Knox College combines the intimate learning environment of a small liberal arts college with strong financial aid that makes quality education accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds.
Graduates develop critical thinking and communication skills that serve them well across varied career paths, from computer science to creative writing to biological sciences.
Knox College is a small private liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, that emphasizes personalized education and strong financial aid. With just over 1,000 students, Knox provides an intimate academic environment where students work closely with faculty and develop deep expertise across disciplines. The college serves a diverse student body, with about 30% receiving Pell Grants and 28% being first-generation college students, reflecting its commitment to making quality liberal arts education accessible.
Graduates earn a median of $54,820 ten years after enrollment, placing Knox around the middle of the national distribution for earnings outcomes. While this represents solid long-term financial returns, Knox's strength lies more in the breadth of opportunities it provides than in maximizing immediate post-graduation earnings. The college's "Opportunity Builders" designation reflects its focus on serving students who might not otherwise access elite higher education while helping them achieve meaningful career outcomes.
As a liberal arts institution, Knox emphasizes critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills that serve graduates well across diverse career paths. The college's small size means students receive significant individual attention, and its location in a historic Illinois town provides a focused academic environment away from major metropolitan distractions.
Knox College's program portfolio reflects its liberal arts mission while demonstrating strength across diverse fields of study. Computer Science, despite being a smaller program with 20 graduates, delivers exceptional outcomes with median earnings of $67,660, showing that Knox can compete effectively in high-demand technical fields. This success reflects the college's ability to provide personalized attention and rigorous preparation even in specialized areas.
Creative Writing represents Knox's largest program with 39 graduates, embodying the college's commitment to developing students' expressive and analytical capabilities. While early-career earnings of $20,530 reflect the challenging nature of creative careers, these graduates often pursue paths that provide personal fulfillment and contribute to cultural and intellectual life. Many use their Knox education as preparation for graduate study, teaching, or careers in publishing, media, and related fields.
Biology graduates, earning around $21,964, often view their Knox degree as preparation for medical school, graduate research, or careers in healthcare and environmental science. The college's small class sizes and close faculty mentorship provide excellent preparation for competitive graduate programs, where many Knox biology graduates continue their education. This pattern reflects the college's role in developing students' intellectual capabilities and preparing them for advanced study and meaningful careers.
Knox College graduates achieve solid long-term earnings that reflect the value of a liberal arts education. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $54,820, which places the college around the middle of national outcomes for similar institutions. While Knox doesn't deliver the immediate high earnings seen at more technically-focused schools, its graduates develop versatile skills that serve them well across diverse career paths and often see earnings growth over time.
The college's program mix shows interesting patterns in outcomes by field. Computer Science stands out with graduates earning around $67,660 ten years out, demonstrating that Knox's small but focused STEM programs can compete with larger institutions. Creative Writing, the college's largest program with 39 graduates, produces outcomes around $20,530, reflecting the challenging but personally rewarding nature of creative careers. Biology graduates earn about $21,964, often serving as preparation for graduate school in medicine, research, or related fields.
Knox's liberal arts approach means many graduates pursue careers that require additional education or build earnings gradually over time. The college's emphasis on critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills creates a foundation for long-term career flexibility, even if immediate post-graduation earnings don't always reflect the full value of the education received.
Knox College demonstrates strong commitment to affordability, particularly for low- and middle-income families. Low-income students pay an average net price of $15,705 annually, which represents excellent value for a private liberal arts education. Middle-income families see net costs around $20,692, while higher-income families pay about $30,717 - still reasonable compared to many private colleges of similar quality and reputation.
The college's financial aid strategy focuses on making education accessible rather than simply reducing sticker price. With nearly 30% of students receiving Pell Grants, Knox actively enrolls students who might not otherwise afford private education. The college's aid packaging helps families manage costs through a combination of grants, work-study opportunities, and reasonable borrowing levels that align with expected post-graduation earning capacity.
Knox's approach to pricing reflects its mission as an opportunity-building institution. Rather than serving only wealthy families who can afford high net prices, the college structures aid to welcome students from diverse economic backgrounds. This commitment to accessibility, combined with the personalized attention that comes with small class sizes, creates genuine value for families seeking a transformative educational experience.
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Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
