Best universities in Chicago 2022

Chicago is the third largest city in the United States, located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Illinois.

Students might find that they don’t need to leave the city to find employment as Chicago is home to the headquarters of Google, Boeing and Grubhub, among many others. 

Chicago has many interesting sites, bars and restaurants to visit, as well as several music and cultural events throughout the year. The city’s waterside position offers space to relax, go for a jog or walk with friends.

Here are the best universities in Chicago, according to the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings 2022.

1. The University of Chicago

The University of Chicago was founded in 1890. It has led global research, from discovering the link between cancer and genetics to revolutionary economic theories. The university has three national and affiliated laboratories: Argonnne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the Marine Biological Laboratory. It is also one of the top universities for degrees in law.

Its library is the 10th largest research library in North America, with more than 11 million volumes. The university has 14 academic programmes, from biological sciences to medicine, business and humanities.

The University of Chicago has an abundance of notable alumni including 92 Nobel prizewinners, free market economist Milton Friedman, politician Bernie Sanders, and Katharine Graham, the first female publisher of a major American newspaper.

Students can participate in a variety of extracurricular activities. The university is highly regarded for its sporting achievements, including the NCAA National Championships and Heisman Trophy for college football.

The Center for Leadership and Involvement allows students to get involved with their local and campus community through arts, music, sport and cultural events.

2. University of Illinois at Chicago

The University of Illinois at Chicago is a public research university in Chicago’s West Side. It is the largest of Chicago’s universities.

The university was chartered in 1867, and in 1935 an undergraduate campus was formed. In 1982 the University of Illinois Chicago Circle and the University of Illinois at the Medical Center merged to form what is known today as the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The campus offers a wealth of sports and leisure activities, with facilities including a climbing wall and Olympic pool.

For those wanting to gain political experience, there is a Graduate Student Government and Model UN. For the fiscally minded there is the finance and investment group or the accounting club.

The university also hosts a range of events from the UIC Fashion Show and the Organisation Olympics, to Relay for Life and Black History Month.

Campus media include 234 Magazine, the university’s arts and culture publication run by students; UIC Radio; and UIC ONEWORLD, a journal focusing on social justice issues in Chicago and the rest of the world.

3. Illinois Institute of Technology

The Illinois Institute of Technology is Chicago’s only technological university, fuelling breakthroughs in research and innovation that impact the region and the world.

The institute prides itself on a learning by­ doing approach and has done so since its beginnings when Chicago minister Frank Wakeley Gunsaulus delivered the “Million Dollar Sermon”. In his sermon, near the Institute’s current site, Gunsaulus proclaimed that with a million dollars, he could build a school where students learn in practical rather than theoretical terms.

The Illinois Institute offers bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, certificate, and non-­degree programmes. There are 11 colleges and institutes, at which students can develop the skills relevant to their industry. These include engineering, architecture, law, design, and technology entrepreneurship.

The Institute also offers students the opportunity to study abroad as part of their degree. Destinations include Japan, France, Ireland and Spain.

4. Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University is Chicago’s Jesuit Catholic University, focusing on an education that fosters knowledge, curiosity and global perspectives. It was founded in 1870 as St. Ignatius College, and offers a wide range of courses across its 13 schools and colleges. These are: arts and sciences; business; communication; continuing and professional studies; education; environmental sustainability; health sciences and public health; graduate studies; law; medicine; nursing; social work and Arrupe College, a two-year degree programme.  

There are three main campuses: Lake Shore, Water Tower, and Health Sciences, as well as the Retreat and Ecology Center and events venue Cuneo Mansion and Gardens. The university’s study abroad department also has centres in Rome and Vietnam.

Loyola University has more than 200 student organisations and sports clubs. The university also offers various spiritual programmes and encourages its students to explore the religious diversity of other faiths. The Loyola community is something that both staff and students cherish, encouraged by events such as Finals Breakfast and the Student Organisation Awards.

Best universities in Chicago 2022

Click each institution to view its Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 profile