Undergraduate Psychology Admission - Frequently Asked Questions
Why go to a "Tech" university for psychology?
Technology drives lifestyle and people give technology its meaning. What better place is there to learn about these most important matters?
What is a customized program of study?
We encourage and support our students to develop their professional goals and we tailor their program to achieve those unique individual educational and professional goals. We are able to do this because we are small. Students who wish to pursue forensics, medicine, or human relations, to name a few examples, are positioned for those careers in the planning of their degree program.
What makes studying psychology at IIT different from majoring in psychology at a liberal arts college?
We think that being an Institute is an advantage; we know that we have a unique blend of programs; our students think that the best features of our program are:
- Quality of the teaching and one-on-one time with professors, even in the first year
- Small classes
- Research and internship opportunities for undergraduates
- Hands-on advising and mentoring of all students by full-time faculty
- Diverse and interesting students who gather in our funky campus center
What do you mean when you say you teach the “science” of Psychology?
Psychology is a profession with many different paths that are informed by scientific research. Our students have research opportunities and learn to be critical thinkers who can tell the difference between hype and fact. We award a B.S. degree, as opposed to a B.A.
Is it difficult to get into the College of Psychology?
We are considered a competitive school. We evaluate each application fully and handpick our psychology students; the university requires a minimum ACT/SAT of 24/1150 (respectively) and a GPA of 3.0/4.0 for admission.
Are you accredited and nationally ranked?
IIT is accredited, and graduate programs of the College of Psychology have additional accreditation. Respectively, our graduate programs in Rehabilitation Counseling and Industrial/Organizational are ranked 5th and 13th. The same faculty who helped us earn our national rankings teach our undergraduate students.
What can you do with an undergraduate degree in Psychology?
Our alumni have a strong record of employment success and acceptance to graduate school. People with a bachelor's degree in Psychology obtain jobs like admissions counselor, market researcher, childcare worker, fund raiser, and customer relations professional to name a few. A degree in Psychology is also a great foundation for graduate education in psychology, law, business, or medical school.
What is the size of the University?
The total student enrollment at IIT is approximately 7,409, with 2,576 undergraduates and over 70 undergraduate students in the College of Psychology.
IIT is in Chicago; how safe is the campus?
IIT is located in the Bronzeville neighborhood, just 10 minutes south of downtown Chicago. Bronzeville and Bridgeport (just west of campus) are two of the fastest changing, trendiest neighborhoods in the city, with large populations of students, young professionals and artists. Full-time, academy trained public safety officers patrol the campus 24 hours a day in marked patrol cars, and on bicycles and foot patrol. Our campus is ranked as the 2nd safest campus in Illinois and is the safest in the city.
Will I be able to pursue my extracurricular activities and sports at IIT?
There are more than 140 clubs and special interest groups on campus. The sports center has men’s and women’s basketball, cross-country, swimming/diving, and soccer as well as men’s baseball and women’s volleyball and there are 10 teams at IIT as well as several intramural and club sports. We have fraternities and sororities; 70% of our students live on the campus.
What is the tuition and what types of financial aid are available?
Undergraduate costs can be found here.
All students are automatically reviewed for eligibility and over the past ten years, 100% of psychology incoming freshman have received some aid. We even have our own scholarship, the David J. Vitale Scholarship Fund for especially high-achieving psychology undergraduates. For more information go here.
Where can I get additional information, schedule an interview and arrange for a campus tour?
Contact our Psychology recruiter, Jack Spani, spanij@iit.edu or 312.567.8945.