Admit rate has ranged 54%–75% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. 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.
Millikin University is a small private liberal arts school in Decatur, Illinois, where the performing arts and business programs punch above their weight. With a 10:1 student-faculty ratio and a 'test-optional' admissions policy, it attracts a mix of creative and pragmatic students who thrive in its hands-on 'Performance Learning' environment. The campus buzzes with over 75 student organizations, though nearly 40% of students commute—giving it a hybrid residential-commuter vibe.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Demonstrated competencies
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
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
1,382
In-state tuition
$26,892
Out-of-state tuition
$26,892
Location
Decatur, IL
Popular Majors
Nursing, Performing Arts, Business
Acceptance Rate
64-67%
Student-Faculty Ratio
10:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
55-59%
Financial Aid Recipients
80%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$51,262
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.3×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
55%
First-year retention
75%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
64%
Pell (lower-income) share
57%
First-generation share
32%
Endowment / student
$68,340
Financial health
3.0 / 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.
Management Information Systems and Services$58,402
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$56,521
Accounting and Related Services$52,607
Marketing$50,439
Business Administration, Management and Operations$41,193
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
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
92
Summer high
83°F
Winter low
25°F
Annual rain
42.2"
Annual snow
17.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
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
72
Scholarly works
764
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
1.1%
Bottom → top quintile
26%
From bottom quintile
4%
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 Millikin University?
Millikin University's acceptance rate is approximately 67% (Decatur, IL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Millikin University?
Admitted students at Millikin University typically score 860–1130 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Millikin University cost?
At Millikin University, the average net price (after aid) is about $21,989 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Millikin University?
Millikin University enrolls approximately 1,382 undergraduate students.
Where is Millikin University located?
Millikin University is located in Decatur, IL.
Admissions
Millikin's admissions process is moderately selective, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering between 64-67% according to multiple sources. Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. since at least 2023, the middle 50% of admitted students who submit scores report SATs between 860-1130 or ACTs around 19. Notably, 92% of female applicants were accepted in one recent cycle—far higher than the overall rate. The university actively recruits diverse candidates, including through partnerships like its TDD (telephone device for the deaf) line for accessibility.
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.
$39,369
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$34,908
Communication and Media Studies$33,459
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
Millikin's academic identity orbits around its four colleges, offering 50+ majors with standout programs in visual/performing arts (21% of degrees), business (18%), and education (15%). Nursing and theater production are particularly popular, per Niche data. The curriculum emphasizes 'Performance Learning'—applied, experiential projects tied to real-world challenges. With a 10:1 student-faculty ratio and $100M endowment for ~2,000 undergrads, it delivers small-class intensity. Recent rankings placed it #2 among Illinois regional colleges, buoyed by strong outcomes in health fields and creative disciplines.
Life at Millikin balances tight-knit community with commuter flexibility—61% live on campus, while 39% live off. The university sponsors 75+ clubs, from podcast collectives like 'MUod Swings' (featured on its Instagram) to service and cultural groups. Athletics compete in NCAA Division III, but the arts dominate social energy: theater productions, music ensembles, and gallery shows are central to campus identity. Decatur, a mid-sized industrial city, offers limited off-campus nightlife, driving students to create their own fun through orgs and intramurals.
Millikin's 6-year graduation rate sits at 55-59%, slightly below national averages for private colleges, though female students graduate at higher rates. Salary data shows 61% of grads earn $40K-$85K, with 16% clearing $60K+—strong for central Illinois. The 'Performance Learning' model seems to pay off in employability, particularly for nursing and business majors. Pell Grant recipients graduate at a 41% rate, indicating mixed success supporting lower-income students.
With 80% of students receiving aid, Millikin works to offset its $50K+ sticker price. The average financial aid package totals $36,341, bringing the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. down to ~$25,204 for many. Scholarships target academic merit (GPA 3.25+ typical) and artistic talent. The Net Price Calculator warns estimates aren't binding, but it's a useful tool for families weighing options against public schools like UIUC.
Millikin carves a niche by merging conservatory-level arts training with pragmatic business/health programs—all at a scale where professors know students by name. Its 'Performance Learning' requirement ensures every major includes real-world projects, from nursing clinicals to theater productions. For students seeking a collaborative, hands-on education without cutthroat competition, it’s a compelling option—especially with Merit aidScholarship money awarded for achievements like grades, talents, or test scores — not based on your family's financial need. softening the cost.
