Illinois College vs. AQ

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois College in Jacksonville, IL with Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Aquinas College is larger than Illinois College based on total student enrollment (1,157 students vs. 942 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Illinois College is located in Jacksonville, IL (Distant Town setting); Aquinas College is in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting).
• Illinois College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois College 12:1; Aquinas College 10:1.

Illinois College vs. AQ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois College or AQ? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois College than AQ ($17,375 vs. $18,018).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 2.9% lower than at Illinois College ($11,680 vs. $12,026).
• Aquinas College is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Illinois College (about $1,542 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $38,676.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4% higher at AQ than at Illinois College (about $1,542 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $38,676.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois College as at Aquinas College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 6.1% larger than aid received by Illinois College students ($33,535 vs. $31,609).

Illinois College vs. AQ Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois College or AQ? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AQ and Illinois College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois College (1030) is the same as at AQ (1030).
• Incoming AQ students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at Illinois College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois College 883/1180; Aquinas College 910/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois College 19/26; Aquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois College - Test optional; AQ - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Illinois College students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at AQ (3.52).
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Illinois College (78.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.2% at Illinois College vs. 11.8% at AQ.

Illinois College vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois College and AQ? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Illinois College's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
• Graduates from Illinois College earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,300 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Illinois College graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Illinois College graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Illinois College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.