In Jacksonville, you will discover a city that blends historical traditions with vibrant arts, culture, and recreation.
Jacksonville is a place where you will feel safe, where you will hang out with friends at a local restaurant or coffee shop, and where you will recognize people as you walk along the sidewalk. It's a place where you are as likely to see your professor at the grocery store as you are in the IC cafeteria. This makes Jacksonville a wonderful community in which to live and learn.
Jacksonville has a population of 25,000 people, more than 50 restaurants, two movie theaters, four shopping centers, eight parks, and two lakes. And on those occasions where you want to go bigger - it's just a 30-minute drive from the state capital of Springfield, a 90-minute drive from St. Louis, and a 4-hour drive from Chicago, Indianapolis, and Kansas City.
Explore Jacksonville and nearby places
Jacksonville's historic downtown was named to Best Value Schools' Top 30 Most Charming College Town Main Streets. Our picturesque downtown features a traditional square with local shops, bars, and restaurants lining each street. Whether you want to study in the coffee shop, go see a movie or browse a bookstore, Illinois College students have plenty to choose from when it comes to dining, shopping, museums, and other leisure activities.