Illinois Institute of Technology
#1 Best Engineering Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 74% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $82,592 A
- Top 3% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $18,425 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 55% B+
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A B+ overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 27.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $27.0 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Engineering Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $27.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,913,173.
What The Data Says
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A B+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 103% more than the national college median.
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A 74% graduation rate — 30% above the national average.
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Inventor rate in the top 8% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
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Social mobility rate of 3.63% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 3.6%
- Top 8%
- Patents
- 158
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #301-350
- Times Higher Education
- Patent Citations
- 85
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 17/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Illinois Institute of Technology Matters
Illinois Institute of Technology is a private research university in Chicago, IL ranked #301-350 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 3% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 2,833
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Physical Sciences, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Illinois Institute of Technology
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 55% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1180–1440. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $18,425 a year after grants and scholarships — 8% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $82,592 ten years after enrolling — 103% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 5% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.63 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Illinois Institute of Technology has a strong 10-year earnings average of $82,592 for its graduates. This figure signifies the financial return students can expect after completing their degrees. With a focus on engineering, computer science, and IT, the school equips students with skills that are in high demand.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data on mobility is not available, but the graduation rate stands at 74%. This suggests that most students successfully complete their programs. While the Pell Grant rate is 30%, indicating a significant portion of students come from low-income backgrounds, the absence of detailed mobility metrics limits insight into long-term outcomes for these groups.
The net price for attending Illinois Tech is $18,425, with a median debt of $25,000. Graduates typically earn a substantial salary, which can make this debt manageable. Students who thrive here are often those pursuing technical fields and are prepared for the rigorous academic environment that comes with them.
Rankings
- #1 Best Engineering Colleges in Illinois
- #2 Best Online Colleges in Illinois
- #2 Best Computer Science Colleges in Illinois
- #2 Best Data Science Colleges in Illinois
- #4 Best Colleges in Illinois
- #5 Best Bachelor's Programs in Illinois
- #5 Best Master's Programs in Illinois
- #7 Best Colleges in Great Lakes
Can I Get In?
How selective Illinois Institute of Technology is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Illinois Institute of Technology? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Chicago, Illinois, Illinois Institute of Technology offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,311. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Retention Rate
- 86%
- SAT Average
- 1311
- ACT Midpoint
- 29
- SAT Range
- 1180–1440
- ACT Range
- 26–32
- Full-Time Faculty
- 60%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,710
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.78
- First-Gen Students
- 32%
- Applicants
- 7,243
- Admitted
- 4,450
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Illinois Institute of Technology? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Illinois Institute of Technology is $52,386, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,425. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,964 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $52,386
- Out-of-State
- $52,386
- Avg Net Price
- $18,425
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 29%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,964
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,415
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,217
- Family Income $110K+
- $29,950
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Illinois Institute of Technology — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Illinois Institute of Technology Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Illinois Institute of Technology earn a median of $82,592, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $70,803
- 8 Years
- $77,282
- 10 Years
- $82,592
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.3x
- Earning > $25K
- 85%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (164)
- 38%
- 100% (164)
- 38%
- 100% (164)
- 38%
- 100% (164)
- 38%
How Illinois Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Illinois Institute of Technology Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Illinois Institute of Technology delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,425/year ($73,700 total). Graduates earn $82,592 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,986,873 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,913,173 (27.0× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 74% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $73,700
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,986,873
- Net Return
- $1,913,173
- ROI Multiple
- 27.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $18,425
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 74%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Illinois Institute of Technology Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Illinois Institute of Technology is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.63%, among the highest in the country. About 6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 60.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.63%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 60.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $124,452
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Illinois Institute of Technology produces inventors at an exceptional rate — the top 8% of U.S. colleges, with 158 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 17/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 3.60%
- Top 8% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 158
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 85
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 17/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 50/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 2.15%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-20,267,000
Top Programs
The fields Illinois Institute of Technology awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Engineering 35% $81,390 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 29% $93,833 early-career
- Physical Sciences 3% $88,164 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 3%
- Psychology 2% $42,293 early-career
- Business & Marketing 2% $50,824 early-career
- Humanities 1%
- Mathematics & Statistics 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Illinois Institute of Technology's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Illinois Institute of Technology? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Chicago, Illinois, Illinois Institute of Technology offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,311. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Illinois Institute of Technology? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Illinois Institute of Technology is $52,386, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,425. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,964 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Illinois Institute of Technology Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Illinois Institute of Technology earn a median of $82,592, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Illinois Institute of Technology Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Illinois Institute of Technology is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.63%, among the highest in the country. About 6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 60.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Illinois Institute of Technology? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Illinois Institute of Technology. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Illinois Institute of Technology? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Illinois Institute of Technology at #301-350 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 17/100, teaching at 40/100, and citation impact of 50/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Illinois Institute of Technology.
- Milwaukee School of EngineeringMilwaukee, WI · Close peer69% grad $89,070 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of the PacificStockton, CA · Close peer68% grad $78,445 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Rutgers University-CamdenCamden, NJ · Close peer67% grad $74,479 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Augustana CollegeRock Island, IL · Close peer76% grad $62,971 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Manhattan UniversityRiverdale, NY · Close peer65% grad $86,316 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Ohio Northern UniversityAda, OH · Close peer75% grad $80,928 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Illinois Institute of Technology? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Illinois Institute of Technology. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note