Centenary College of Louisiana

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary traces its history to the College of Louisiana, founded by the state in Jackson, Louisiana, in 1825. It later combined with a Methodist institution established in Mississippi and adopted the Centenary College of Louisiana identity. The College moved to its present Shreveport location in 1908. It remains related to the United Methodist Church, although federal reporting describes it as a private nonprofit institution with a religious affiliation. The College offers undergraduate and graduate education rather than doctoral study. Its current identity is that of a residential liberal arts college, with academic work organized across arts and sciences departments and the Frost School of Business and Hurley School of Music. Students considering Centenary should expect a smaller institutional scale than at a comprehensive public university, along with a curriculum that places substantial emphasis on experiences outside a conventional classroom. Trek is central to that model. Its components cover foundational reflection, service and community engagement, career exploration, and intercultural experience. Options can include internships, guided research, service-learning, and the first-year Centenary in Paris program. These requirements make experiential education a structured part of the undergraduate curriculum rather than an optional add-on. Centenary is operating normally for 2026–27: it has published a current academic catalogue, maintains active application and enrollment processes, and awarded degrees at its spring 2026 commencement. Applicants should nevertheless consult the live catalogue because the College notes that programme and policy information may be amended after publication.

First-year applicants use Centenary's free online application. The current admissions portal requests the high-school record and explains that applicants may submit ACT or SAT scores from an official transcript or testing agency. Applicants choosing the test-optional route must have a core high-school GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and provide a recommendation and personal interview; a résumé is strongly preferred. Scores may still be required for consideration for the highest merit awards. The published first-year schedule lists December 1 for non-binding Early Action and February 15 for Regular Decision. Applications received after February 15 are reviewed on a space-available, rolling basis. The preferred enrollment-deposit date is May 1. Because the deadlines page does not label a specific entering year, applicants for 2027 entry should confirm these dates before planning submissions. International applicants whose primary language is English are instructed to provide an official ACT or SAT result. Those whose primary language is not English must provide TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test results. The reviewed page does not state current minimum English scores, so applicants should obtain the applicable threshold directly from International Admission. International students should also review the separate requirements for academic records, immigration documentation, finances, housing, and health forms. Transfer and graduate candidates follow separate processes and should use the instructions for their applicant category rather than applying first-year requirements to their case.

Centenary's June 2026 degree inventory shows Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science options across fields including accounting, art, biochemistry, biology, business administration, chemistry, communication, economics, education, English, French, geology, history, international studies, kinesiology, mathematics, music, neuroscience, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, sociology, sport management, and theatre. Some subjects are available only as minors or concentrations, so applicants should confirm whether a desired field is a standalone major. Computer science, for example, appears as a minor rather than a bachelor's major in the current inventory. The College also lists individualized BA and BS majors and cooperative engineering pathways. The engineering option is a dual-degree arrangement in which students combine study at Centenary with work at a participating institution; it should not be confused with a standalone Centenary engineering degree. Graduate study currently includes an MBA and education degrees at the MAT and MEd levels. Trek connects academic study with applied work. Its career component can be completed through approved internships, substantial co-curricular experience, or faculty-supervised research, with reflective and professional deliverables. The community component combines service with academic reflection, while the culture component focuses on intercultural learning. Centenary in Paris is part of the first-year experience, although students should review eligibility, travel documentation, and programme conditions before relying on participation. Because Centenary is small and some subjects are housed within combined departments, prospective students should examine the 2026–27 catalogue for course frequency, prerequisites, sequencing, and graduation requirements rather than relying only on the programme list.

Key Highlights

• Private nonprofit college affiliated with the United Methodist tradition
• Founded in 1825 and based at its present Shreveport campus since 1908
• Currently awards bachelor's and master's degrees, with no verified doctoral offerings
• Trek integrates community, career, and intercultural experiences into undergraduate education

Student Life & Environment

Centenary describes itself as a residential campus, and its housing guidance states that full-time degree-seeking students generally live on campus and purchase a residential meal plan. A separate exception allows qualifying local students to live with a parent or guardian. Students should confirm the current housing rules and any exemption process directly with Residence Life, particularly if commuting is important to their decision. The College reports more than 60 student organizations spanning leadership, service, faith, identity, and recreational interests. Athletic and cultural events supplement club activity, while the Hurley School of Music, Marjorie Lyons Playhouse, Meadows Museum of Art, amphitheatre, and athletic facilities provide settings for performances and campus events. Residence buildings are within walking distance of the main academic and student facilities. Academic and personal support is available through the Learning Commons, which brings together tutoring, peer mentoring, disability services, internship support, and international education. Centenary also identifies free counseling and virtual care options for students. Career Services works with undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni on career decisions, internships, employment, graduate-school preparation, résumés, and interviews. This environment may appeal to students seeking frequent participation and a compact community. Those wanting a large selection of organizations, dining venues, or residential styles should compare the available options carefully with larger campuses.

Location & Surroundings

Centenary's campus is at 2911 Centenary Boulevard in Shreveport, in northwest Louisiana. The setting places academic buildings, residence halls, the student union, library, performance spaces, museum, and athletic facilities on one compact campus. Students living in College housing can reach the principal campus services on foot, although travel beyond campus may require personal or arranged transportation. Shreveport and the adjoining regional community form part of Centenary's experiential-learning environment. The College maintains relationships with nonprofit, educational, cultural, and health organizations across the area, giving students potential settings for service-learning and internships. Its community-partner directory includes organizations working in literacy, youth services, health care, museums, and social support. Availability depends on the programme, partner needs, and approval requirements rather than being guaranteed to every student. The location is likely to suit students who want a defined residential campus while retaining access to a regional city. Prospective students should assess transportation, climate, off-campus employment, and access to their preferred professional sector during a visit, since the official sources reviewed do not provide current comparative data on transit or neighborhood costs.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Centenary's official cost page is updated for 2026–27 and separates undergraduate tuition, housing, meal plans, books and supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and several administrative charges. Housing prices vary by building and room type, while meal-plan eligibility varies by residential status and class year. The official on-campus cost-of-attendance estimate includes both billed and indirect expenses; families should distinguish that planning estimate from the amount appearing on a student bill. Current official amounts differ from the older tuition and room-and-board figures stored in this database record, so no replacement totals are presented here. Applicants should use the live 2026–27 cost page and their individual financial-aid offer. Centenary provides merit- and need-based aid. Submitting the admission application initiates scholarship consideration, while the FAFSA is required for federal aid and is used for relevant Louisiana programmes. Institutional grants and scholarships may have full-time enrollment and renewal conditions. Graduate pricing is programme-specific: the official page lists per-course charges for the MBA and MAT, plus an MAT residency fee. Graduate students should not apply undergraduate tuition, housing, or aid assumptions to their budgets. Career Services works with students from the first semester through graduation on career planning, internships, job searches, employer connections, interviews, résumés, and graduate applications. Trek adds a structured career component that can involve an internship, guided research, or another approved experience. These resources can help students build experience, but the reviewed official sources do not establish guaranteed placement, salary, or employment outcomes.