Bloomington, IL, 61702, United States

Situated on 80 tree-filled acres in the city of Bloomington, Illinois, Illinois Wesleyan University is home to just over 2,000 college students from across the world. Located less than two hours from both Chicago and St. Louis, students have the opportunity to experience a rural and urban lifestyle of their choosing. There are more than 160 student organizations on campus for students to choose from, along with a very popular Greek life. More than one-third of the student body participates in roughly 10 fraternities and sororities available at Illinois Wesleyan. Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus, and students admitted in the fall of 2014 and after must remain on campus as juniors as well.Known as the Titans, Illinois Wesleyan's sports teams compete in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin in the NCAA's Division III. One of the most popular features of the university is its May term, known as "Play Term" by students, which is a monthlong experimental learning option that allows students to focus on a single course or topic.Illinois Wesleyan University prides itself on providing individual attention and guidance to each of its students. This commitment has yielded a freshman retention rate that has ranked as one of the best in the country; more than 90 percent of Illinois Wesleyan first-year students come back for their sophomore year. The campus itself is an arboretum, home to more than 1,000 trees representing nearly 150 distinct species. Students interested in theater are spoiled with Shakespeare, as Bloomington is the host of the annual Illinois Shakespeare Festival, which takes place from June through August. Students who are more interested in getting away from campus have the chance to study in hundreds of locations in more than 70 different countries. Notable alumni of the university include Richard Jenkins, an Oscar-nominated actor, and Edward B. Rust, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of State Farm Insurance Co.