CHICAGO, Ill., Aug. 29, 2019 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Associated Colleges of Illinois’ (ACI) 26 member colleges and universities contributed an economic value of more than $3.5 billion to the Illinois economy, according to updated, publicly available information compiled by ACI. In addition, the member schools employed more than 34,000 people, enrolled nearly 70,000 students and provided $900 million in financial aid.

Associated Colleges of Illinois
The updated 2019 information is available on the ACI website on the Member School Data web page: https://acifund.org/member-school-data/

Comparative data also shows that ACI member colleges graduate significantly more education and nursing majors than larger, nonmember colleges and universities in Illinois.

“Members, donors, employers and other ACI partners have expressed a significant interest in this information on our website,” said Mick Weltman, ACI executive director. “The data shows ACI member colleges and universities have small faculty-student classroom ratios, a wide range of academic programs and majors, and strong employment rates for their students within two years after graduation.”

The updated data is available in aggregated form, as well as individual data per member school. ACI’s compilation includes several data points about its members:

  • Demographic information
  • Academic programs
  • Employment statistics after graduation
  • State economic impact and jobs
  • Financial aid provided by each institution

“We want to encourage sharing this information with individuals, families, school personnel, human resources professionals, business contacts and others,” Weltman said.

The data were updated by Quinn Leach, intern and graduate of ACI member North Park University, Chicago, and Eli O’Sullivan Kurtz, ACI manager of operations and research, using publicly available sources. Sources included member schools’ own websites, plus data from the Federation of Independent Colleges and Universities’ Economic Input Calculator and the National Center for Education Statistics’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

Member School Data: https://acifund.org/member-school-data/

About ACI:

Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) is a collaboration of 26 private, independent colleges and universities, representing more than 67,000 students. Established in 1952, ACI supports member colleges and universities by advancing independent liberal arts and sciences education and helping underserved students succeed in college, career and life. The organization raises funds for scholarships, peer mentoring and emergency financial aid, and it provides member services such as professional development conferences and college-to-career seminars and events.

Visit https://acifund.org to learn more about ACI and its member colleges and universities.

News Source: Associated Colleges of Illinois