Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, 1:00-3:00 PM

Belleville Campus Varsity Gym, 2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville, IL, 62221

High School students and community college transfer students are invited to meet with more than 100 colleges and universities and attend financial aid and transfer planning workshops. This event is free and open to the public.

College Fair: 1:00-3:00 PM
Financial Aid Workshops: 1:15-1:45 PM and 2:15-2:45 PM
Transfer Planning Workshop: 1:45-2:15 PM

• All students must register at www.strivefair.com prior to entering the fair.
• Families are asked to park in lots M3 or M4 and enter the building through entrance F near the cafeteria.

Parking is available in lot M3 or M4. Students and guests, please enter through entrance F near the cafeteria.

College Fair Planning Resources and Tips

1. Review college catalogs in your high school guidance office or visit the college websites before the fair. Develop questions to ask the representative at the fair.
2. Select your “must see” colleges in priority order. Allocate time at the fair to speak with each one.
3. Attend workshops on Financial Aid and Transfer Planning, if applicable to your college needs.
4. Take the opportunity to learn about colleges new to you and colleges that are further away to visit. Local colleges are likely to be available to speak with at other fairs in the area if you run short on time.
5. Pick up business cards of the admissions representative or handouts and jot notes on the back for follow-up later.
6. Visit planning websites such as NACAC Student and Parent College Planning Resources, Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and College Board

2023 Participating Colleges and Universities

Check back often for additions or cancellations. Last updated 2/20/2023

COLLEGES IN ILLINOIS

• Augustana College
• Blackburn College
• Bradley University
• Columbia College Chicago
• Concordia University Chicago
• Dominican University
• Eastern Illinois University
• Eureka College
• Greenville University
• Illinois College
• Illinois State University
• Illinois Student Assistance Commission
• Illinois Wesleyan University 
• Knox College
• Lakeview College of Nursing
• McKendree University
• Midwestern University
• Millikin University 
• Monmouth College
• North Park University
• Northeastern Illinois University
• Northern Illinois University
• Olivet Nazarene University
• Parkland College Institute of Aviation
• Quincy University
• Southern Illinois University Carbondale
• SIU – School of Health Sciences
• SIU – School of Justice and Public Safety
• Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
• Southwestern Illinois College
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• University of Illinois Springfield
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• University of St. Francis
• Western Illinois University 

COLLEGES IN MISSOURI

• BJC – Goldfarb School of Nursing
• Columbia College Missouri
• Fontbonne University
• Hannibal LaGrange University
• Lindenwood University
• Missouri State University
• Missouri University of Science and Technology
• Missouri Western State University
• Ranken Technical College 
• Saint Louis University
• State Technical College of Missouri
• Southeast Missouri State University
• University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy
• Truman State University
• University of Missouri
• University of Missouri – Kansas City
• University of Missouri – St. Louis
• Washington University
• Webster University
• Westminster College
• William Woods University

COLLEGES NATIONWIDE

• Butler University, IN
• DePauw University, IN
• Indiana State University, IN
• Iowa State University, IA
• Iowa Wesleyan University, IA
• Kentucky Wesleyan College, KY
• Michigan State University, MI
• Michigan Technological University, MI
• Mississippi State University, MS 
• Murray State University, KY
• Providence College, RI
• Texas A&M University, TX
• University of Alabama, AL
• University of Arkansas, AR
• University of Evansville, IN
• University of Indianapolis, IN
• University of Kansas, KS
• University of Louisville, KY
• University of Memphis, TN
• University of Mississippi, MS
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE
• University of Northern Iowa
• University of Notre Dame, IN
• University of Southern Indiana, IN
• University of Tennessee at Martin, TN
• University of Toledo, OH
• U.S. Naval Academy, MD
• Wabash College, IN
• West Point, NY
• Winona State University, MN
• Xavier University, OH

College Fair Information

FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP, 1:15-1:45 PM OR 2:15-2:45 PM in MC 1410/1411
Financial Aid 101 – Types, Qualifications, & Processes

Presenter: Katie Dawson, Director of Financial Aid, Veteran Services & Student Employment

Students and families will learn about the financial aid process and the steps to maximize and simplify the financial aid process. Open to all students and families.

TRANSFER PLANNING WORKSHOP, 1:45-2:15 PM in MC 1410/1411
Tips and Tools for Transfer Success

Presenter: Jill Baudendistel, Academic Advisor & Program Specialist

Are you a high school student considering attending SWIC before transferring to a four-year university? Are you a SWIC college student planning to transfer? Learn about the steps to transferring, course transferability, cost savings, application processes, deadlines, financial aid/scholarships and more.

ABOUT THE FAIR

The college fair is coordinated by Southwestern Illinois College in partnership with a committee of local high school representatives. The fair is sponsored in conjunction with the Illinois Association for College Admissions Counselors (IACAC) and is part of the statewide Illinois Regional College Fair (IRCF) schedule.

Institutions wishing to participate may register here:  St. Louis Metro East Baccalaureate College Fair

COLLEGE FAIR COMMITTEE & Volunteers

• Laura Vahlkamp (On-Site Coordinator), Southwestern Illinois College
• Beth Garcia, (Fair Planning Committee Co-Chair) Southwestern Illinois College
• Wyatt Bridger, (Fair Planning Committee Co-Chair) Southwestern Illinois College
• Merle Wilder, Belleville East High School
• Amanda Guinn, Belleville West High School
• Megan Wright, Dupo High School
• Anne Meinert, Freeburg High School
• Katie Dawson, Southwestern Illinois College
• Brittany Pfeiffer-Ainsworth, Southwestern Illinois College
• Maddie Pea, Southwestern Illinois College
• Jordan Staves, Southwestern Illinois College
• Mark Andres, Southwestern Illinois College
• Micah Jones, Southwestern Illinois College
• Jill Baudendistel, Southwestern Illinois College
• Casey Robacker, Southwestern Illinois College
• Joe Burress, Southwestern Illinois College
• Melissa Gehrs, Southwestern Illinois College