Admit rate has ranged 50%–67% 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.
Quincy University is a small, Catholic Franciscan liberal arts college in western Illinois that operates with a distinctively personal, hands-on ethos. It's a place where a 51% acceptance rate signals an accessible but intentional admissions process, and where faith is woven into campus life through weekly liturgies and ministry. The academic experience is defined by its 'more than 50 undergraduate programs' and a pragmatic focus on career preparation, though its 45% graduation rate underscores the challenges some students face in persisting to a degree.
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
1,010
In-state tuition
$37,140
Out-of-state tuition
$37,140
Campus Housing
69% of students live on campus
Popular Majors
Business, Health Professions, Biology
Graduation Rate
45%
First-Year Retention
Not stated in sources
Religious Affiliation
Catholic (Franciscan)
Median Earnings (10yr)
$50,369
Students Receiving Aid
71.81%
Post-Grad Knowledge Rate (2025)
88%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$50,369
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.5×
Median debt at graduation
$24,000
Graduation rate
45%
First-year retention
70%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
60%
Pell (lower-income) share
30%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
33%
Financial health
0.0 / 3.0Below the federal standard — financial stress
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.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$55,964
Accounting and Related Services$45,500
Finance and Financial Management Services$38,289
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$35,060
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$33,993
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
82
Summer high
85°F
Winter low
24°F
Annual rain
39.5"
Annual snow
20.6"
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
59
Scholarly works
906
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
1.0%
Bottom → top quintile
20%
From bottom quintile
5%
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 Quincy University?
Quincy University's acceptance rate is approximately 51% (Quincy, IL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Quincy University?
Admitted students at Quincy University typically score 1000–1200 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Quincy University cost?
At Quincy University, the average net price (after aid) is about $20,359 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Quincy University?
Quincy University enrolls approximately 1,010 undergraduate students.
Where is Quincy University located?
Quincy University is located in Quincy, IL.
Admissions
Quincy University's admissions process is 'fairly competitive,' with an of 51%. The university reports an early acceptance rate of 49.6%. For the class entering in 2025-2026, the middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1000–1200. The admissions office can be reached at 217-228-8020 or via email at [email protected]. The rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is reported to be 29.49%, which is considered medium. The university participates in the initiative, and its official CDS report is maintained by the Office of Institutional Research. The admissions factors considered are outlined in the CDS, though the specific weight given to demonstrated interest is not detailed in the provided sources.
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.
Biology, General
$33,993
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$33,993
Psychology, General$31,305
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.
QU offers a curriculum that 'combines a liberal arts foundation with real-world experience.' The university provides more than 50 undergraduate programs, alongside graduate and doctoral options. The most popular majors cluster in professional fields: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; and Biological and Biomedical Sciences. Specific popular programs include Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse and Biology/Biological Sciences. The university's academic philosophy emphasizes 'hands-on learning experiences designed for lifelong success' and 'mentorship.'
Campus life at Quincy is rooted in its Catholic and Franciscan identity. The university states that 'faith is a living part of campus life, expressed in weekly liturgies, prayer services, retreats, ministry groups, and service.' A significant majority of students—69%—live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, with the remaining 31% living off-campus. The residential communities are described as 'designed to be safe, supportive, and engaging spaces.' Student life is active with a variety of clubs, sports teams, and activities. Greek life is present on campus with two sororities and fraternities.
The university's graduation rate is 45%. Post-graduation outcomes data collected within six months of graduation for the 2024-2025 cycle shows 91% of graduates were engaged in professional employment, graduate school, or both. Breaking that down, 66% were employed, 25% were continuing their education, and 8% were seeking employment. This results in a 'knowledge rate' of 88% for that cycle. Earnings data varies by source: one reports median earnings 10 years after entry at $50,369, while another cites earnings 5 years after graduation at $50,581 per year. Earlier-career earnings (1 year after graduation) are reported at $37,447 per year.
The average after aid is $20,359. A significant majority of students (71.81%) receive financial aid, with the average aid package totaling $28,461. The university provides a Net Price Calculator to help families estimate their actual cost after scholarships and grants. Financial aid is awarded 'on the basis of academic excellence, as well as demonstrated financial need.' Federal loan programs are available, with undergraduate students eligible to borrow up to $3,500 as freshmen, $4,500 as sophomores, and $5,500 each for juniors and seniors. The provided sources do not indicate the existence of a 'no-loan' policy or a commitment to meet 100% of demonstrated need without loans.
Quincy University stands out for its deliberate fusion of a values-based community with career-focused pragmatism. Its Catholic Franciscan mission isn't just historical backdrop; it actively shapes the student experience through structured faith activities and a service-oriented ethos. Unlike many small liberal arts colleges that lean purely theoretical, QU explicitly designs its 'more than 50' programs around 'hands-on learning experiences' and 'skills that matter after graduation.' This creates a distinctive environment where weekly liturgy and nursing clinicals, ministry groups and business majors, coexist. It's a university that knows its identity—serving students who want a personal, supportive campus where professional preparation is grounded in a specific moral framework. The relatively accessible admissions and strong financial aid participation make this particular blend of faith, community, and career readiness available to a broad range of students.
