Chicago is known for many things—food, architecture, culture and sports. But did you know that Chicago is home to more than 20 colleges and universities, educating over 200,000 students annually? Chicago’s institutions of higher education are home to some of the nation’s top programs and are the region’s top producers of talent. Swipe to see some of Chicago’s Best: Higher Education Edition!
Malcolm X College – Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges, The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD)
The annual award recognizes community and technical colleges committed to diversity through best-in-class student and staff recruitment and retention practices, inclusive learning and working environments, and meaningful community service and engagement opportunities.
RUSH University – U.S. News & World Report’s No.1 Nursing Program in Illinois
RUSH University is recognized as a top institution in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings. All five ranked Doctor of Nursing Practice tracks are among the top three nationwide in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-2025 Best Graduate Schools rankings. RUSH also ranks No. 1 among nursing programs in Illinois.
Adler University – No. 4 Online Ph.D. Programs in Organizational Psychology
Forbes Advisor named the Adler University online Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology as one of the country’s top programs.
DePaul University – Top Ten Best Undergraduate Program for Entrepreneurs
In 2024, The Princeton Review ranked the undergraduate entrepreneurship program at the Driehaus College of Business 10th in the nation.
“Our journey to the top ten undergraduate programs in the country is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our students and alumni, the brilliance of our faculty, the commitment of our staff and unending support from our incredible community,” said Kathia Hernandez, program manager at the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center (CEC).
Illinois Tech – No.1 in the Chicago Region for Occupational Earnings Power, Wall Street Journal/College Pulse. Occupational earnings power looks at the mid-career salaries of alumni in each occupation they enter regardless of whether that occupation is a high-paying field.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) – Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Students and U.S. Scholars for the eighth time in the past decade.
Columbia College – USA Today 10 Best Arts Districts (Wabash Arts Corridor)
The Wabash Arts Corridor (WAC) in Chicago’s South Loop, established by Columbia College Chicago, was named USA Today 2024 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards.
Loyola University – Sister Jean, Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM — the 104-year-old chaplain of the Loyola men’s basketball team — was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame for her impact in sports ministry in Chicago.