CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Undergrads: 4,979
Grad students: 2,179
Average tuition: $4,382
– Day care for student-parents and programs such as “University Without Walls,” where students exchange work experience for college credit.
– An urban forest. CSU is on 161 acres on the city’s South Side.
– Student to faculty ratio is 19:1.
– Opportunities for cultural exploration, such as the African language classes.
Affordable tuition.
Mascot: Cougar
Best team: Women’s Track, which finished sixth at the Mid-Continent Conference Championships.
U.S. News & World Report ranking:
Fourth tier for Midwestern schools offering a master’s degree
Famous alums
– Dr. Margaret Burroughs (Chicago Park District commissioner and founder of DuSable Museum)
– U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis
– Chicago Police Supt. Terry Hillard
–Emilie Ostrander
COLUMBIA COLLEGE
Undergrads: 9,803
Grad students: 549
Average tuition: $13,714
– An urban campus in the Loop, located on Michigan Avenue.
– A diverse student body–34 percent of undergraduates are minority students.
– Most of Columbia’s faculty members work in the industry they teach.
– Many programs require internships, to teach the practical side of the curriculum.
Columbia brings a range of events to campus, from legendary performance artist Guillermo Gomez-Pena to Def Jam mogul Russell Simmons.
Best team: Two Columbia students are members of Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, a pop-folk band earning rave reviews.
U.S. News & World Report ranking:
Fourth tier
Famous alums
– John Swanson (“Swany,” The Eric and Kathy Show, 101.9)
– Lee Bey (deputy chief of staff to Mayor Daley)
– Luis Lopez (former DJ, Kiss 103.5 and Energy 92.7)
–Campbell Roth, RedEye
ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Undergrads: 1,600
Grad students: 4,600
Average tuition: $19,775
– Personal attention: Most classes have fewer than 20 students.
– High placement rate.
– Just 10 minutes from the Loop.
– Alumni have made an impact on the city and world.
Scholarship opportunities.
Mascot: Scarlet Hawks
Best team: Student government
U.S. News & World Report ranking: No. 87 among engineering schools
Famous alums
– Marvin Camras (invented magnetic tape)
– Marty Cooper (created first cell phone)
–Kate Hedlin, RedEye
NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
Undergrads: 8,674
Grad students: 2,735
Average tuition: $2,508
– Experienced, personable faculty who are interested in the students and give career advice.
– Clubs–there’s something for everyone.
– Internship opportunities.
– Administration goes out of its way to help students.
– Theater–four plays offered per semester.
Best team: Feminists Majority League Association, which got Women’s Studies major instituted.
U.S. News & World Report ranking: Fourth tier
Famous alums
– U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez
– WGN-TV anchor Robert Jordan
– WMAQ-TV anchor Warner Saunders
–Kate Hedlin, RedEye
NORTH PARK UNIVERSITY
Undergrads: 1,400
Grad students: 1,400
Average tuition: $19,470
– The Christian university has strong ministry and outreach programs.
– Close faculty-student relationship.
– The school adopted a street, Spaulding Avenue, from the city and landscaped it to create green space on the campus’ interior.
– Five multicultural centers, which help connect the students to their international curriculum.
The new Holmgren Athletic Center.
Mascot: Vikings
Best team: North Park’s newest team, women’s crew.
U.S. News & World Report ranking: No. 35 on the list of best master’s programs in the Midwest
Famous alums
– Former Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson
– Brian McCaskey (Chicago Bears director of business development)
–Campbell Roth, RedEye
ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY
Undergrads: 4,282
Grad students: 3,205
Average tuition: $15,430
– Diverse student body.
– Great locations: On Michigan Avenue and near Route 53 and Golf Road in Schaumburg.
– Outstanding programs in business, education, the performing arts, and arts and sciences.
– Commitment to social justice issues and activism.
– Student housing in the South Loop, including new facilities opening next summer.
U.S. News & World Report ranking: Third tier for master’s
Famous alums
– Chicago Mayor Harold Washington
– Karen Gibbs (co-host of Wall Street Week with FORTUNE)
–Kate Hedlin, RedEye
SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE
Undergrads: 1,820
Grad students: 518
Average tuition: $24,000
– Students have flexibility to develop their own course of study.
– Faculty members are accomplished artists, designers and writers.
– Visiting Artists Program and galleries give students the chance to show their work and learn from other artists.
– Access to the Art Institute and special collections.
– Recently recognized as the nation’s “most influential art school.”
U.S. News & World Report ranking: Consistently ranked No. 1 graduate school of fine arts.
Famous alums
– Walt Disney
– Painters Grant Wood, Georgia O’Keeffe and Ed Paschke
– Filmmakers Orson Welles and Vincente Minnelli
– Cartoonist Herblock
–Kate Hedlin, RedEye
