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{{Short description|Private liberal arts college in Elsah, Illinois, U.S.}}
{{About|the college in Illinois|the educational institution in St. Louis|The Principia}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Principia College
| image = Principia from air.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Principia's campus sits on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River
| motto = ''As The Sowing, The Reaping''
| established = {{start date and age|1912}}
| type = [[Private college|Private]] [[Liberal arts colleges in the United States|liberal arts college]]
| religious_affiliation = [[Church of Christ, Scientist]]
| president = Meggan Madden
| provost =
| city = [[Elsah, Illinois|Elsah]]
| state = [[Illinois]]
| country = United States
| coor = {{coord|38|56|56|N|90|20|56|W|type:edu_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}}
| enrollment = 348 (fall 2023)<ref>{{cite web | url =https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Principia&s=all&id=148016| title =Principia College| access-date =August 9, 2023}}</ref>
| administrative_staff = 120
| colors = Blue and gold
| campus = [[Rural]], {{convert|2500|acre|km2}}
| campus_size = {{Convert|2600|acre}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.principiacollege.edu/| principiacollege.edu}}
| free_label = Mascot
| free = [[Black panther|Panther]], Thunder Chicken (Rugby)
| endowment = $963.4 million (2025)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/nacubo1-nacubo-prd-dc8b/media/Nacubo/Documents/EndowmentFiles/2025-NCSE-Endowment-Market-Values-for-US-and-Canadian-Institutions-FINAL.xlsx |title=U.S. and Canadian 2025 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2025 Endowment Market Value |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) |access-date=February 15, 2026 |format=XLSX}}</ref>
| logo = Principia college logo.png
| logo_size = 200
}}

'''Principia College''' is a [[Private college|private]] [[Liberal arts colleges in the United States|liberal arts college]] in [[Elsah, Illinois]]. It was founded in 1912 by [[Mary Kimball Morgan]] with the purpose of "serving the Cause of [[Christian Science]]."<ref>Mary Kimball Morgan, ''Education at The Principia'', The Principia Corporation, 2000, p. 227.</ref> Morgan wrote in her book ''Education at the Principia'' that, "Although the College is not affiliated with the Christian Science Church, the practice of Christian Science is the cornerstone of campus life."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/christian-science |title=Christian Science |publisher=Principia College |date=2022 |access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/spirituallife |title=Spiritual Life: Deepen Your Understanding of God |publisher=Principia College |date=2022 |access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> Principia no longer requires its students or their parents to be students of Christian Science or Christian Science Church members. Presently, its student body represents 26 countries and a variety of faith backgrounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu |title=Discover Principia College|publisher=Principia College |date=2025 |access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

Principia sits on bluffs overlooking the [[Mississippi River]] between [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]] and [[Grafton, Illinois|Grafton]] in the [[Metro East]] region of Southern Illinois, thirty miles north of [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]]. A portion of the school's {{convert|2500|acre|ha|adj=on}} campus is a designated [[National Historic Landmark District]], for its many buildings and design by architect [[Bernard Maybeck]].

==History==
Although Principia College was born out of [[The Principia]], founded by [[Mary Kimball Morgan]] in 1898, the name Principia was not adopted until 1898.<ref name="timeline">{{cite web |url=http://www.principia.edu/history |title=History of Principia |publisher=The Principia |author=The Principia |work=Web|access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref> As Morgan's school grew, the founder of [[Christian Science]], [[Mary Baker Eddy]], approved The Principia's reference as a Christian Science school.<ref name="timeline"
/> Emerging from the [[The Principia|Principia]] Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools founded between 1898 and 1906, Principia College was established with a purpose of "serving the Cause of Christian Science through appropriate channels open to it as an educational institution."<ref>Mary Kimball Morgan''. Education at The Principia.''</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/mission |title=Mission, Values, and Principles |publisher=The Principia |work=Web|access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref> The college, however, has no official affiliation with the [[Church of Christ, Scientist|Christian Science Church]] and Christian Science is not taught as a subject, but its teachings form the basis of community life at Principia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/spirituallife |title=Spiritual Life at Principia College |date=January 15, 2012 |publisher=principiacollege.edu}}</ref> The first Upper School class graduated in 1906 and it is from this class that a junior college was established, whose first alumni graduated in 1917. Principia College has been [[higher education accreditation|accredited]] by the [[The Higher Learning Commission|Higher Learning Commission]] since 1923.<ref>[https://www.ncahlc.org/component/com_directory/Action,ShowBasic/Itemid,/instid,1141/ The Higher Learning Commission] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128112454/https://www.ncahlc.org/component/com_directory/Action,ShowBasic/Itemid,/instid,1141/ |date=2015-01-28 }}. Retrieved January 23, 2015.</ref>

Architect [[Bernard Maybeck]] was commissioned to design a new college campus in Elsah, Illinois. By 1931, ground was broken on what would become his largest commission.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/about-principia-college/history/maybeck |title=Maybeck |author=The Principia |work=Web |publisher=The Principia |access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/housing |title=Housing at Principia College}}</ref>

On the Principia College grounds is Eliestoun House, designed by [[Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr.]] and completed in 1890. When Principia began moving to Elsah, guests stayed there, including Mary Kimball Morgan and Bernard Maybeck.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.friendsofeliestoun.org/history-of-eliestoun/ |title=History of Eliestoun |access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref>

In 1934, Principia College graduated its first class as a full four-year institution. In 1935, the college was officially moved to its present-day location in Elsah. The Principia College campus was once considered as the site for the [[United States Air Force Academy]] though ultimately the Air Force chose a location in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]], [[Colorado]], instead.

On April 19, 1993, about {{convert|300|acre|ha}} of the campus was designated a [[National Historic Landmark]] by the [[United States Department of the Interior]]. The year 1998 marked [[centennial]] celebrations by the school.

In the 21st century, the school's enrollment size has declined due to the dwindling number of Christian Scientists.<ref name="Guarding tradition">{{cite news |last1=Bogan |first1=Jesse |title=Guarding tradition: Principia has lots of money but few Christian Scientists to fill classrooms |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/guarding-tradition-principia-has-lots-of-money-but-few-christian-scientists-to-fill-classrooms/article_ad258325-d809-57bf-991c-e4c6e5d3f7e3.html |access-date=30 June 2021 |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=March 4, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> As of 2024, the school began accepting students with no affiliation with Christian Science.

==Campus==

===Housing and student life facilities===
There are ten student dormitories on campus: Anderson Hall, Rackham Court, Howard House, Sylvester House, Buck House, Brooks House, Ferguson House, Joe McNabb, Lowrey House, and Clara McNabb. The first six mentioned were designed by former [[University of California, Berkeley]] professor and [[AIA Gold Medal]] winner [[Bernard Maybeck]] in 1935, as was the campus' chapel.<ref name="mccoy">{{cite book |last=McCoy |first=Esther |title=Five California Architects |publisher=Reinhold Publishing Corporation |year=1960 |location=New York |asin=B000I3Z52W|author-link=Esther McCoy}}</ref> Maybeck attempted to use different architectural styles and building techniques for each of these dormitories and for the chapel. In an effort to ensure success with his designs and materials, he experimented with them through the creation of a small building known affectionately by Principians as the "Mistake House."<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NHLS/93001605_text |access-date=11 November 2022 |website=National Park Service}}</ref> In celebration of the 2018 Illinois Bicentennial, the Principia College Campus was selected as one of the Illinois 200 Great Places <ref>{{cite news |last=Waldinger |first=Mike |date=January 30, 2018 |title=The proud history of architecture in Illinois |newspaper=Springfield Business Journal |url=https://springfieldbusinessjournal.com/2018/01/the-proud-history-of-architecture-in-illinois/|access-date=30 January 2018}}</ref> by the [[American Institute of Architects]] Illinois component (AIA Illinois).

<gallery mode=packed heights=100>
File:Buck House.jpg|Buck House
File:Mistake House.jpg|Mistake House
File:Principia-chapel-LARGE2.jpg|Principia College Chapel
File:Principia College (2151777737).jpg|Interior of the chapel
</gallery>

== Organization and administration ==
{{Expand section|date=June 2021}}
Principia had an endowment of $696.2 million as of June 2020.<ref>As of June 30, 2020. {{cite report |url=https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Documents/Research/2020-NTSE-Public-Tables--Endowment-Market-Values--FINAL-FEBRUARY-19-2021.ashx |title=U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 |date=February 19, 2021 |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers and [[TIAA]]|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref> <ref name="endowment per student">{{cite report |url=https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Documents/Research/2020-NTSE-Endowment-Market-Values-REVISED-APRIL-22-2021.ashx |title=U.S. and Canadian 2020 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value, Percentage Change in Market Value from FY19 to FY20, and FY20 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student |date=April 22, 2021 |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers and [[Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America]]|access-date=June 29, 2021}}</ref> The endowment size declined by more than $100 million in the decade prior to 2018.<ref name="Guarding tradition"/>

==Academics==
Principia College offers twenty-seven majors in the [[liberal arts]] and sciences. The college does not currently offer a [[graduate program]]. The most popular majors include [[mass communication]], [[biology]], [[sociology]], [[anthropology]], [[studio art|studio]] and [[fine art]], and [[business administration]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Best College – US News |year=2012 |title=Principia College |url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/principia-college-1744 |access-date=19 April 2013 |work=Web |publisher=U.S. News & World Report LP.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegeprofiles/p/principia-college.htm |title=Principia College profile |author=Grove, Allen |year=2012 |work=Web |publisher=About.com |access-date=19 April 2013}}</ref>

Principia offers Study Abroad & Field Programs, International Student Programs, Conferences, and International Student Experiences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/abroads |title=Abroads & Fields |author=The Principia |work=Web |publisher=the Principia |access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/clubs-and-organizations |title=Clubs & Organizations |publisher=the Principia |author=The Principia |work=Web|access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref>

In their 2025 rankings, ''U.S. News & World Report'' ranked Principia tied for #66 (up from #83 in 2019 and #139 in 2014) among all National Liberal Arts Colleges, and #2 in the category of "Best Value Schools".<ref>{{Cite web |title=US News and World Report – Principia College |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/principia-college-1744 |access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref> For the 2024–2025 academic year, Principia College's annual tuition costs were $33,600, with additional costs of $13,910 for room and board.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Costs to Attend – Principia College |url=https://www.principiacollege.edu/admissions/costs |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=www.principiacollege.edu |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2024, the school had an acceptance rate above 45%.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. News & World Report – Principia College Page |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/principia-college-1744}}</ref>

==Student life==
Principia College has a diverse student composition and amount of organizations given its size. 20% of its students are international and represent thirty countries on six of the world's seven continents.<ref name="fastfacts">{{cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/fastfacts |title=Fast Facts |publisher=The Principia |author=The Principia |work=Web|access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=May 2020}} The college has forty student clubs and organizations, among these the Euphrates and Leadership institutes.<ref name="fastfacts"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/institutes |title=Institutes |publisher=The Principia |author=The Principia |work=Web|access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref> The Public Affairs Conference at the college is one of oldest student-led conferences in America and has been held annually since 1939.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/campus-life/clubs-organizations/public-affairs-conference |title=Public Affairs Conference |author=The Principia |work=Web |publisher=The Principia |access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref> The Principia College Speaker Series has featured former United States President [[Barack Obama]], statesman and retired four-star general [[Colin Powell]], former United States president [[George H. W. Bush]], former United States president [[Jimmy Carter]], author and poet [[Maya Angelou]], [[David McCullough]], [[Elie Wiesel]], actor and director [[Robert Duvall]], [[Val Kilmer]], [[Coretta Scott King]], and [[Margaret Thatcher]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/node/1321 |title=Speakers and Events |author=The Principia |work=Web |publisher=The Principia |access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref> In addition to the Public Affairs Conference, Principia College holds an International Perspectives Conference with a focus on global issues such as [[human rights in Africa]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.principiacollege.edu/ipc-conference |title=International Perspectives Conference |publisher=The Principia |author=The Principia |work=Web|access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref>

===Technology===
Of the technological programs present at Principia College, most prevalent and distinguished is its study in [[solar energy]]. The college has competed in [[solar car]] world events since 1995 and finished second in the [[North American Solar Challenge]] of 2008 and seventh in the [[World Solar Challenge]] of 2009.<ref name="solarcar">{{cite news |title=Solar car team from tiny Principia College competes in world race |author=Weich, Susan |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/susan-weich/solar-car-team-from-tiny-principia-college-competes-in-world/article_d4153bf6-c975-585a-81b3-37776d4660bd.html |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=2 November 2011 |access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref>

===Athletics===
[[file:Principia logo from NCAA.svg|thumb|120px|Principia athletics monogram]]
Principia College teams, named the Panthers, participate as a member of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]'s [[Division III (NCAA)|Division III]] in the [[St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] (SLIAC). The Principia Panther is the mascot of Principia College and has been since its change from the Indian in 1984.<ref name="timeline"/> There are 14 varsity athletic teams at Principia College of which men's sports are baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, tennis, track & field, and rugby; and women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.<ref name="fastfacts"/>

In 1983, the women's tennis team won the NCAA Division III national championship.<ref name="timeline"/>

In 2013, the men's rugby team won the first ever Open Division [[USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships|USA Rugby 7s Collegiate National Championship]], beating the [[University of Wisconsin-Stout]] 27–12 in the championship match.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wise |first=Chad |title=Principia takes first Men's Open Division Championship at College 7s |url=http://usacollege7s.com/principia-takes-first-mens-open-division-championship-at-college-7s/|access-date=27 November 2013 |date=24 November 2013}}</ref>

In 2022, the men's rugby team completed an undefeated season by winning the Division II [[National Collegiate Rugby]] Championship XVs title, defeating [[Indiana University of Pennsylvania]] 47–16 in the championship match.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ncr.rugby/news/principia-dii-and-cal-poly-humboldt-small-college-win-national-championships | title=Principia (DII) and Cal Poly Humboldt (Small College) win National Championships }}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
{{further|Category:Principia College alumni|The Principia#Alumni}}
{{div col}}

* [[Robert Bruegmann]] — architectural historian<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://robertbruegmann.com/index.html |title=Robert Bruegmann}}</ref>
* [[Chandler Burr]] — author<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/97jun/970677.htm |title=77 North Washington Street, The Atlantic Online, June 1997 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |date=June 1997 |access-date=2017-03-11 |archive-date=2012-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025064215/http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/97jun/970677.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Ron Charles (critic)|Ron Charles]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] 1984) — ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' book critic
* [[Candy Crowley]] (attended) — [[CNN]] political correspondent <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nndb.com/edu/253/000110920/ |title=Principia College}}</ref>
* [[Robert Duvall]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] 1953) — actor: [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] winner (1983, ''[[Tender Mercies]]'')
* [[Emily Fridlund]] — author of ''History of Wolves''
* [[Ketti Frings]] — author, writer: [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama]] winner (1958, [[Look Homeward, Angel (play)|''Look Homeward, Angel'']])
* [[Aaron Goldsmith]] — MLB color commentator for the Seattle Mariners, commentator for [[Fox Sports 1]] for college basketball
* [[Larry Groce]] — host of public radio's ''[[Mountain Stage]]''
* [[Peter Horton]] (attended) — actor and movie director<ref>{{cite web |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800016609/bio |title=Peter Horton Biography |work=Web [[Yahoo!]] Movies |publisher=Yahoo! Inc. |access-date=2008-10-16}}</ref>
* [[Mindy Jostyn]] (attended) — singer / songwriter<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2005/03/31/mindy_jostyn_48_voice_talent_treasured_by_fans_music_stars/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406081520/http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2005/03/31/mindy_jostyn_48_voice_talent_treasured_by_fans_music_stars/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 6, 2005 |work=The Boston Globe |first=Avi |last=Steinberg |title=Mindy Jostyn, 48; voice, talent treasured by fans, music stars |date=March 31, 2005}}</ref>
* [[Egil Krogh]] — part of U.S. President [[Richard Nixon]]'s administration; convicted in the [[Watergate scandal]]
* [[Joanne Leedom-Ackerman]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] 1968) – novelist
* [[Arend Lijphart]] — political scientist
* [[David K. Lovegren]] — film producer
* [[Miye Matsukata]] — jewelry designer<ref>{{cite web |title=Miye Matsukata papers {{!}} Collection: AAA.matsmiye |url=https://sova.si.edu/record/AAA.matsmiye |website=sova.si.edu}}</ref>
* [[Terry Melcher]] — record producer and son of [[Doris Day]]
* [[Ngozi Mwanamwambwa]] — first woman to compete for Zambia at an Olympics<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.principiaalumni.org/awards-athletic-hall-fame/ngozi-mwanamwambwa-asinga |title=Ngozi Mwanamwambwa Asinga {{!}} Alumni|website=www.principiaalumni.org|access-date=2017-07-07}}</ref>
* [[Sara Nelson (union leader)|Sara Nelson]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] 1995) — union leader
* [[Brad Newsham]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] 1972) — writer
* [[Haru M. Reischauer]] — author of ''Samurai and Silk''
* [[James Rosebush]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] 1971) — former Chief of Staff to the First Lady under [[Nancy Reagan]]
* [[John H. Rousselot]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] 1949) — [[United States House of Representatives|United States Congressman]] from [[California]] (1961–1962, 1969–1982)<ref>{{cite web |title=ROUSSELOT, John Harbin, (1927–2003) |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000469 |access-date=2008-10-16 |work=[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]], 1774–present |publisher=[[United States Congress]]}}</ref>
* [[David Rowland (industrial designer)|David Rowland]] — industrial designer, created the 40/4 stacking chair<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hevesi |first=Dennis |date=2010-08-26 |title=David Rowland, Maker of a Tidily Stacked Chair, Dies at 86 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/26/business/26rowland.html |access-date=2023-11-25 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* [[Christopher Shays]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] 1968) — [[United States House of Representatives|United States Congressman]] from [[Connecticut]] (1987–2009)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S001144 |title=SHAYS, Christopher H., (1945 - ) |work=[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]], 1774–present |publisher=[[United States Congress]] |access-date=2008-10-16}}</ref>
{{end div col}}

==See also==
*[[Principia College Historic District]]
*[[Principia Astronomical Observatory]]
*[[The Principia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://principiaathletics.com/ Athletics website]

{{Colleges and universities in metropolitan St. Louis}}
{{Christian Science}}
{{St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference navbox}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Principia College}}
[[Category:Principia College| ]]
[[Category:Christian Science in Illinois]]
[[Category:The Principia]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1910]]
[[Category:Liberal arts colleges in Illinois]]
[[Category:Education in Jersey County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Jersey County, Illinois]]
[[Category:1910 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Illinois]]
[[Category:Upper Midwest Athletic Conference teams]]

Principia College - Revision history

imported>Zdonaldb: 2025 endowment