Q: Where is Principia College?
A: Principia's 2600-acre campus is located high on the bluffs, overlooking the Mississippi River and the farmland of Missouri — about one mile from the Civil War vintage village of Elsah, Illinois and about 9 miles west of Alton, Illinois on the Great River Road. Elsah is approximately 45 minutes from the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, 50 minutes from downtown St. Louis, and one hour to Principia's St. Louis Campus.
Q: Is Principia an accredited college?
A: Yes. Principia College has been consistently accredited by the North Central Association of College and Schools (NCA) since 1923 and conducts on-going assessment of its academic programs for the purpose of continual improvement.
Q: When was Principia founded?
A: Principia was founded in St. Louis, Missouri as a primary school in 1898 by Mary Kimball Morgan. This small school grew over the years, and in 1910, a junior college was established. In 1935 the college-age students moved to the new college campus in Elsah, Illinois. During the 1997-98 school year Principia celebrated its Centennial — 100 years of serving the Cause of Christian Science as an educational institution for over 1200 students in grades pre-school through 12th grade on the St. Louis, Missouri Campus and on the College Campus in Elsah.
Q: Do I have to be a Christian Scientist to come to Principia?
A: Yes. All faculty, staff, and students are Christian Scientists and are regular attendants at a Christian Science church or Sunday School. It is expected that those who have found Christian Science for themselves will have studied the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of Christian Science, and will have attended Sunday School or church services for a minimum of six months prior to possible enrollment in Principia College.
Q: How many students are enrolled at Principia College?
A: Fall 2005 enrollment was 543, including new freshmen, transfer, and international students.
Q: Where do your students come from?
A: From all over the globe. Since Principia is the only college in the world for Christian Scientists, our doors are open to Christian Scientists throughout the world. This fall we enrolled 139 new students from 31 states and 11 different foreign countries including Kenya, England, Mexico, Australia, Cameroon, Ghana, Canada, Venezuela, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Zambia.
Q: How large is the Principia College campus?
A: The college campus covers 2600 acres with over four miles of bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River north of St. Louis, Missouri. The College has received national recognition for its unique architectural design, and on April 19, 1993, it was designated as a National Historic Landmark for its fine Bernard Maybeck architecture.
Q: What is the Principia Pledge?
A: "I commit to serve God and humanity through the study and healing practice of Christian Science, expressed in principled thought and action, unselfed love, and moral courage." Principia’s standards are based on the principles set forth by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, and by Mary Kimball Morgan, who founded Principia. Please see Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures p. X: 30; p. 115: 26; p. 449: 11-18; p. 453: 16-17; The First Church of Christ Scientist, and Miscellany p. 114:3-6; and Education at The Principia p. 196: 18-32.
