Illinois Institute of Technology Ranking

Illinois Institute of Technology ranks in the #351–400 band (THE) and at #591 in QS World Rankings 2026, reflecting its strong academic profile in STEM and professional disciplines. The university offers over 130 undergraduate and graduate programs across seven colleges, with standout strengths in engineering, computing, business, architecture, and law.

Serving over 7,800 students, including around 2,500 international students from 80+ countries, Illinois Institute of Technology offers a focused, career-oriented education. Its small class sizes, specialized colleges, and high graduate earning potential make it a strong option for students studying in the USA seeking academic and professional outcomes.

Illinois Institute of Technology Rankings 2025-26

When evaluating global universities, it is helpful to review how performance changes over multiple years rather than relying solely on single-year results. Illinois Tech’s placement in the #351–400 band for three consecutive years in Times Higher Education suggests a steady footing in international research and academic standards.

The table below outlines the university's performance across three leading global rankings from 2024 to 2026.

Here's a graphical representation that will help you analyze the Illinois Institute of Technology ranking over the years:

Illinois Tech experienced a noticeable decline in QS rankings, dropping from #469 in 2024 to the 601–610 band in 2025, before partially recovering to #591 in 2026. Meanwhile, THE held stable at #351–400 all three years, and U.S. News global rankings stayed flat at #785, indicating consistency.

While these rankings offer a general view of Illinois Tech's global standing, they don’t always show where the university’s academic focus truly shines.

Subject-Wise Ranking of Illinois Institute of Technology

Overall rankings provide a general reputation overview, but subject-specific lists reveal where a university excels. Illinois Tech performs strongest in Engineering, with placements like #251–300 in THE and #401–450 in QS, while Computer Science and Business Administration courses continue to reflect its applied, career-oriented focus.

Here's how its core disciplines are ranked across major global agencies.

QS Rankings 2025

Illinois Institute of Technology Courses like Engineering & Technology are ranked #401–450 globally by the QS. Its balance across disciplines, spanning from Arts & Humanities to Physics, indicates a broad academic range, even in fields where STEM universities typically lag behind.

The table highlights the Illinois Institute of Technology ranking across various subjects in the QS rankings.

While QS emphasizes employer reputation and citations, THE’s focus on teaching environments and industry innovation offers a complementary perspective on excellence.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2025

In THE’s 2025 subject rankings, Illinois Tech’s Business and Economics programs are placed in the #301-400 range, its strongest non-engineering showing. Steady placements in both Computer Science and Physical Sciences reflect the university’s focus on professional outcomes across technical and managerial fields.

Below is a subject-wise breakdown of the Illinois Institute of Technology ranking in the THE list.

Complementing THE’s global outlook, US News’ data-driven benchmarks highlight localized impact and graduate success metrics.

U.S. News Rankings 2025

While Illinois Tech's Electrical and Electronic Engineering program ranks #137 globally, other placements, such as #710 in Computer Science and #654 in Physics, reveals a solid presence across STEM subjects. The Chemistry ranking (#981) rounds out its research visibility in core sciences.

The following table outlines U.S. News rankings for key academic departments.

Alongside these mainstream benchmarks, niche recognitions further showcase Illinois Tech’s versatility across unconventional parameters.

Miscellaneous Ranking 2025

Not every recognition falls into a standard category, but that doesn’t make it any less important. Illinois Tech has been ranked #32 nationally for Information Technology, highlighting its strength in applied tech education.

From employer reputation to specialized academic programs, the university continues to earn visibility across a wide range of independent evaluations. 

The table below highlights additional recognitions that speak to its depth in law, data science, and workforce preparation.

These diverse honors stem from tangible excellence within Illinois Tech’s campuses, passionate ecosystems where achievement surpasses rankings.

Illinois Institute of Technology: Excellence and Achievements

Illinois Tech’s impact extends far beyond academics; it’s visible in earnings data, career mobility, diversity, and institutional credibility. 

Across multiple domains, the university has earned recognition from major ranking bodies for producing top-performing graduates, building an active campus culture, and providing the best career options after graduation.

Let’s break down how the Illinois Institute of Technology ranking stands out, both on paper and in practice.

Academic Excellence and National Recognition

Illinois Tech ranks #1 in Illinois for graduate median earnings over an eight-year period. Its engineering, computing, law, and various MBA courses consistently rank among the top in national rankings, making the university a strong choice for students seeking professional credibility and long-term returns.

The table below highlights key academic achievements across its major colleges.

This academic standing is complemented by the university’s contributions to community life and student experience.

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions

A low student loan default rate of 1.9%, far below the national average, points to strong graduate outcomes and strategic financial management support at Illinois Tech. But the university’s value also lies in access: it’s one of only five STEM-focused institutions designated as an “Opportunity College” for improving student mobility.

The following recognitions show how the school delivers not just on academics but on inclusion, affordability, and community impact.

Alongside community achievements, Illinois Tech is also known for its influence in cultural and creative fields.

Cultural and Creative Excellence

Illinois Tech’s Mies Campus houses one of the 200 most important works of U.S. architecture, a detail that speaks to the university’s cultural relevance. Beyond aesthetics, Illinois Tech also ranks high in experiential learning and legal scholarly impact, two areas not often paired together.

Support structures like the Illinois Institute of Technology scholarships further enhance access for international and design-focused students. Here’s how the institution earns recognition across design, research, and international student relevance.

The university’s broad range of strengths also plays a role in shaping its admissions trends and selectivity.

Illinois Institute of Technology: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate

Knowing a university's acceptance rate alongside its rank offers insight into its selectivity and appeal. Illinois Tech accepts just over half of its applicants, approximately 55%. The Illinois Institute of Technology Acceptance Rate is reaching 84.4%, while consistently securing spots within respected ranking bands.

That balance between approachability and academic structure gives applicants a clearer understanding of what to expect. The table below presents its acceptance rates and application specifics.

To better understand these outcomes and Illinois Institute of Technology’s admission profile, it helps to consider how various organizations evaluate and rank universities.

Ranking Methodologies

University rankings vary depending on the metrics used by each organization. QS gives significant importance to academic and employer reputation (30%), while Times Higher Education (THE) emphasizes the teaching environment (32.5%).

U.S. News focuses more on outcomes like graduation and retention rates, assigning 20% weight to student success and faculty quality. For the Illinois Institute of Technology ranking, understanding these methodologies helps explain differences in its global and subject-specific placements across ranking agencies.

QS World University Rankings

QS evaluates universities like Illinois Tech through a combination of reputation, research strength, and international diversity. It also considers the future scope in education, assessing how institutions prepare students for emerging fields and long-term career pathways through innovative research and curriculum design.

Key indicators include academic and employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, and the proportions of international faculty and students. The table below highlights the weightage of each metric used by QS.

The Times Higher Education methodology, however, uses its own set of standards to assess institutions.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings

THE rankings consider a university’s teaching quality, research impact, and international reach. The framework also includes industry income, showing how well institutions apply research in real-world contexts.

For a research-focused school like Illinois Tech, this approach captures strengths in teaching support, research visibility, and engagement with global and industry networks. Below are the main performance indicators in THE’s ranking model.

U.S. News and World Report applies another methodology, emphasizing different aspects of university performance.

U.S. News and World Report Rankings

U.S. News assesses institutions primarily on student outcomes, faculty resources, and academic excellence. Key inputs include graduation and retention rates, faculty credentials, and financial resources per student.

These metrics contribute to identifying universities aligned with the best education system standards globally. The table below details the components that shape U.S. News rankings.

These methodologies show why Illinois Tech’s ranking shifts across agencies. QS values reputation and research, THE emphasizes teaching and global outlook, while U.S. News focuses on student success and faculty support. Each highlights a different strength of the university.

Conclusion

Illinois Tech’s performance across major rankings signals a university that combines steady academic quality with practical impact. Its #351–400 placement in THE for three consecutive years underscores consistency, while the QS 2026 jump to #591 reflects forward momentum.

Subject-wise, rankings like #251–300 in Engineering (THE) and #137 in Electrical Engineering (U.S. News) highlights its technical strength. With law, business, and computing programs also earning national recognition, Illinois Tech positions itself as a results-driven choice for students focused on long-term outcomes.