Illinois College is a small residential liberal arts college offering exceptional education at an affordable cost on a safe and beautiful campus. For over 180 years, Illinois College has prepared young men and women for lives of leadership and service.
With an enrollment of 1,000, Illinois College launches students into thriving careers in public service, medicine, law, education and other professions. Our students earn their degrees through a demanding residential liberal arts curriculum of more than 45 majors in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures intense focus on and comprehensive guidance for each student. A rich array of experiential learning opportunities including Study Abroad, student-faculty research, internships, community service projects and Division III athletics complement the academic program. The unique College-funded BreakAway program enables students to travel and study in the U.S. and beyond. Our students discover their talents at Illinois College, and our graduates carry with them skills that enable success anywhere in the world.
Our remarkable academic program, extracurricular opportunities and outstanding facilities represent one of the best values in higher education today. Our more than $140 million endowment allows us to keep our tuition lower than many comparative institutions. We also award millions of dollars in financial aid each year to ensure that deserving students reap the many benefits of an Illinois College education.
The College was a center of the abolitionist movement. President Beecher was an outspoken opponent of slavery. A grand jury indicted a group of students for harboring runaway slaves, and two campus houses are believed to have been part of the Underground Railroad.
The College is also home to some Lincoln letters.