Illinois College

What Illinois College does

Illinois College is a private nonprofit liberal arts college founded in 1829 in Jacksonville, Illinois, and is the oldest college in the state. It serves more than 1,000 students through a dual delivery model combining traditional on-campus residential programs with fully online undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds Phi Beta Kappa distinction, and ranks in the Top 10 nationally for social mobility per U.S. News & World Report. Academic offerings span more than 80 programs across business, nursing, computer science, education, behavioral health, agribusiness, and the natural sciences, with signature guarantees including Finish in 4, the Advantage Plus scholarship (minimum $80,000 over four years for on-campus students and 100% demonstrated need met for Illinois residents with 3.0 GPA), and a Graduate READY initiative ensuring 100% student participation in internships.

Revenue mechanics rest on three streams: tuition and fees (undergraduate online at $375/credit, graduate nursing MSN at $750/credit, with on-campus pricing varying), housing and dining for residential students, and philanthropic donations through the Illinois College Society and annual giving campaigns like ALL IN FOR IC. Approximately 99% of degree-seeking students receive financial aid. The technology stack combines an online learning management system for 100% online programs, VR-equipped clinical labs for nursing, a Google-collaborated computer science curriculum, and the new Crispin Hall STEM hub housing advanced computing and robotics facilities. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer with sales-led recruitment across high school outreach, transfer pipelines via community college articulation agreements (John Wood, John A. Logan), regional alumni events, and a UHSP teach-out agreement absorbing displaced students from closing institutions.

The institution is governed by an independent Board of Trustees (chaired by Steven R. Mills '77) and led by President Barbara A. Farley. Employer partnerships with Caterpillar, IBM, John Deere, Goldman Sachs, ADM, State Farm, DOT Foods, and Reynolds Consumer Products underpin career placement outcomes, while strategic alliances with Google, Chartwells Higher Education, Carnegie Mellon, and Babson support curriculum and experiential programming. Approaching its bicentennial in 2029, the college is positioned as a small, mission-driven residential and online educator competing primarily on affordability guarantees, career outcomes, and access for first-generation and rural Illinois students.

Name

Illinois College

Legal name

Illinois College

Website

https://ic.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1829

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Illinois College is a private nonprofit liberal arts college founded in 1829 in Jacksonville, Illinois, serving over 1,000 students through on-campus residential and fully online undergraduate and graduate programs. It differentiates on affordability guarantees, 100% internship participation, and career placement outcomes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Liberal Arts College)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK), Honors Liberal Arts Colleges (Honors College/Program-Led) (EDAHACAL)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Liberal arts college
• Online degree programs
• Nursing education
• Business administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition for on-campus and online programs. Undergraduate online programs at $375/credit; graduate nursing at $750/credit. 99% of degree-seeking students receive financial aid.
2. Philanthropic Donations: Leadership giving through Illinois College Society ($1,000+ annually or $100,000+ lifetime), annual giving campaigns (ALL IN FOR IC), and major gifts supporting scholarships and programs.
3. Housing and Dining: Revenue from residential life services including campus housing and meal plans for on-campus students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Illinois College is a private liberal arts college that delivers more than 80 academic programs through traditional on-campus instruction at its Jacksonville, Illinois campus and through fully online undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It sells baccalaureate and master's degrees spanning business, nursing (MSN), education licensure, agribusiness management, behavioral health, computer science, teacher preparation, and the natural sciences, supported by guarantees including Finish in 4 and Advantage Plus scholarships.

Product overview

Illinois College offers a dual educational delivery model: fully online undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and traditional on-campus programs. Online offerings include six BS in Business degree tracks, Agribusiness Management, Behavioral Health, Education Licensure programs, and a Master of Science in Nursing. On-campus programs span computer science (developed with Google), business administration, accounting, neuroscience, biology, and teacher preparation. The online programs are designed for working adults with flexible scheduling, 8-week course starts, and accelerated completion paths, while on-campus programs emphasize hands-on learning in STEM facilities and partnerships with industry leaders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online BS in Agribusiness Management A 100% online bachelor of science degree in agribusiness management, equipping students with business and agriculture industry expertise. Features 42 major credit hours, can be completed in 18 months, and costs $375 per credit hour. Targets students interested in farm management, agribusiness development, agronomy marketing, and agricultural finance careers.
• Online BS in Behavioral Health A 100% online bachelor of science degree preparing students for Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CADC) licensure. Combines sociology and psychology with 48 major credit hours, including online coursework plus an in-person practicum. Costs $375 per credit hour and can be completed in approximately 24 months with transfer credits.
• Online BS Degrees in Business (Accounting, Business Administration, Healthcare Management, Human Resources Management, Management, Marketing) Six 100% online bachelor of science degrees in business disciplines. Programs include 42-44 major credit hours, can be completed in about 15 months, and cost $375 per credit hour. Includes Accounting, Business Administration, Healthcare Management, Human Resources Management, Management, and Marketing. Targets working adults seeking career advancement in business fields.
• Online Education Licensure Programs (Elementary, Secondary, ESL, Reading Teacher, Special Education) Online post-baccalaureate teacher licensure and endorsement programs. Programs include Elementary Teacher Licensure (26-36 credit hours), Secondary Teacher Licensure (26-36 credit hours), ESL Endorsement (18 credit hours), Reading Teacher Endorsement (18 credit hours), and Special Education Learning Behavior Specialist Endorsement (14 credit hours). All programs cost $375 per credit hour. Targets working educators seeking Illinois licensure.
• Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) A 100% online master's degree in nursing with concentrations in leadership/administration or nursing education. Requires 36 credit hours, costs $750 per credit hour, and can be completed in about 12-18 months. Program features VR technology in brand new clinical labs to practice patient care scenarios.
• On-Campus Computer Science Program On-campus computer science degree created in collaboration with Google, preparing students for software engineering and data analysis careers. Features state-of-the-art facilities in Crispin Hall STEM hub, advanced computing lab, VR studio, and professional internship opportunities at companies like Caterpillar, IBM, Goldman Sachs, and DOT Foods.
• Teacher Preparation Program On-campus teacher preparation program leading to Illinois licensure in Elementary Education (1-6), Secondary Education (9-12), Middle Grades Education (5-8), and All Grades Education (PK-12). Includes student teaching placements and state certification preparation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90%+ of students receive financial aid
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• John Wood Community CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 31 October 2024Illinois College expanded articulation agreements with John Wood Community College enabling seamless transfer pathways for students completing associate degrees to transfer into bachelor's degree programs at Illinois College.
• John A. Logan CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 April 2024Forge New 2+2 Partnership for Seamless Degree Transition. New articulation agreement enabling students to complete an associate degree at John A. Logan College and transfer seamlessly to Illinois College for bachelor's degree completion.
• Chartwells Higher EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChartwells Higher Education implements innovative experiential learning programs on the Illinois College campus including partnerships, internships, courses, and student-led initiatives. These programs involve advisory boards, culinary series, entrepreneurship courses, and student-run dining concepts to enhance student engagement and skill development.
• GoogleflagshipTechnology or IntegrationIllinois College's computer science program was created in collaboration with Google. The hybrid program features classes developed in partnership with Google, following ACM guidelines to ensure innovation and relevance in the tech landscape. Students gain experience with industry-standard tools and practices.
• Carnegie Mellon UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for experiential learning innovation as part of the Chartwells Higher Education network of colleges implementing innovative programs on campus.
• Babson CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for experiential learning innovation as part of the Chartwells Higher Education network of colleges implementing innovative programs on campus.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Knox College: Private liberal arts college in Galesburg, IL (also western Illinois), Phi Beta Kappa member with comparable residential, full-time undergraduate model. Similar size and private independent governance, competing for overlapping regional applicants.
• Augustana College: Private liberal arts college in Rock Island, IL with broader STEM offerings and a Google-collaborated computer science program analogous to IC's. Comparable scale (~2,500 students) and similar Midwestern private liberal arts positioning with overlapping employer partnerships.
• Eureka College: Small private liberal arts college in central Illinois with a similar enrollment scale (~500-700 students) and similar reliance on tuition discounting and financial aid. Directly comparable on size, mission, and rural Midwestern position.
• McKendree University: Small private university in Lebanon, IL with online degree completion programs comparable to IC's online BS catalog. Similar tuition discounting strategy and overlapping adult learner recruitment in the St. Louis / Metro East region.
• Lake Forest College: Private liberal arts college in Lake Forest, IL with Phi Beta Kappa membership and ~1,700 students. Comparable academic profile, career outcomes emphasis, and liberal arts + pre-professional positioning, with overlap on the Chicago-area employer partnership funnel.
• Blackburn College: Tiny private liberal arts work-program college in Carlinville, IL (<300 students) with analogous financial aid reliance and rural Illinois recruitment base. Closest comparable on size and budget structure within Illinois.
• Quincy University: Small private Catholic-affiliated university in Quincy, IL with a similar enrollment profile and on-campus/online mix. Competes for similar transfer and adult learners in western Illinois, with comparable tuition discounting economics.
• Monmouth College: Small private liberal arts college in Monmouth, IL (within ~45 miles of IC) with roughly 1,000 students. Comparable in size, mission, regional recruitment focus, and demographic mix, and competes with IC for the same western Illinois rural applicant pool.
• Millikin University: Small private university in Decatur, IL offering both on-campus and online programs with comparable tuition discounting and financial aid structure. Competes with IC for central Illinois adult and transfer learners in online offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Southern New Hampshire University: Large nonprofit university with a nationally dominant online degree catalog and 100% online BS/MS programs at sub-$400/credit pricing. The most relevant competitive incumbent for IC's online undergraduate and graduate programs, given its scale, brand recognition, and mature adult-learner marketing engine.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ictrueblue
• YouTubeyoutube.com/illinoiscollege1829
• Facebookfacebook.com/62167542790
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/illinois-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/illinoiscollege
• TikToktiktok.com/@illinoiscollege

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Illinois College