Time Magazine Ranks Illinois Tech Among Top 100 Universities in the US

Illinois Tech has been ranked among the top 100 universities in the United States in the inaugural World’s Top Universities ranking released on January 28, 2026, by TIME magazine in partnership with Statista. The ranking, which places Illinois Tech #91 nationally and #265 worldwide, assesses institutions across three core pillars—academic capacity and performance, innovation and economic impact, and global engagement—that align closely with Illinois Tech’s mission as the premier tech-focused university in the global city of Chicago.

The high ranking validates Illinois Tech’s ongoing efforts to innovate, challenge traditional models of higher education, and deliver to students experienced-based learning with a focus on career readiness and global access. By measuring student interest in the form of domestic and international web traffic, the TIME ranking reflects growing demand for programs that transform academic excellence into real-world impact.

“Being ranked among the top 100 universities in the United States in TIME and Statista’s ranking of the World’s Top Universities affirms the strength of Illinois Tech’s academic enterprise and our unwavering focus on student success,” says Illinois Tech Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Elizabeth Hudson. “This recognition reflects the excellence of our faculty, the relevance of our programs, and our commitment to preparing graduates who are ready to lead and innovate in a rapidly changing world.”

Expanding Global Engagement

The TIME ranking also reflects Illinois Tech’s globally diverse student body and faculty, which is drawn from countries around the world, and the university’s longstanding commitment to preparing students for leadership in an interconnected world. As a proud international institution, Illinois Tech fosters cross-cultural collaboration, global perspectives in teaching and research, and academic experiences that equip graduates to thrive in an increasingly global economy.

Illinois Tech’s strong showing in global engagement reflects a rapidly expanding portfolio of international academic partnerships that extend the university’s mission of access, innovation, and impact beyond the U.S. through a core strategy of “meeting learners where they are,” whether that is in affordability, modality, preparedness, or location.

Last year, Illinois Tech became the first American university approved to establish an independent, degree-granting campus in India. Opening in fall 2026, Illinois Tech Mumbai will offer undergraduate and graduate programs in high-demand fields, including computer science, engineering, and business. Further cementing the university’s commitment to a global educational community, Illinois Tech offers joint-degree programs with two Indian universities, National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli (NIT Trichy) and Masters’ University, as well as a dual-degree program at Narxoz University in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and a joint engineering institute with Beijing Information Science and Technology University (BISTU) in China. The programs with Narxoz and BISTU are designed as a two-way bridge for student mobility, faculty collaboration, and translational research.  

“Global engagement is central to Illinois Tech’s mission,” says Mallik Sundharam, vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at Illinois Tech. “This ranking underscores Illinois Tech’s role as an international leader in education, innovation, and collaboration. From launching a degree-granting campus in India to building dual-degree programs in Kazakhstan and research partnerships around the world, we are expanding access to an Illinois Tech education while preparing students to succeed in a truly global workforce.”

Increasing Economic Impact Through Innovation

The TIME rankings reward institutions of higher education for translating knowledge learned in the classroom to real-world value. Illinois Tech’s high placing adds to a growing list of recent distinctions the university has received for delivering strong economic mobility, career-ready outcomes, and long-term value for its graduates, including ranking #1 in Illinois and #22 in the U.S. for Best Salaries of Graduates (Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026) and being named the #30 Best Value School (U.S. News & World Report 2026). In addition, Illinois Tech was named an “Opportunity College and University” by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation (2025), recognizing institutions that combine high access with strong post-graduate outcomes. 

Illinois Tech is also expanding access to its highly relevant, industry-focused education through a partnership with Coursera, offering four accredited, 100 percent online degree programs taught by Illinois Tech faculty. These programs combine performance-based admission, affordability, and the university’s experience-based, practical approach to student success.

Faculty Excellence and an Elevated Education

Illinois Tech’s high ranking in the TIME list is partly driven by its highly personalized education, grounded in close faculty engagement, robust student support, and sustained investment in academic excellence. With a high faculty-to-student ratio, strong staff-to-student support, unified/proactive advising and significant expenditure per student, Illinois Tech ensures that students benefit from individualized instruction, mentorship, and access to resources that enhance learning both inside and outside the classroom.

The hallmark of the Illinois Tech experience is Elevate, a one-of-a-kind initiative that introduces twenty-first-century skills and guarantees students access to take part in experiences such as campus student leadership, internships, research, study away, competitions, and other experiential learning activities that connect classroom knowledge to real-world problem-solving. Through Elevate, students also receive personalized mentorship from career advisers and academic mentors who help translate hands-on learning into academic and professional success.

"At Illinois Tech, we believe true education happens through experience,” says Sundharam. “Elevate ensures that every student has access to transformative opportunities that prepare them to fully participate in a rapidly changing global economy. Our goal is not only to help students earn degrees, but to empower them to build meaningful, resilient careers and lifelong success.”

Driving Illinois Tech’s academic excellence is its highly distinguished faculty, who are international leaders in research, innovation, and teaching. Among them is Mohammad Shahidehpour, director of the Robert W. Galvin Center for Electricity Innovation and a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher whose work has shaped the global energy and power systems field. More broadly, Illinois Tech faculty members publish articles and receive citations that land the university in the top 5 percent of institutions, according to the nonprofit project Exaly.

“As a technology-focused university rooted in access, innovation, and impact, Illinois Tech continues to demonstrate that excellence and opportunity go hand in hand,” says Hudson. “We are proud to be recognized on a global stage and remain focused on delivering an education that transforms lives, strengthens communities, and drives economic mobility.”