Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Knox College #1373 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,572 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 14.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Knox College sits in the 9.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth's ranking reflects Knox College's balance of access and outcomes among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates achieve meaningful financial results that outperform expectations for similar students at comparable institutions.
Azimuth ranks Knox College #1373 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Galesburg, Illinois, Knox College enrolls roughly 1,127 undergraduates. Retention stands at 83.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 67.7%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Knox College draws strength from access and mobility. 30.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 27.8% are first-generation college students, positioning the college as an accessible option within the private sector. Graduates earn about $12,572 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Knox College in the 14.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Knox College #1318 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The composite reflects a balanced profile across the four pillars. Affordability sits in the 25.7 percentile, access in the 26.9 percentile, and mobility in the 32.0 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a Social Sciences-focused liberal arts college, Knox College emphasizes breadth and intellectual engagement alongside career preparation, offering students a pathway to meaningful long-term outcomes without the price tag of larger research universities.
Knox College's published cost of attendance is $68,134. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,134, middle-income families pay around $23,844, and higher-income families pay approximately $31,983. Azimuth ranks Knox College #1059 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Knox College's aid structure is need-based, with aid packages constructed from federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. The college participates in federal work-study and meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students according to its published aid policies. The gap between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though families should review the specific aid-page details to understand how their household circumstances may affect the final package. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,730; 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. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $49,217, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Knox College is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences and humanities who want a private liberal arts college experience in IL. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $49,217, placing Knox College in the 9.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $12,572 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Knox College in the 14.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 30.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 27.8% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Knox College in the 26.5 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 70.8% 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 the earnings trajectory and aid package competitive among nonprofit four-year institutions.
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 Knox College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Knox College's published cost of attendance is $68,134. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,134, middle-income families pay around $23,844, and higher-income families pay approximately $31,983.
Azimuth ranks Knox College #1059 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Knox College's aid structure is need-based, with aid packages constructed from federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. The college participates in federal work-study and meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students according to its published aid policies.
The gap between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though families should review the specific aid-page details to understand how their household circumstances may affect the final package. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,730; 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.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $49,217, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 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 Knox College earn median 4-year earnings of $49,217, placing Knox College in the 9.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,572 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Knox College in the 14.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Knox College #1318 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Knox College's concentration in social sciences and humanities fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 42 graduates, followed by Research Psychology with 33 graduates. Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $38,967 at 0.8x the benchmark for the field, while Biology, General delivers median 4-year earnings of $53,231 at 0.9x benchmark.
Political Science rounds out the top five with 20 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $54,341 at 0.9x benchmark [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). This program mix — anchored in Social Sciences — supports outcomes that exceed expectations for a liberal arts institution, reflecting strong alumni networks and employer recruitment in professional and analytical subfields.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Webber International University Similar quality tier (#36138 ranked) | FL | 69% | $45,606 | #36138 | Compare |
Hastings College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36141 ranked) | NE | 72% | $51,303 | #36141 | Compare |
Emory & Henry University Similar quality tier (#36136 ranked) | VA | 84% | $47,385 | #36136 | Compare |
Lawrence University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36135 ranked) | WI | 64% | $55,789 | #36135 | Compare |
Palm Beach Atlantic University Similar quality tier (#36134 ranked) | FL | 82% | $49,232 | #36134 | Compare |
Computer Science
19 graduates
Economics
18 graduates
Political Science and Government
20 graduates
Biology, General
24 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
19 graduates
Knox College's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity. Business Administration is the largest program with 42 graduates, followed by Research Psychology, Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Biology, General, and Political Science.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 309 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with national labor-market demand. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied and professional fields.
Economics graduates earn median earnings of $62,144 four years after enrollment, while Political Science graduates earn $54,341. Biology, General delivers median earnings of $53,231, and Teacher Education reaches $50,828.
These programs represent the institution's most direct pathways to strong early-career financial outcomes, contrasting with the broader Social Sciences concentration that characterizes the overall degree portfolio. The program-mix signature reflects Knox College's positioning as a selective liberal arts college.
Social Sciences represents 19% of graduates, with Business at 13% and Arts at 6%. Many of these programs—particularly in humanities and foundational sciences—are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional school.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national labor-market trends and long-term career mobility.
