Enquire to study in the UK 
1.The academic experience: high rankings, excellent teaching, experiential learning, and impressive results
Knox college offers 99 majors and minors, has an average class size of 14, and is in the Top 4% of liberal arts colleges producing successful Ph.D. candidates. 1050 students live and learn on one of the most exceptional private school campuses in the midwest.
High Rankings
Among dozens of top rankings, Knox is listed #75 among national liberal arts colleges and is part of The Princeton Review’s 2023 edition of The Best 388 Colleges. Knox has been included in every edition of Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges since its first publication in 1996.
Excellent teaching
The professors are centered on teaching. They care about their subjects and they are brilliant. You’re going to get a great teacher and you can take them for more than one class. Some of the brightest researchers, most talented writers, and sharpest critics are here and they really care deeply about their students. There are really strong connections and a great support system.
– Jed Bothe is studying creative writing and English literature.
Hina Kurihara is studying anthropology, sociology, economics and gender & women’s studies. Hina says she benefited from Knox encouraging students to challenge themselves with rigorous thinking within a supportive learning environment:
Knox gave me the opportunity to explore my curiosity of gender equality across the world. Throughout college, I studied in Japan and Sweden, which wouldn’t have been possible without Knox’s support and openness to learn across the campus and world.
Experiential learning: overseas study, research, internships, and creative projects 100% of students pursue experiential learning. These hands-on learning opportunities translate into real-world jobs.
Green Oaks Immersion Term where we lived at the biological field station along with my summer independent research on bioregional herbalism and my study abroad focused in the Black Forest of Southern Germany and the Swiss Alps, confirmed that I want to do environmental work and study food systems. – Brooke is studying biology and environmental studies.
Roughly 50% of students at Knox participate in study abroad and off-campus study programs. You can, too! The opportunities are for everyone, not just U.S. students. You can choose from 100+ programs with destinations that range from Ireland and Greece to China, Morocco, and Australia.
Rosalie from Ontario, Canada combined research and international study.
I studied abroad winter and spring in Tanzania, Africa. We also traveled to Kenya. It was a wildlife management program. The classes counted as Knox credits for my major and minors. In fact, I finished my minor while abroad!
I took classes in wildlife management, ecology, and environmental policy. We had a variety of professors. Some classes had lectures and discussions for a day or two and then we’d go out into the field and see wildlife in the national park and forest. We’d do some form of data collection or fieldwork that put what we’d learned into practice.
We did mammal counts. For example, we counted how many elephants and how far they were from the vehicle so they could learn how comfortable the elephants were with tourists. They could figure out the human impact and what comfort level the animals have over time. We did projects that officials listened to and used to better their own work.
The Power of Experience grant of $2000 can help pay for the experience! All Knox students receive a Power of Experience Grant to use during their junior or senior year. You’ll get to spend it on what matters most to you: research, off-campus study, study abroad, creative projects, community service, etc.
2. Impressive results
For the past 6 years, Knox has been listed on the Forbes Grateful Grads Index a list of the top colleges in America where alumni feel they received the greatest return on their college investment.
One of those impressive graduates is Matt Berg a Time 100 most influential people who was honored for his work to improve healthcare through the Millennium Villages Project.
Luella Williams ’06 is the director of a transformative organization called Up2Us Sport that leverages the power of sports to help young people in underserved communities succeed.
Knox graduate Rebeca Hollemeyer has made a difference in midwifery and public health across the world. She has trained midwives in Tanzania and Ethiopia and worked in maternal child health projects for Doctors Without Borders in Ivory Coast, Laos, and South Sudan. She also supervised and trained midwives in Nepal in a temporary hospital after two devastating earthquakes. She says: The gift of a Knox education is that it serves as the foundation for “whatever you want to do.”
3. Exceptional support for international students
Archi from Bangladesh is studying creative writing and political science. She knew we wanted a smaller college campus.
The thought of traveling so far away from home was definitely daunting, but I had a feeling that Knox, with its lovely people, small classrooms, and beautiful campus, would become home to me very easily.
The international student community is very tight-knit. When I came, people cooked for me, gave me advice, taught me how to do taxes, gave me tips and I am doing those same things for younger students.
It makes me so happy to pass on the experiences. I love knowing I had older students that really impacted me and now I can offer that same kind of care and support to others. There is a continuing cycle of care within the international student community.
You may be feeling scared coming all this way. There’s an entirely different system of living, food…everything. At Knox, there’s an international orientation. There are so many other international students here for the first time. And, upperclass international students.
Knox equips you really well. It grows your confidence and helps you be more open. There are so many campus events hosted by international clubs. A part of your home IS here. You’ll see and eat food from home.
Knox dining started including a lot of global foods. We can eat Ethiopian, Asian, etc. We can go to the cafeteria and see naan and butter chicken. That feels very inclusive and welcoming.
Even though I’ve been in close-knit communities before, there’s something even more special about Knox.
24% of Knox students are international students, so the support is in place to help you be successful. Knox has many services and resources to provide a home and safe haven for international students. These include the Office of International Student Services, which holds an International Pre-Orientation Programme to help the transition to living and studying in the U.S.
Additionally, the Office for Intercultural Life focuses on creating an inclusive campus by acknowledging and celebrating the diverse experience of Knox’s students, faculty, and staff. The Designated School Official (DSO) oversees immigration, taxation, and institutional regulations for international students. They also provide access to clubs, USCIS paperwork, and academic and personal counseling.
4. Long list of extracurricular activities
2023 Women’s Soccer Group and Social Media Photos Source: Knox College
The one thing that Knox’s over 80 student organizations have in common is that they’re all student-driven. Students are free to create and run their organizations and clubs based on their interests and needs.
Some clubs focus on academic disciplines such as creative writing or science, while others like Students for Sustainability, and Allied Blacks for Liberty and Equality focus on identity, culture, and politics. Many sports teams and art clubs display Knox’s athletic and creative spirit, with Ultimate Frisbee being a huge favorite on campus.
Being involved with Ultimate Frisbee was really by chance. My RA was on the team and wanted to get every one of his residents to at least one practice. So, I went and I saw people that looked like me…maybe not a traditional athlete. The players were very much teaching us what to do. It was fun. And, now we’ve been to nationals the last two years. It’s technically a club sport and completely student-run and fundraised. I love it. – Brooke traveled with the team to the National Ultimate Frisbee competition the past two years.
Rosalie is from the town of Richmond Hill in Ontario, Canada. She is on the Knox soccer team. She is studying biology, environmental studies, and chemistry. She wants to be a zoo keeper.
I wasn’t expecting so much support from coaches. There are athletic study halls. Coaches are always encouraging and supporting you to be your best in class. They ask what you do outside of sports and they show up: Even though I’m your coach, I’m here to see your concert and hear your poster presentation. It really helps me feel like I’m part of a bigger community.
Coaches showed up for me especially because my family was so far away. They are used to supporting international students. Your team and coach become your family.
Jed is involved in a lot of activities. He especially likes being the ficton editor for one of three literary magazines at Knox.
When you start getting involved in activities you get really involved and you find yourself doing a lot of stuff…current programs, planning, prepping for summer…and there’s still a lot of fun that happens on campus even beyond your specific clubs.
Abigail from California is majoring in ancient Mediterranean studies.A lot of people are doing a lot of things at a time…maybe even on the exec board of three clubs! For example, I’m president of Super Smash Bros club, a theme house president, on the student senate, and a writing tutor. At Knox, you CAN do it all. It’s not unique. Here that’s pretty normal. A lot of my friends are involved and do a lot of things. It’s okay to be super passionate and do a lot.
The perfect calendar
The academic calendar at Knox is an advantage for international students. There’s plenty of time to travel home between the Fall and Winter term, should you choose to. Check out the 2024-2025 calendar.
Many students, both domestic and international, choose to stay on campus during breaks (including summer) for research, independent study, and collaboration with other students and professors.
Professors at Knox have supported me not just as a student but as a person. Being an international student here in the summer means we are really far from home when not a lot of our friends are around. The professors invited us over for dinner and we had a great time. That kind of compassion and understanding is really meaningful. – Archi
As an international student all of the times during the breaks I end up staying on campus or at least in the U.S. I find a lot of opportunities for me, so I am not bored on campus. There is a lot of immersive programs as well as internships, study abroad programs, and on-campus jobs provided to international students, if they decide to stay on campus during the breaks. – Ulpanay
Knox plans activities and support during breaks.
Along with the academic opportunities, there is also a lot of fun going on, such as game night, food night (pizza, ramen, smores), bonfire night with some hotdogs, karaoke and so much more. I have never been bored staying on campus over the breaks! – Ulpanay
5. A location with lots to offer
Source: Knox College
Knox is in Galesburg, Illinois in the heart of the United States about 3 hours west of Chicago and 3 hours north of St. Louis. This lovely vibrant, small city at the center of a national railroad network, surrounded by prairie and farmland, and filled with art, food, and unique shopping opportunities offers a safe midwest town and an all-american experience.
Archi from Bangladesh says:
There are so many cozy restaurants and cafes. My personal favorite is the Beanhive coffee shop, with its warm and gooey chocolate chip cookies, and the best London fog there is. They also have games, puzzles, and comfortable couches, making it the best place to study, hang out, or de-stress. Oh and I’ve never tried potato pizza until coming here and now I get one from the restaurant Baked all the time!
The people of Galesburg are really welcoming and will strike up a conversation about Knox. I like talking to people from town. Not being from the Midwest…it’s true, people are really nice. – McKenzie from the western coast of the U.S.
I love experiencing the joy of rural aesthetics. You can just SEE all the stars in the evening! Late-night food runs are the best. It’s nice in all the busyness of college life to chill a little. – Brooke from Oak Park, IL (near Chicago).
My favorite part of Galesburg is that I walk around downtown and I feel like I’m at home…it’s not one thing, it’s an overall feeling. I’m with my friends, there’s live music in a variety of places, it’s friendly, and I don’t feel unsafe at night. – Brandon Roberts from Redmond, Oregon
6. Knox invests in international students.
100% of Knox students receive financial aid, so you’ll definitely have help paying for a Knox education!
First-year academic merit scholarships range from $35,000-$45,000/year.
Transfer student academic merit scholarships range from $35,000-$40,000/year.
Additionally, Knox celebrates and awards up to $8000/year for special talents in writing, music, theatre, dance, and visual art.
I came to Knox because of a scholarship program. Since I knew I wanted a really good creative writing program Knox was my preference. I kind of knew this was where I wanted to go and then the scholarship made it possible. – Archi
Knox does a really great job with financial aid and merit scholarship packages. – Brooke
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