Southwestern Illinois College was established in 1946 as Belleville Junior College and grew into a multi-campus district serving Madison, St. Clair, and surrounding counties in the St. Louis metropolitan area. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is known for strong transfer agreements with Illinois public universities, robust career and technical education, and a long-standing nursing and health sciences program.
SWIC operates main campuses in Belleville and Granite City, along with the Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, the Red Bud Campus, and several education centers. Students are mostly commuters from the Metro East area, and the college offers small class sizes, flexible scheduling, and evening and online options. Distinctive strengths include the Southwestern Illinois College Foundation, workforce training partnerships with regional employers, and athletics competing as the Blue Storm.
| Type | Community College |
| Location | Belleville, Illinois |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Total students | 10,000 |
| Student–faculty ratio | 17:1 |
| Acceptance rate | 100% |
| Graduation rate | 28% |
| Average starting salary | $42,000 |
| In-state tuition | $4,300 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $7,900 |
| Room & board | $0 |
| Average financial aid | $5,500 |
| Students receiving aid | 70% |
| SAT range | N/A |
| ACT range | N/A |
| Average GPA | N/A |
| Regular deadline | Rolling admission |
Figures are estimates for exploration — verify current costs, deadlines, and requirements on the university's official website.