George H.W. Bush — Preppy, traditional, Greek-life adjacent, emphasis on service and civility, and more capable than the aw-shucks exterior suggests. Centre produces establishment leaders who believe in institutions and playing the game we
As a city: Charlottesville, Virginia — Small, Southern, college-dominated, beautiful in a traditional way, and punching above its weight in producing leaders. Both places feel like time capsules of preppy American college life, for better and worse.
As an element: Gold — Classic, valuable, traditional standard of excellence, malleable enough to shape into many forms but fundamentally unchanging. Centre is the gold standard of small Southern liberal arts colleges—reliable, prestigious in
As a car: 1985 Jeep Grand Wagoneer — Preppy Kentucky country club on wheels with wood paneling and leather—Centre's tight-knit, traditional vibe needs something that screams old money tailgates. Small, classic, and everyone knows your family bought it new.

Campus life

Life is highly residential and community-focused, with nearly all students living on campus. There is a strong Greek life presence and a vibrant arts scene. The small-town setting fosters close student-faculty relationships.