Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Jacksonville, Illinois
74.7% Acceptance Rate
Illinois College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
74.7%Acceptance Rate
3.63Avg GPA
1082Avg SAT
22Avg ACT
$47,337Annual Cost
$52,575Grad Salary
35.1%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
74.7%
Avg GPA
3.63
Avg SAT
1082
Avg ACT
22
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
978–1183
ACT Middle 50%
19–25
Need-Based Aid
35.1% receive Pell
Illinois College is a private, selective liberal arts institution known for its commitment to academic excellence, community service, and personal growth. With a strong tradition of rigorous inquiry and close student-faculty collaboration, the college provides a formative and supportive educational experience. Its focus on preparing students for success in a variety of fields through a well-rounded curriculum makes it a meaningful and high-value choice for students seeking a traditional liberal arts education.
Illinois College Acceptance Rate
Illinois College is moderately selective. 74.7% of applicants are admitted, with room for a well-rounded, if imperfect, transcript.
What Illinois College Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 74.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.63 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.43 – 3.62
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.18
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Illinois College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark November 15 for Illinois College (Early Action — other plans are listed below).
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 101 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 15
Regular Decision
February 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Illinois College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Illinois College is 3.63. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.33 and 3.63? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.83–4.03.Illinois College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.63 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.43 – 3.62
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.23 – 3.42
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.22
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Acceptance rate ~78%; test-optional; Common App accepted; no application fee; enrolled ~940 undergraduates (fall 2025 data); 12:1 student-faculty ratio; Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
- Founded 1829 by the Yale Band; Illinois's first college to grant a bachelor's degree (1835); Gillett House is a certified National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site; two campus buildings believed to be part of the Underground Railroad.
- NCAA Division III competing in the Midwest Conference; teams called the Blueboys (men) and Lady Blues (women) - name references Union Army uniforms from the Civil War.
- Six-year graduation rate ~64%; freshman retention ~71%; dual-degree engineering partnerships available; affiliated with United Church of Christ and Presbyterian Church (USA); notable alumni include William Jennings Bryan (three-time presidential candidate).
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Illinois College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Illinois College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Illinois College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Illinois College. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Illinois College Without SAT or ACT?
Illinois College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Illinois College Average SAT Score: 1082
Admitted students at Illinois College average a 1082 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1082 — Accessible
A 1082 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1183 SAT or 25 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Illinois College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 978? A retake is worth it at Illinois College. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 544 | 488 | 600 |
| SAT Reading | 537 | 490 | 583 |
| SAT Composite | 1082 | 978 | 1183 |
A score under 978 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1183+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1100
Can I get into Illinois College with a 1200 SAT?
At 1200, your SAT is squarely in Illinois College's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Illinois College ACT Requirements
Illinois College's admitted students average an ACT of 22.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 22 — Slightly Competitive
An average of 22 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 21 | 17 | 24 |
| ACT English | 21 | 18 | 24 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 19 | 25 |
Can I get into Illinois College with a 25 ACT?
At 25, you're in the top quarter of Illinois College's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, Illinois College weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Illinois College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Illinois College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
The Yale Band Founding and Underground Railroad History Are Not Just Heritage Stories - They're the Live Academic Identity
Illinois College was founded in 1829 by seven Congregational students from Yale who came west as part of a missionary education movement. The first building on campus, Beecher Hall (1829), is still in use today and is named for the college's first president, Edward Beecher - brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe, who visited campus. The college was a documented stop on the Underground Railroad; students were indicted by a grand jury for harboring escaped slaves, and the Gillett House on campus holds National Park Service certification as a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site. Applications that connect a student's own commitment to moral courage, civic responsibility, or social justice to this specific institutional history - not to generic liberal arts values - will read as genuinely engaged rather than formulaic.
Phi Beta Kappa Membership Is Available and Earnable at a School of 940 Students - Signal That Ambition
Illinois College holds a Phi Beta Kappa chapter - one of the most prestigious academic honor society designations in American higher education, and unusually attainable at a school with fewer than 950 undergraduates. At a large research university, Phi Beta Kappa is a distant aspiration; at IC, it is a realistic target for academically driven students. Applications from students with serious academic ambitions in the humanities or social sciences should reference this concretely, demonstrating they've researched what IC makes available rather than treating it as a backup school.
The Dual-Degree Engineering Pathway Deserves Explicit Mention If It's Relevant to Your Plans
Illinois College offers formal dual-degree engineering programs that allow students to earn a liberal arts B.A. from IC while completing an engineering degree at a partner institution. This pathway is genuinely rare at a school this size and makes IC a plausible choice for students who want a strong liberal arts foundation before or alongside engineering training. Students planning engineering careers should ask the admissions office directly which universities are current engineering partners and what GPA thresholds apply, since these program details shift periodically and are not always current on the college's public-facing materials.
William Jennings Bryan Is an Alumni Data Point Worth Knowing for Applicants in Politics or Law
William Jennings Bryan - three-time Democratic presidential nominee and Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson - is Illinois College's most famous alumnus. The college's oratory tradition, its Phi Beta Kappa chapter, and its historic connection to movements of moral and civic consequence give IC an identity that is genuinely different from a generic Midwest liberal arts school. Students interested in law, political science, public policy, or social advocacy should make specific connections to this legacy in their applications - not as name-dropping, but as evidence they understand what IC has historically produced and what kind of student it selects.
Expert Insight:
Illinois College's yield rate is approximately 8% - among the lowest in this project. This means the school is actively competing for every enrolled student and knows that admitted students are almost always comparing it to peer schools. The single biggest application failure here is treating IC as a safe school that doesn't require a genuine articulation of fit: with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, an Underground Railroad certified site, a Yale Band founding history, and a small Midwest Conference athletic community, IC has a very specific identity that applicants either engage with or they don't. Generic essays about wanting a small liberal arts college in a quiet town will not move the merit aid needle at an institution this attuned to the difference between a student who chose IC and a student who listed it.
Illinois College Profile
Full Name
Illinois College
City
Jacksonville
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
62650-2299
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Illinois College Degree Worth It?
Whether Illinois College is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $59,300, and graduates see a 3.21% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Illinois College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $47,337/year at Illinois College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Illinois College, 35.1% receive a Pell Grant and 85.3% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Illinois College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Illinois College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Illinois College graduates report a median income of $52,575, about 30% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Illinois College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, CT | 1044 | 24 |
| Baptist University of Florida | Graceville, FL | 1045 | 20 |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | 1068 | 19 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Illinois College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO | 1084 | 20 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Illinois College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
Degree Programs at Illinois College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois College Admissions
Illinois College graduates earn a moderate median salary of $52,575/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Illinois College is moderate, around $47,337/year; many students supplement with aid.
35.1% of Illinois College students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Illinois College's acceptance rate is 74.7%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Illinois College students is 3.63, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.33 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Illinois College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.23 or below makes admission tougher at Illinois College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Illinois College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1082, and within the 978–1183 range, keeps you competitive.
Illinois College's deadline is November 15 (Early Action).
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before December 1, 2026. That's Illinois College's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
Explore Other Options
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