Illinois College
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. generous financial aid cuts net price well below sticker.
About This School
Illinois College is a private nonprofit institution located in Jacksonville, Illinois with approximately 925 undergraduate students enrolled. Illinois College has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 75%. The average net price after financial aid is $17,945 per year. The graduation rate is 61%, and the typical graduate earns $49,100 within 10 years of enrollment.
Illinois College is a private liberal arts college in Jacksonville, Illinois. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA). It was the second college founded in Illinois but the first to grant a degree. It was founded in 1829 by the Yale Band, students from Yale College who traveled westward to found new colleges. It briefly served as the state's first medical school, from 1843 to 1848.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the $17,945 average net price and relatively low median debt of $14,746 make this one of the more affordable private liberal arts options, and the school's deep roots — founded in 1829, it was the first college in Illinois to grant a degree — give it a genuine academic identity. However, the 61% graduation rate and 70% freshman retention rate are real concerns, suggesting a meaningful share of students don't finish, which is worth asking the admissions office about directly. Worth considering if you're looking for a small, affordable liberal arts experience in a tight-knit setting, but visit first and ask hard questions about student support.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (925 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public
DeVry University-Illinois
Lisle, IL · Private for-profit
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · Public
Illinois State University
Normal, IL · Public
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, IL · Public
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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