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JacksonvilleILSquare 2006Photo: User:Dailynetworks · Public domain
Colleges in and near Jacksonville

Jacksonville is home to Illinois College

Illinois College (886 students on campus) is inside the city. About 9% of Jacksonville’s residents are enrolled in college, above Illinois (6%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Jacksonville. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
1
886 students on campus
Nearest college
0.8 mi
Illinois College
Residents in college
9%
Above IL (6%)
Nearest community college
33 mi
Lincoln Land · $3,744 tuition
Nearest public university
32.7 mi
University of Illinois Springfield · $12,252 in-state
Median household income
$65K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Jacksonville

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college in JacksonvilleIllinois College has 886 students on campus in Jacksonville, 64% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at University of Illinois SpringfieldLiving in Illinois, the University of Illinois Springfield charges $12,252 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,017. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 33 miles awayLincoln Land Community College in Springfield: tuition and fees $3,744 a year for Illinois residents.Students are 9% of residentsAbove Illinois (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Jacksonville

One private college within 0.8 miles. The nearest public four-year college, University of Illinois Springfield, is 32.7 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miIllinois CollegeJacksonville
University or collegeCommunity college
Illinois CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 886 on campus · In Jacksonville78%admitted$18knet price64%graduate$53kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Jacksonville’s median household income ($65,432) falls.

University of Illinois Springfield32.7 mi · Springfield · sticker $25,521$9,520a year
Illinois CollegeIn Jacksonville · sticker $48,955$12,569a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Illinois CollegeUniversity of Illinois Springfield
University of Illinois Springfield53% graduate$57k earnings$19k typical debt
Illinois College64% graduate$53k earnings$26k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Jacksonville

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Illinois College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 25%Biology 15%Health professions 12%Agriculture 8%Social sciences 8%Education 6%Everything else 27%

Biggest programs

Psychology, General26 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations21 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services19 graduates a year
$68k4 yrs out
Biology, General18 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies13 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Jacksonville

Is Jacksonville a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Jacksonville residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, Illinois College, has 886 students on campus.

What colleges are in Jacksonville?

Illinois College is inside the city. Lincoln Land Community College is 33 miles away in Springfield.

What is the closest community college to Jacksonville, and what does it cost?

Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, 33 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,744 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $4,299, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Illinois Springfield cost if we live in Illinois?

Tuition and fees are $12,252 a year in-state and $22,017 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $5,778 (under $30,000 income) to $16,544 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Jacksonville. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →