About ACI

About ACI

Description and Mission: Founded in 1952, Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) is a network of 21 private, nonprofit, residential colleges and universities. Our mission: Associated Colleges of Illinois supports member colleges and universities by advancing independent liberal arts and sciences education and helping underserved students succeed in college, career and life.

Collaborative Model: ACI was conceived as a collaborative enterprise to secure public and private funding to support the distinctive brand of higher education offered by Illinois’ smaller, mission-driven private colleges. One of 25 similar state funds around the United States — all members of the Council of Independent Colleges — ACI has raised more than $70 million since it was founded to strengthen its member institutions and create new opportunities for the students they serve. For example, since 1990, ACI’s Scholarship Program has awarded more than $7 million to make it possible for more than 3,000 undergraduate students to begin or continue their studies at ACI colleges and universities.

College Constituency: Associated Colleges of Illinois serves a network of member private, nonprofit, primarily residential colleges and universities. These institutions sustain an enduring commitment to mission-driven, liberal arts and sciences-based higher education in small, supportive environments that cultivate a sense of community — and where faculty make teaching their first priority. Collectively, nearly 45,000 students attend ACI colleges and universities. Many students are low-income, minority, and/or first in their families to pursue higher education. Once exclusively undergraduate-serving institutions, today, many ACI members offer a variety of graduate programs.

Enduring Value: ACI colleges offer excellent value. More than 93 percent of students enrolled at member institutions receive financial aid, resulting in an average net price of $19,179 – with many students paying far less. And while ACI colleges enroll a population of low-income students roughly comparable to Illinois’ public institutions, they are more productive than Illinois publics: The number of students completing degrees after four years is higher at ACI colleges than at Illinois’ four-year publics.

Problem-Solving Programs: ACI programs address some of the nation’s most pressing education challenges, including helping motivated low-income, first-generation and minority students succeed in college and careers through ACI’s Peer Mentoring Program, scholarship program and micro-internships.

ACI Case Statement

Read our case statement for information about ACI, and our focus on building great careers, meaningful lives and a strong state.

Case Statement
ACI’s 2021-2022 Annual Report

ACI’s 2021-2022 Annual Report contains student profiles, plus information about scholarships and emergency financial aid, significant news, member colleges and universities, leadership, programs, finances and donors.

Annual Report
Board of Trustees

ACI’s Board of Trustees includes the presidents of all ACI-member colleges and universities, together with corporate trustees drawn from the leadership of Illinois’ business, civic and nonprofit sectors.

Meet the Leadership
History and Annual Reports

Associated Colleges of Illinois’ distinguished history is documented in a comprehensive book first published in 2002 during ACI’s 50th anniversary celebration and supplemented in 2012 to include the crucial decade from 2002 to 2012, when ACI transitioned from collaborative fundraising alone, to fundraising plus collaborative problem-solving.

ACI’s history is also documented in its annual reports, beginning with 2015-2016.

History Book & Annual Reports
Staff

Associated Colleges of Illinois is supported by a dedicated professional staff, including specialists in nonprofit management and finance, institutional advancement, public relations and marketing, special events, and other program areas.

Meet the Staff