Admit rate has ranged 75%–78% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Illinois College is a small, historic liberal arts college in Jacksonville, Illinois, offering a classic, high-touch undergraduate experience. With a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and over 45 areas of study, it provides a personalized education grounded in active learning and civic engagement. The campus is residential and active, with over 80 clubs and organizations, though its outcomes and financial aid policies reflect its position as a regional, moderately selective institution rather than a national powerhouse.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
930
In-state tuition
$38,676
Out-of-state tuition
$38,676
Areas of Study
45+
Graduation Rate
64%
On-Campus Housing
85%
Student-Faculty Ratio
12:1
Median Earnings (10yr)
$52,575
Phi Beta Kappa Chapter
Yes
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$52,575
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.9×
Median debt at graduation
$25,565
Graduation rate
64%
First-year retention
71%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
77%
Pell (lower-income) share
38%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
31%
Financial health
2.2 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Accounting and Related Services$43,798
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$38,289
Finance and Financial Management Services$38,289
Sociology$35,420
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$32,925
Biology, General$30,047
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
1
Per 1,000 students
1.07
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
88
Summer high
84°F
Winter low
25°F
Annual rain
43.9"
Annual snow
20.2"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
387
Scholarly works
30,060
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.4%
Bottom → top quintile
24%
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Illinois College?
Illinois College's acceptance rate is approximately 78% (Jacksonville, IL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Illinois College?
Admitted students at Illinois College typically score 883–1180 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Illinois College cost?
At Illinois College, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,298 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Illinois College?
Illinois College enrolls approximately 930 undergraduate students.
Where is Illinois College located?
Illinois College is located in Jacksonville, IL.
Admissions
Illinois College is a moderately selective institution, serving as an accessible gateway to a private liberal arts education for a broad range of students. The admissions process is straightforward and holistic, with a focus on academic preparation. The middle 50% range for standardized test scores falls between 880 and 1180 on the SAT, or 18 to 25 on the ACT, though submitting scores is not required for all applicants. The majority of admitted students have grades in the 'B' range. While the is a primary source for admissions factors at many colleges, the specific weight Illinois College places on factors like demonstrated interest, class rank, or interviews is not detailed in the provided sources. The college does accept applications through the Common Application. There is no mention of an Early Decision program or a binding early application option in the provided sources, nor is there data on rates or the share of the class filled via early decision.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Psychology, General$28,960
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics at Illinois College are defined by close faculty mentorship and a broad, traditional liberal arts curriculum. The college offers over 45 areas of study across disciplines, with popular majors including Business, Management, Marketing, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, and Health Professions. The student-to-faculty ratio is an intimate 12:1, which fosters small classroom sizes and direct interaction with professors. The curriculum emphasizes 'key competencies such as civic engagement and creative problem-solving,' embedding these skills across courses. The college supports an honors program and boasts a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society, a mark of its commitment to the liberal arts. Students describe the academics as 'challenging, but in an extremely satisfying way,' built on a strong educational foundation.
Life at Illinois College is active and heavily centered on campus, creating a classic residential college experience. The vast majority of students—85%—live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, creating a tight-knit community. With over 80 clubs, teams, and events happening every week, there is constant activity. Students can choose from a wide array of organizations, including academic honor societies, music groups, student publications, and special interest clubs. The college promotes its student life as a place where there's 'always something happening, whether you're into clubs, sports, music, gaming, or just hanging out with friends.' This environment fosters a communal vibe where involvement is the norm.
Graduation rates at Illinois College show a pattern where many students take more than four years to complete their degrees. The most recent reported four-year graduation rate for the 2021 cohort is 52.4%, while the five-year rate for the 2020 cohort is 57.3%, and the six-year rate for the 2019 cohort is not specified in the snippet but is implied to be higher. One external analysis notes the four-year rate of 55% is considered high and falls within the top 30% nationally, reflecting a relatively strong rate for institutions of its type. For alumni earnings, data shows median earnings of $37,109 one year after graduation, increasing to $50,547 five years out. 74% of recent graduates earn more than a high school graduate.
Illinois College works to make its private education accessible through institutional aid, though it does not appear to have a prominent 'no-loan' or full-need-met policy as described in the general aid policy sources. The college offers merit-based scholarships ranging from $12,000 to full tuition, which are renewed annually. On average, the college awards $19.7 million in institutional aid each year. A significant majority of students—74.33%—receive financial aid, with an average aid package of $40,477. After scholarships and grants, the for many students is substantially reduced. The college provides a net price calculator for families to estimate their individual cost.
Illinois College stands out as a steadfast, traditional liberal arts college that offers a highly personalized educational experience at a scale that has largely vanished from higher education. Its 12:1 student-faculty ratio is its crown jewel, guaranteeing that undergraduates are known by their professors and not just a student ID number. The Phi Beta Kappa chapter is a significant marker of academic quality and intellectual rigor, a distinction shared by only a select group of institutions. Furthermore, its deeply residential character—with 85% of students living on campus—creates an all-encompassing, immersive college life centered around its over 80 clubs and weekly events. It’s a place for students who want the classic, close-knit liberal arts experience without the ultra-selective admissions frenzy of more famous name-brand colleges. However, its profile is that of a strong regional college; its graduation timelines and alumni earnings trajectories reflect its mission of serving and elevating a broad student population rather than competing with elite national institutions.
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