Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton College is a small liberal arts school west of Chicago founded back in 1860 by an evangelical abolitionist. Students are passionate about academics and spirituality, and the school is committed to providing them with a solid education and evolving devotion to their faith. Students take on tough academics and develop personal relationships with professors, who offer advice not only on schoolwork but also on life. Most students agree that being close to Chicago is a definite plus, especially at such a small school where it can be hard to escape the "Wheaton Bubble." The community is close-knit, however, and many students forge the closest friendships with their dorm mates. Students have to adhere to Wheaton's Community Covenant, which prohibits undergraduates from using alcohol or tobacco, or holding dances without official college sponsorship, so there's no typical college partying save for the underground few. For fun, Wheatonites can participate in campus sports, gospel choir, cultural clubs and student ministries, and the school hosts theater productions and improv shows for weekend entertainment.