The Principia
The Principia is a private, nonprofit educational institution founded in 1898 that operates Principia School (PK-12 in St. Louis, Missouri) and Principia College (four-year liberal arts in Elsah, Illinois), serving 800+ students from 30+ countries through a Christian Science-based whole-person curriculum.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1898
- HeadquartersSt. Louis, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Principia does
The Principia is a private, nonprofit educational institution incorporated as The Principia Corporation in Missouri, operating continuously since 1898. It delivers a vertically integrated educational continuum spanning early childhood through four-year undergraduate education on two U.S. campuses: the School (preschool through grade 12, co-educational and partially boarding) at 13201 Clayton Road in St. Louis, Missouri, and the College (four-year liberal arts) at 1 Maybeck Place in Elsah, Illinois. The institution serves more than 800 students drawn from over 30 countries, supported by 500+ employees including 129 faculty members, and maintains a global alumni network of 14,000+ across 64 countries.
The Principia's core products are Principia School, Principia College, Principia Alumni & Friends (worldwide community and reunion programming), Principia Lifelong Learning (continuing-education trips and summer sessions), and the Acorn Program (early-childhood offerings for parents and children through age three). The academic model integrates rigorous liberal-arts and college-preparatory curricula with a distinctive Christian Science-based whole-person philosophy codified in the 1944 'Purpose and Policies.' Differentiated experiential offerings include a championship-level Solar Car Team, robotics, the Applied Computational Modeling Club, and the annual Impact Challenge innovation conference. Academic outcomes are documented at the 85th percentile in Math and 82nd percentile in Reading nationally for the Upper School Class of 2026, 97% of College graduates employed or in continuing education within six months, and 99% internship placement among students who sought one, with placements at organizations including Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 3M, Mayo Clinic, World Wide Technology, and Stifel.
The business model is tuition-and-endowment-driven. School tuition increased 4.0% for 2026-2027 to align with the St. Louis independent-school market, while College tuition, room, and board were decreased 0.9% to remain competitive. Ancillary revenue comes from Lifelong Learning trips (Peru, Scotland, and other destinations), summer sessions, and endowment earnings managed by Cliffwater, State Street, and BNY under the oversight of a dedicated in-house Chief Investment Officer. FY27 operating expenses are $76.3 million, with $12 million earmarked for capital projects including the Howard Center Dining Room renovation, a new School parking lot, Upper School renovations, and the donor-funded Ted Munnecke Nature Center. Go-to-market is admissions-led, supported by a Board-approved strategic enrollment management engagement with VisionPoint, alumni referral scholarships, and earned media coverage of student achievements.
The Principia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Principia
- Legal name
- The Principia Corporation
- Website
- https://principia.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1898
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Principia is a private, nonprofit educational institution founded in 1898 that operates Principia School (PK-12 in St. Louis, Missouri) and Principia College (four-year liberal arts in Elsah, Illinois), serving 800+ students from 30+ countries through a Christian Science-based whole-person curriculum.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Principia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Private Education (Preschool through College)
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)
Keywords
Where The Principia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St. Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Principia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from tuition, room, and board for both Principia School (K-12) and Principia College. For 2026-2027, School tuition increased 4.0%, while College tuition decreased 0.9% to remain competitive.
- Endowment Income: Endowment provides meaningful funding for financial aid, classroom innovation, athletic programs, and campus care. Managed with long-term perspective, a portion of investment earnings is used each year while principal remains intact.
- Alumni and Lifelong Learning Programs: Revenue from lifelong learning programs including trips to destinations like Peru and Scotland, and summer session programs for alumni and friends.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Principia School Tuition 2026-2027 |
| Subscription | Annual | Principia College Tuition, Room, and Board 2026-2027 |
| Subscription | Annual | Alumni Referral Scholarship |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Principia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Principia is a private, nonprofit educational institution delivering preschool-through-grade-12 education at its St. Louis, Missouri campus and four-year liberal arts undergraduate education at its Elsah, Illinois campus, all grounded in Christian Science principles and a whole-person education philosophy. It also operates supporting programs including Lifelong Learning (alumni travel and summer sessions), Alumni & Friends community engagement, and the Acorn early-childhood program for parents and children through age three.
Product overview
The Principia is an educational institution offering a unified portfolio of programs spanning early childhood through higher education. The core offerings consist of Principia School (preschool through grade 12, located in St. Louis, Missouri) and Principia College (four-year liberal arts college in Elsah, Illinois), both grounded in Christian Science principles with a whole-person approach to education. Supporting programs include Principia Alumni & Friends (worldwide community engagement, events, and clubs), Principia Lifelong Learning (continuing education and travel programs), and the Acorn Program (early childhood development for infants through age three). The institution serves over 800 students from more than 30 countries with more than 14,000 alumni globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Principia School Independent, co-educational school offering programs from Preschool through Grade 12, located in St. Louis, Missouri (13201 Clayton Road). Provides academic excellence combined with Christian Science-based character education across Early Learning Center, Lower School, Middle School, Upper School, and boarding options. Tuition increased 4.0% for 2026-2027 academic year.
- Principia College Four-year liberal arts college located in Elsah, Illinois (1 Maybeck Place), offering undergraduate education grounded in Christian Science principles with focus on whole-person development, experiential learning, signature programs (Solar Car Team, Robotics, ACMC, Impact Challenge), and strong career outcomes (97% employed/continuing education within 6 months; 99% internship offer rate).
- Principia Alumni & Friends Programs and services connecting Principia alumni worldwide, including reunion events, Principia Clubs, alumni directory, lifelong learning opportunities, and travel trips to international destinations.
- Principia Lifelong Learning Continuing education offerings for alumni and friends including international trips (e.g., to Peru and Scotland) and summer session programs that support ongoing learning and community engagement.
- Acorn Program Online and St. Louis-area program for parents and children through age three, supporting early childhood development, parent education, and family engagement as a feeder to continued enrollment.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of graduates employed or continuing education within 6 months
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Principia
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Principia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Principia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.
- Donald Danforth Plant Science CentercoreWorld's leading plant science research center where Principia College students intern through programs like Field and Laboratory Learning in Plant Science, working on research including heat stress and photosynthesis in C4 plants.
- 23 Local Professionals and 26 OrganizationsminorLocal professionals and organizations partnered with Principia to support the annual Impact Challenge student innovation conference, providing mentorship, judging, and expertise for student projects addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- VisionPointstrategicPartner developing strategic enrollment management plan focused on long-term sustainability, including strengthening recruitment and retention, aligning messaging with key audiences, improving onboarding, and building infrastructure to support enrollment growth.
- Fresh IdeasminorDining services partner providing updated dining experience for College campus, with new food service offerings in the dining room.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Principia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MICDS (Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School): Independent, co-educational K-12 school located in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Most directly comparable to Principia School by geography, age range served, and independent-school positioning, competing for the same metro St. Louis family market.
- Whitfield School: Independent, co-educational 6-12 college-prep school in St. Louis. Comparable to Principia School's Upper School through curriculum, college-preparatory focus, and shared St. Louis metro competitive set.
- The Pembroke Hill School: Independent, co-educational PK-12 school in Kansas City, Missouri. Comparable to Principia School in mission, age span, and Midwestern independent-school positioning with college-preparatory emphasis.
- John Burroughs School: Independent, co-educational K-12 school in the St. Louis suburb of Ladue. Competes head-to-head with Principia School for college-prep families in the same regional market with similar tuition profile.
- Westminster Christian Academy: Private, faith-based K-12 school in St. Louis. Comparable to Principia School through its religious mission and college-prep curriculum, competing in the same regional family market for similar student profiles.
Broad incumbents
- Taylor University: Christian liberal arts university in Upland, Indiana. Comparable to Principia College through evangelical Christian identity, residential liberal arts model, and similar undergraduate scale.
- Calvin University: Christian liberal arts university in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Comparable to Principia College through Christian liberal arts identity, four-year residential model, and comparable enrollment scale.
- Gordon College: Christian liberal arts college in Wenham, Massachusetts. Comparable to Principia College through faith-based liberal arts identity, four-year residential model, and similar small-college scale.
- Wheaton College (IL): Residential four-year Christian liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois. Comparable to Principia College through faith-based liberal arts identity, residential model, and similar size, operating in the same Illinois market.
Others
- Principia College Alumni & Friends program: Not a separate peer; included as an internal lifelong-learning arm comparable to alumni-driven continuing education programs offered by other institutions. Removed from final list per peer-company guidance.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights2 records
Customer concentration
The Principia social profiles
Digital presenceThe Principia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Principia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The Principia subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
The Principia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Principia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Principia
What does The Principia do?
The Principia is a private, nonprofit educational institution delivering preschool-through-grade-12 education at its St. Louis, Missouri campus and four-year liberal arts undergraduate education at its Elsah, Illinois campus, all grounded in Christian Science principles and a whole-person education philosophy. It also operates supporting programs including Lifelong Learning (alumni travel and summer sessions), Alumni & Friends community engagement, and the Acorn early-childhood program for parents and children through age three.
Is The Principia a public or private company?
The Principia is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Principia founded?
The Principia was founded in 1898. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Principia based?
The Principia is headquartered in St. Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Principia make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are endowment Income and alumni and Lifelong Learning Programs.
Who are The Principia's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MICDS (Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School), Whitfield School, The Pembroke Hill School, John Burroughs School and Westminster Christian Academy. Broad incumbents are Taylor University, Calvin University, Gordon College and Wheaton College (IL). Principia College Alumni & Friends program is listed as an others.
Does The Principia have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Principia.
What industry is The Principia in?
The Principia's product category is Independent Private Education (Preschool through College). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAJ, Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111.