“Illinois's historic Presbyterian liberal arts college — 172 years of educating leaders with strong Scottish heritage and Fighting Scots spirit.”
Monmouth College is a private Presbyterian liberal arts college founded in 1853, located on a 110-acre campus in Monmouth, Illinois. Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), Monmouth combines its 172-year heritage with a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum and distinctive Scottish heritage celebrated through the Fighting Scots community. Notably, Monmouth is the birthplace of the women's fraternity movement — both Pi Beta Phi (1867) and Kappa Kappa Gamma (1870) were founded at Monmouth, making it a historically significant site for women's higher education and the broader Greek system. Monmouth's curriculum spans the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, business, education, and the arts, with strong programs in education, business, biology, communication, and pre-professional pathways. The college emphasizes integrated liberal arts learning and global engagement through its International Student Initiative and study abroad programs. With approximately 714 undergraduates and an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Monmouth offers a personally engaged academic experience grounded in 172 years of tradition. Campus life at Monmouth centers on the Fighting Scots community in NCAA Division III athletics through the Midwest Conference. The Fighting Scots Marching Band and Jazz Band are particularly beloved campus institutions. Students live on campus in residence halls and Greek housing (with significant participation given Monmouth's role in founding the women's fraternity movement). With 83% of first-year students receiving need-based financial aid and an average net price of $19,875 — among the lowest of any private LAC — Monmouth makes its 172-year liberal arts tradition accessible to students from many backgrounds.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Action
Non-binding; priority scholarship review
Regular Decision
Rolling admissions
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$46,369
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Strong programs in biology, chemistry, and pre-health pathways.
Practical business education with strong career placement in Illinois employers.
Comprehensive teacher preparation with K-12 licensure pathways.
Programs in literature, history, philosophy, and communication studies.
Distinguished music programs including the celebrated Fighting Scots Marching Band and Jazz Band.
4 years
Beloved Monmouth musical tradition that defines campus identity; one of the strongest small-college bands in the Midwest.
4 years
Strong teacher preparation program with K-12 licensure pathways and Illinois school placement.
4 years
Strong pre-health pipeline with high acceptance rates to medical and dental programs.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $44,922
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
