With more than 24,000 undergraduate students, this public research institution has quite the presence in the Windy City. The University of Illinois Chicago has a graduation rate that's about 13% higher than predicted based on campus demographics, according to Money’s analysis. It also boasts a relatively diverse student body — 36% Hispanic and 20% Asian — though compared to the population of Chicago, the 8% share of black students on campus is quite small.
When they're not cramming for the popular business, biology or psychology classes in one of UIC's 16 academic colleges, students can explore all that downtown Chicago has to offer or join one of the school's more than 400 student organizations, including a competitive gaming club, investment banking association and a group that trains for triathlons. The campus is within walking distance of some of the city’s best food thanks to its close proximity to the Greektown, West Loop, Pilsen and Little Italy neighborhoods.
On-campus housing is available, but most students live off campus. Commuters can take advantage of the Commuter Student Resource Center, which has not only a lounge area and a kitchen but also lockers and study rooms. For fun, students can check out the campus’s 43-foot rock-climbing wall, attend a free comedy show, listen to UIC Radio or catch a Flames game. Every fall, students flock to Spark, a free concert that in recent years has featured performers like Tinashe, 21 Savage and Nick Jonas.
