Who Is a First-Year/Freshman Applicant? (U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents)
First-year students are defined as students who are currently enrolled in high school, or have completed high school and have not attended a college or university outside of their high school experience. Sometimes first-year students are also referred to as freshmen regardless of their class standing upon entering the university. In general, students who take college courses during high school but are considered students at their high school also fall into this first-year students category.
Domestic students are United States citizens or U.S. permanent residents. This includes U.S. nationals living overseas in military or diplomatic zones.
What makes a good applicant?
Illinois Tech is looking for students of high academic caliber with strong community ties and a committed work ethic. In the application, we evaluate your academic standing and your extracurricular, community-based, and leadership involvement. We also like to hear why you think an education at Illinois Tech would help you pursue your academic and career goals and how you could contribute to the Illinois Tech community. Be specific. We want to hear your story!
Students engaged in a college preparatory or general education curriculum generally make good candidates for Illinois Tech. Specifically, we recommend the following high school courses be completed:
- Four years of English
- Four years of mathematics
- Three years of science
How to Apply
Illinois Tech reviews applications on a rolling basis. Please review our Application Dates and Deadlines page to learn more about our priority scholarship deadline, rolling admission deadline, and other important dual programs deadlines.
Step 1: Submit Your Common Application
Apply using the Common Application
Step 2: Submit a Letter of Recommendation
Select a counselor and/or teacher who knows you well and can write about your strengths as a student. One letter is required but up to three are accepted. This form and letter can be submitted electronically by the teacher through the Common Application.
Step 3: Submit Your Official High School/Secondary School Transcript
Please have your school submit official transcripts sent through its electronic transcript service to ugaprocessing@iit.edu. If this service is not available, you may mail your sealed official transcripts to:
Illinois Institute of Technology
Office of Undergraduate Admission
10 West 33rd Street
Perlstein Hall Room 101
Chicago, IL 60616
Step 4: Submit Standardized Test Scores (Optional)
In response to the challenges created by COVID-19, Illinois Tech will not require standardized tests for undergraduate applicants in spring 2022 and fall 2022. This policy applies to all first-year, transfer, and international applicants and all merit scholarship considerations. Students who do not submit standardized scores will not be disadvantaged in the application process.
Students may be asked to take a math placement exam to determine course readiness if they are applying to a more rigorous academic program.
For students who have already taken the SAT I or ACT and want to submit standardized test scores, your test scores will be considered supplemental information in your application. Illinois Tech's SAT code is 1318; the ACT code is 1040. Illinois Tech will super score any official scores that are submitted.
After You Apply
Checking your application status
Once you submit your application through the Common App, you will receive an email with a link to your Application Tracker. Your Application Tracker will let you know if you are missing any supplemental materials.
Please review our Application Dates and Deadlines page to learn more about the decision notification timeline.
Admitted students
If you are admitted, please visit the Admitted Student Website to learn more about special admitted student events and the next steps you should take to enroll.
Illinois Tech awards credit for qualified students in the following programs: Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), GCE A-Level AS-Level, and International Baccalaureate (IB). Learn more about how to receive college credit.
If you are not admitted
Everyone's college journey is different, and if you aren't admitted the first time you apply, we invite you to take some courses at your local community college and reapply as a transfer student in future terms.
Learn more about how to prepare for life as a transfer student by participating in our Fast Forward program!
