Students who are passionate about social justice thrive at Elmhurst, a private school affiliated with the socially liberal Church of Christ. Elmhurst’s website says it “welcomes people of all faiths — and of no faith.” The school was one of the few to accept Japanese students during World War II, and it brought Martin Luther King Jr. to speak in its chapel during the summer of 1966. Today, the school is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, meaning at least 25% of students identify as Hispanic or Latino.
Elmhurst offers more than 70 majors. To earn a degree, it requires at least nine courses in various interdisciplinary “areas of knowledge,” which include ethics and justice, religious studies, social and political analysis, and more. In addition, nearly everyone participates in some sort of community service during their time at the college. Small classes taught only by professors (not teaching assistants) and internship placements round out the experience.
Though located just half an hour from downtown Chicago, Elmhurst’s campus feels worlds away. The 48-acre campus is an arboretum, with over 850 trees. Almost all first-year students receive some type of scholarship or financial aid, with awards averaging nearly $26,000. It encourages extracurricular activities, too: Elmhurst boasts more than 100 student organizations, including a stock market club and a campus radio station.
