Top Five Schools in Illinois
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private university in the Hyde Park area about seven miles south of downtown Chicago. The university, founded in 1890 by John D. Rockefeller and by the American Baptist Education Society, currently has about 4,800 undergraduate students. The university is best known for its science, economic and sociology programs. In fact, the University of Chicago contributed to several important 20th century scientific discoveries, such as the use of carbon-14 dating. It is currently ranked as ninth in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private university located in Evanston, Illinois, ranked #14 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The University was founded by nine Methodists from Chicago. Northwestern University has approximately 9,170 undergraduate students. Best known for its academic programs in economics, education, journalism and engineering, Northwestern University offers a wide variety of academic pursuits. Northwestern University has a very visible theater program, which has several small productions and two major ones each year; the school also participates in 19 men's and women's sports and is ranked #38 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
University of Illinois - Urbana - Champaign
The University of Illinois (U of I) at Urbana-Champaign is located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign. U of I was founded in 1867, and classes began 1868. Approximately 31,470 undergraduate students currently attend the University of Illinois. The university is best known for its excellent education, engineering and science academic programs. University of Illinois has a large Greek life with 60 fraternities and 36 sororities; the school also has ten men's sports and 11 women's sports and is ranked #38 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
Illinois Institute of Technology
The Illinois Institute of Technology was founded in 1890 as the Armour Institute of Technology. Illinois Tech is located in Chicago, in the Bronzeville neighborhood, some three miles south of Chicago's Loop. Approximately 2,350 undergraduate students attend Illinois Tech. The Institute is best known for its engineering technology programs, including chemical and biological engineering and biomedical engineering. The Illinois Tech athletic teams compete in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference NAIA Division I. U.S. News and World Report has ranked Illinois Institute of Technology #96 in the nation.
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University was founded as Saint Ignatius College in 1870 by the Roman Catholic religious order. Loyola is a private, Jesuit, Catholic University located on the west side of Chicago, IL. Today, Loyola has approximately 9,720 undergraduate students in attendance and is ranked #112 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Loyola University is best known for its medicine and nursing programs, and was actually Illinois' first accredited collegiate nursing school. There are several different fraternities and sororities on the Loyola University campus, including a co-ed Latino fraternity.
