Illinois College stands out for its exceptional affordability, with low-income students paying just over $11,000 annually and middle-income families seeing similarly manageable costs.
The college's zero default rate and strong completion outcomes reflect its ability to help students graduate and successfully manage their financial obligations after college.
Illinois College ranks as a small private liberal arts institution in Illinois that provides a traditional college experience with strong affordability for most income levels. The college serves about 35% Pell Grant recipients and 31% first-generation students, reflecting meaningful access for students from diverse economic backgrounds. With a 61% six-year graduation rate, Illinois College demonstrates solid completion outcomes for a small institution.
The college's financial profile shows particular strength in affordability, with low-income students paying just $11,197 annually and middle-income families seeing net costs around $14,241. Even high-income families face manageable expenses at $23,362 per year, making Illinois College accessible across income levels. Graduates earn a median of $52,575 ten years after enrollment, which represents typical outcomes for liberal arts colleges of this size and selectivity.
As a small private college in Jacksonville, Illinois College offers the intimate academic environment and close faculty mentorship that many students seek in liberal arts education. The institution balances accessibility with solid academic outcomes, providing a pathway to graduate school preparation and professional development in a supportive campus community.
Illinois College's academic programs reflect its liberal arts mission, with Psychology and Biology serving as the institution's primary areas of strength and enrollment. Psychology, the college's largest program with 33 graduates annually, generates the highest aggregate return and provides a foundation for careers in counseling, social services, education, and graduate study. Biology follows as the second-largest program with 23 graduates, offering preparation for health professions, research, and advanced study in the life sciences.
Both programs show early-career earnings in the upper $20,000 to low $30,000 range, which is typical for liberal arts fields that often require additional training or graduate education for full career development. These foundational programs serve students well as preparation for professional school, graduate study, or entry-level positions that offer growth potential over time. The college's small size allows for close faculty mentorship and research opportunities that enhance graduate school preparation and professional development.
As a small liberal arts college, Illinois College focuses on breadth of education rather than specialized pre-professional training. This approach serves students who value intellectual exploration, critical thinking development, and the flexibility to pursue multiple career paths. While immediate earnings may be modest, graduates gain the analytical and communication skills that prove valuable across many professions and provide a strong foundation for lifelong learning and career adaptation.
Illinois College graduates achieve solid long-term financial outcomes typical of small liberal arts institutions. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $52,575, placing the college around the national average for similar institutions. While earnings don't significantly exceed expectations compared with peer colleges, graduates still achieve meaningful career advancement and financial stability over time.
The college's program mix reflects its liberal arts mission, with Psychology being the largest and highest-return major, graduating 33 students annually with median earnings of $28,960 in the early career years. Biology, the second-largest program with 23 graduates, shows similar early earnings at $30,047. These foundational programs often serve as stepping stones to graduate school, professional programs, or specialized career paths that develop stronger earning potential over time.
Many Illinois College graduates pursue advanced degrees or enter fields where early-career earnings may appear modest but long-term prospects remain strong. The college's emphasis on broad-based education and critical thinking skills provides graduates with flexibility to adapt and grow professionally, even if immediate post-graduation earnings start at more moderate levels compared with technical or pre-professional programs.
Illinois College demonstrates strong affordability across all income levels, making private liberal arts education accessible to a broad range of families. Low-income students pay just $11,197 per year after aid, well below what many public universities charge, while middle-income families see annual costs around $14,241. Even families at higher income levels face net prices of $23,362, which remains reasonable for private college education.
The college's financial aid approach helps keep debt levels manageable for most students. Typical graduates leave with about $25,565 in federal student loan debt, while families who choose Parent PLUS loans borrow an average of $17,737. These debt levels, while meaningful, remain within ranges that graduates can typically handle given the college's solid completion rates and the long-term earning potential that comes with a liberal arts degree.
What makes Illinois College particularly sustainable financially is its consistent pricing structure and strong aid programs. The college maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that graduates successfully manage their debt obligations after graduation. This track record suggests that while immediate post-graduation earnings may be moderate, graduates develop the financial stability needed to meet their loan commitments over time.
Illinois College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
