This is Knox: A vibrant community of scholar teachers and students. A tradition of free inquiry, independent thought, and diverse perspectives. A college that changes lives.

The first thing college guides will tell you is that Knox College is a nationally ranked, private, residential liberal arts college of 1,420 undergraduate students located in Galesburg, Illinois.

But to really get a feel for our campus, just consider this: Everything that happens at Knox -- both inside and outside of the classroom -- involves giving our students the freedom to flourish.

Knox professors don't just stand in front of classes and "profess" their wisdom, and our students are not mere note takers. Instead, we value:

• Independent thinking. Our students choose their own path toward a degree, guided by scholar-teachers who encourage them to explore ideas and places, stretch their intellect and their talents, blend thought with action, and fuse imagination with initiative.
• Egalitarian spirit. Founded in 1837 by religious missionaries and social reformers strongly opposed to slavery, Knox was one of the first colleges in the United States open to both women and people of color. And it was on our campus that Abraham Lincoln chose to denounce slavery on moral terms for the first time, during the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas Debate. A pervasive spirit of equality thrives on campus today in our commitment to giving every student a voice.
• Diverse perspectives. With a campus population that includes students from 48 states and 51 countries, 26% U.S. students of color, and individuals from every imaginable religious and socioeconomic background, members of the Knox community are actively challenged to broaden their points of view.