Illinois Institute of Technology

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Degrees Offered at the Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Institute of Technology appeared in our ranking of the Top 8 Colleges for an Online Degree in Chicago, IL.

With over 40 undergraduate majors and more than 100 graduate programs, the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) is divided into eight academic divisions offering bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees. The Armour College of Engineering is one of the largest colleges with departments including Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering. The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering is a hands-on major with students participating in actual construction-related tasks to help connect coursework with fieldwork. There are 20 required classes in the major including Introduction to AutoCAD, Structural Design, Thermal-Fluids Engineering, and Construction Methods and Cost Estimating, and all students finish the program by sitting for the Fundamentals of Engineering examination during their senior year.

The engineering departments along with many others offer classes or entire degree programs online. The Master of Intellectual Property Management and Markets program is a hybrid, as students are only required to come to campus for a two-week introductory boot camp and a final two-week capstone project. This is an interdisciplinary degree combining elements of computer science, business, engineering, design, and law, and students complete 10 classes including Acquiring IP, Managing the Creative Process, and Patent Analytics and Landscape Reports. Throughout the program, students review and analyze case files and learn industry standards to better understand the practical applications of their classwork. Interdisciplinary study is a major focus at IIT as also demonstrated by the bachelor of business administration program offered through the Stuart School of Business. This program includes a 48-hour business core which consists of classes like Computing Tools for Business Analysis, Entrepreneurial Thinking, Analytics for Informed Decision Making, and Understanding/Competing Global Markets. In addition, students must take 15 hours in a specialty which can be chosen from any department in the institute, so students are prepared to use their business skills in their industry of choice.

Design is another major focus at IIT, and the campus is home to the largest graduate program of its kind in the country. The Master of Design is a two-year 54-credit-hour program, Students who have no previous design training must complete an additional eight foundation classes at the beginning of the program. The curriculum is very flexible with most courses consisting of electives which can be selected from design categories including communication, interaction, planning and strategy, product design, and user research. There are also 11 required classes like Modes of Human Experience, Introduction to Observing Users, and Prototyping Methods. The school has working relationships with global and local companies which helps students with internship and job placement after graduation.

About Illinois Institute of Technology

The Illinois Institute of Technology is a private university that formed in 1940 as a result of a merger between the Armour Institute and the Lewis Institute, both of which originally opened in Chicago in the 1890s. One of IIT’s core values is ensuring access to students from all economic backgrounds. This hearkens back to the school’s beginnings when Minister Frank Gunsaulus delivered the “Million Dollar Sermon.” He spoke out about the absence of affordable post-secondary education stating that, with just a million dollars, he could create a school for working-class students. Three years later, Philip Armour donated this money and opened the Armour Institute.

Today, the U.S. News and World Report has ranked the Illinois Institute of Technology #30 on its list of Best Value Schools out of all national universities. In addition, many individual programs have also received high rankings including undergraduate engineering at #75, intellectual property law at #9, and rehabilitation counseling at #13. Another point of pride for the institution its historic and modern architecture found throughout the five Chicago area campuses, most notably on the Mies Campus, home to the College of Architecture.

Illinois Institute of Technology Accreditation Details

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) evaluates colleges and universities in 19 states in the central region of the United States including Illinois. They measure each school against standards in several areas like transparency, integrity, faculty expertise, departmental curriculum, breadth and depth of general education, and fiscal management. The Illinois Institute of Technology has continued to meet all qualifications and has maintained accreditation since 1941. While the HLC evaluates the university overall, other organizations certify individual programs. Associations that have provided this specific accreditation at IIT include the following.

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.
  • National Architectural Accrediting Board
  • American Psychological Association
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • Council on Rehabilitation Education

Illinois Institute of Technology Application Requirements

The admissions board at Illinois Institute of Technology takes a holistic approach in evaluating applications looking at community involvement, leadership experiences, and career goals along with educational achievements. Freshmen applicants must submit the Common Application along with one to three letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and SAT or ACT scores. The recommended high school curriculum includes four years each of English and mathematics along with three years of science classes. The standardized test requirement is waived for transfer students with at least 30 hours of college credit and a 3.0 GPA or higher. All graduate applicants need to submit the online application, college transcripts, resume, professional statement between 500 and 2000 words, and two or more letters of recommendation. Specific admission criteria depend on the degree program and can include a minimum GPA, professional experience, and GRE or GMAT scores.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The yearly tuition rate for undergraduates is $47,480, and IIT ensures that all admitted students have the financial resources to enroll by providing grants and scholarships that bridge the gap between total cost and expected family contribution calculated from FAFSA. Graduate tuition ranges from $1530 to $1725 per credit hour depending on the degree program, and many students take advantage of campus positions to offset tuition costs. These include program-specific fellowships and teaching or research assistantships as well as administrative jobs throughout the campus. While university funding is dependent on financial need, individual departments award scholarships merit-based including the Science Frontier, Tech Edge, Launch Business, and the Armour Engineering scholarships. Students can contact admissions representatives at the Illinois Institute of Technology for more information about degree programs and funding options.