OpenFieldIllinois College · Jacksonville, Illinois, United States
Illinois College is a historic private liberal arts college in Jacksonville, Illinois, founded in 1829, renowned for environmental biology, pre-medical sciences, business administration, and the signature BreakAway experiential learning program.
As Illinois’s first college to graduate a class, IC emphasizes undergraduate research, guaranteed graduation in four years through the IC Promise, and hands-on laboratory and field inquiry. Flagship facilities include the Starhill Forest Arboretum and the Parker Science Building.
Admissions are holistic and test-optional, reviewing secondary school GPA, curriculum rigor, personal essays, and extracurricular involvement. International students submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
Field-oriented undergraduate degree utilizing the 50-acre Starhill Forest Arboretum for coursework in prairie restoration, biodiversity conservation, and limnology.
Hands-on computing curriculum covering algorithm analysis, object-oriented design, web application development, data structures, and computer organization.
Full-time summer research fellowship assessing oak savannas, invasive species eradication, and dendrochronological climate records in central Illinois.
Experiential grant enabling students to participate in faculty-led field courses in Costa Rica, Greece, Japan, or the American Southwest.
Semester-long practicum working directly with state legislators, legislative research bureaus, and policy advocacy groups in Springfield, Illinois.
Highest competitive academic scholarship awarded to incoming freshmen who demonstrate superior intellectual distinction and campus leadership.
President and Professor of Business Administration
Office of the President and Faculty of Business
Dr. Barbara A. Farley has presided over Illinois College since 2013, championing experiential liberal arts learning, academic program innovation, and student re...
View researcher profile ↗Associate Professor of Biology and Ecological Genetics
Department of Biology
Prof. Dr. Bryan Arnold investigates behavioral ecology, insect pollination genetics, prairie restoration dynamics, and biodiversity monitoring at Starhill Fores...
View researcher profile ↗Professor of Chemistry and Environmental Catalysis
Department of Chemistry
Prof. Dr. Brent Chandler researches organometallic catalysts, green synthesis methods, and chemical education pedagogies involving undergraduate researchers....
View researcher profile ↗OpenField is an independent research platform not officially affiliated with Illinois College. Information reflects public documentation reviewed on 2026-10-16. Students must verify application deadlines, fee structures, and prerequisite details directly with official university admissions departments before applying.
Updated 2026-10-16 · Editorial policy · Submit corrections