The Associated Colleges of Illinois’ member colleges and universities are the inspiration for ACI’s vision of achieving economic and social progress by creating educational opportunity. These independent institutions of higher education, rooted in the liberal arts tradition, impart to their students the values, knowledge, and skills essential to a lifetime of productive service to business and community. Each cherishes its distinctive history and character, but all ACI members believe that collaborations among business, government, and the not-for-profit community represent the best way to address society’s most pressing educational challenges.
Teacher preparation is a core competency at ACI's member colleges and universities, which enroll more than 55,000 students and graduate nearly 3,500 new teachers each year. These new teachers are among the most sought-after by Illinois' high-need school districts, because they know both content and pedagogy; because they remain in the profession at nearly twice the rate of teachers graduating from other programs; and because ACI member colleges motivate students not just to work – but to serve society.
ACI member colleges and universities include:
Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois
*Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois
Concordia University Chicago
River Forest, Illinois
*Dominican University
River Forest, Illinois
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, Illinois
Eureka College
Eureka, Illinois
Greenville College
Greenville, Illinois
Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, Illinois
Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois
*Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois
*Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois
McKendree University
Lebanon, Illinois
Millikin University
Decatur, Illinois
Monmouth College
Monmouth, Illinois
*North Central College
Naperville, Illinois
*North Park University
Chicago, Illinois
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois
Quincy University
Quincy, Illinois
Rockford College
Rockford, Illinois
*Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, Illinois
*University of St. Francis
Joliet, Illinois
Schools noted with an asterisk (*) offer Diversity at the Blackboard scholarships to qualified applicants. To learn more, complete our online inquiry form.