Established in 1890, IIT is a private research university in Chicago. It is known for its programs in engineering, architecture (influenced by Mies van der Rohe who designed its campus), design (Institute of Design), computer science, and law.
Address: 10 West 35th Street, 60616 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Engineering, Architecture, Design
Domains taught:
- AI and Machine Learning, Civil Engineering, Data Analytics, Engineering, Industrial Design, Life Sciences, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
- Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
- Private
Partnerships:
Historic ties to modernist architecture (Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed main campus and taught there). Institute of Design is highly regarded. Located in Chicago with access to industry and cultural resources.
Research:
Research in areas such as engineering (electrical, chemical, materials, biomedical), computer science (AI, cybersecurity), architecture, design, food science, and fluid dynamics.
Famous Alumnis:
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (former faculty), Martin Cooper, Marvin Camras, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Virgil Abloh (Master of Architecture)
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1600
Current students***:
6900
Foreign students***:
30%
Cumulative former students***:
70500
Pros
Strong architecture and design programs, solid engineering education, located in a major city (Chicago), notable modernist campus, good value for a private tech university.
Cons
Urban campus environment with some safety concerns in surrounding areas, private university cost, some programs less globally ranked than top-tier tech schools, smaller endowment than some peers.
Best For
Students interested in engineering, architecture, or design, often valuing a hands-on approach, a technology-focused education, and the resources of a major city like Chicago.
Most Similar Schools Locally
- The comparison with Washington University in St. Louis is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on industrial design, civil engineering and life sciences, and it covers bioengineering as well, and is larger, enrolling about 17,000 students against roughly 6,900 here.
- A good alternative in the same country is Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which likewise covers life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba, and covers robotics and manufacturing as well.
- University of Illinois Chicago follows much the same lines as this institution, with life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning as common ground, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba, and is far larger, with about 34,000 students against roughly 6,900 here.
- For students who like the life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning focus of this school but want another option nearby, Dartmouth College fits well: it is also a private institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes.
- Polytechnic Institute of New York University overlaps with this school on civil engineering, data analytics and AI and machine learning, so the two are easy to compare, and it is also a private institution and does not run the mba programmes found here.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
- For civil engineering, life sciences and AI and machine learning outside the home country, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee in India is a natural reference; it is public, whereas this institution is private, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba.
- Beyond national borders, Austral University stands out as a comparable school for industrial design, life sciences and data analytics; it covers bioengineering and project management as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 5,000 students against roughly 6,900 here.
- The closest overseas parallel on industrial design, civil engineering and life sciences is University of Westminster, located in the United Kingdom; it does not run the mba programmes found here, and is larger, enrolling about 19,000 students against roughly 6,900 here.
- Students considering a move abroad can look at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, where industrial design, civil engineering and life sciences also form the core, and it covers electrical and electronics and materials as well, and is far larger, with about 22,404 students against roughly 6,900 here.
- Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani (India) works on the same fields as this institution, chiefly life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning; it is larger, enrolling about 17,000 students against roughly 6,900 here, and is also a private institution.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
- Architecture, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Biomedical Sensors, Cybersecurity, Design for Sustainability, Design Thinking, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Robotics
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
- known locally
- known locally and internationally
- is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
- is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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