Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Illinois College #1197 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,895 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Illinois College in the 26.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Illinois College #1250 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Illinois College's composite ranking reflects balanced performance across Azimuth's pillars of return, affordability, and access. The institution earns about $7,895 less than similar students at comparable institutions demonstrates meaningful financial outcomes for graduates relative to peer institutions.
Azimuth ranks Illinois College #1197 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Jacksonville, Illinois, Illinois College enrolls roughly 930 undergraduates. Retention is 70.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 63.8%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Illinois College performs strongest in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Illinois College #1250 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,691, and earn about $7,895 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Illinois College in the 26.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Business and related fields that connect directly to stable career pathways. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Illinois College sits in the 33.0 percentile for access and the 52.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a private institution with a sticker price typical of residential liberal arts colleges, Illinois College relies on need-based aid to make enrollment affordable for lower-income families. The college enrolls 38.4% Pell-eligible students and 31.1% first-generation undergraduates, positioning it as a solid option for students seeking strong earnings outcomes without the scale or name recognition of larger research universities.
Illinois College's published cost of attendance is $48,955. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $12,487, middle-income families pay around $12,569, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,788. Azimuth ranks Illinois College #672 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and understanding that gap matters when evaluating long-term financial outcomes. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,565, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,975; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. Illinois College participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $50,691, median federal debt of $25,565 projects to a monthly payment of about $289 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Illinois College is a strong fit for students interested in Business and related fields who want a private liberal arts college experience in IL, Midwest. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,691, placing Illinois College in the 10.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $7,895 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Illinois College in the 26.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 38.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.1% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Illinois College in the 50.5 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 78.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors liberal arts fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a strong earnings trajectory and aid package.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Illinois College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Finance and Financial Management Services
15 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
20 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
52 graduates
Biology, General
29 graduates
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
7 graduates
Illinois College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college with applied career focus. Business Administration is the largest program with 52 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Psychology, General, Agricultural Business and Management, and Accounting.
The institution's program portfolio emphasizes Business alongside humanities and social sciences, serving 289 students across 20 programs. Among the institution's ranked programs, several deliver solid four-year earnings outcomes.
Finance leads with median earnings of $74,757 four years after enrollment from 15 graduates, followed by Accounting with $67,982 from 20 graduates and Business Administration with $57,739. Biology, General graduates earn $51,626, and Psychology, General delivers $45,388.
These outcomes reflect the institution's strength in applied professional fields where employers recruit actively and career pathways are well-established. The program distribution across Business (representing 30% of graduates), Social Sciences (representing 10%), and Education (representing 8%) positions Illinois College as a career-oriented institution where most graduates enter the workforce directly rather than pursuing graduate study.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida Southern College Similar quality tier (#32779 ranked) | FL | 64% | $55,294 | #32779 | Compare |
Baptist University Of Florida Similar quality tier (#32781 ranked) | FL | 36% | $42,836 | #32781 | Compare |
The College Of Idaho Similar quality tier (#32777 ranked) | ID | 49% | $48,473 | #32777 | Compare |
Bridgewater College Similar quality tier (#32776 ranked) | VA | 92% | $53,453 | #32776 | Compare |
Newberry College Similar quality tier (#33304 ranked) | SC | 90% | $48,040 | #33304 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Illinois College's published cost of attendance is $48,955. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $12,487, middle-income families pay around $12,569, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,788.
Azimuth ranks Illinois College #672 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding that gap matters when evaluating long-term financial outcomes.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,565, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,975; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
Illinois College participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $50,691, median federal debt of $25,565 projects to a monthly payment of about $289 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Illinois College earn median 4-year earnings of $50,691, placing Illinois College in the 10.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,895 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Illinois College in the 26.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Illinois College #1250 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 52 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $57,739, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Biology, General program graduates 29 students with median 4-year earnings of $51,626, while Psychology, General and Accounting round out the largest cohorts.
The concentration in Business — which represents a significant share of degrees — aligns with the institution's career outcomes and employer recruitment patterns in the region.
