An Introduction to Colleges & Universities in Chicago

Going to School in Chicago

When it comes to education, Chicago ranks high as well. The city is home to Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, consistently rated as one of the top five schools in the country for advanced degrees in business. Both DePaul University, an independent school with nearly 20,000 students, and the University of Illinois-Chicago, a public institution with an enrollment around 25,000, are well-known for their extensive offerings of quality educational programs.

The City Colleges of Chicago are a collection of seven community colleges disbursed throughout the Chicago metro area. Founded in 1911 as a collaboration to help educate the city's immigrant and working class residents, the City Colleges have become a top choice for many students interested in receiving vocational training or two-year and transfer degrees.

In fact, Chicago and the surrounding suburbs host an impressive list of two and four-year colleges, universities, and professional schools that, in addition to those listed above include:

Public

• Chicago State University

The wide variety of educational facilities in the Chicago area allows students to find a program or school that fits their preferences and budgets. Tuitions range from around $1,000 per semester for state residents at public community colleges, to $5,000 per semester at state four-year facilities. In line with college costs across the country, tuition at some of the more exclusive private colleges can run over $20,000 per year. Room and board, parking and other fees can add to the costs.

Financial Aid

Fortunately, there are many different grants, scholarships, loans, and other funding sources available to students interested in attending school in Chicago. In 1957, state lawmakers created the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to "ensure that financial considerations did not prevent Illinois students from realizing their postsecondary educational goals." This group oversees many of the state and federal financial aid programs available to students attending school in Chicago and other parts of the state.

Each year ISAC awards over $1 billion to the pool of approximately 250,000 qualified applicants, fueling Illinois' reputation as a state committed to higher education opportunities for its residents. According to information gathered in a report by the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, Illinois ranked third in the nation both in terms of the total amount of need-based grant aid provided to undergraduates and the average amount provided per full-time undergraduate student.

One of the state's most common grant programs is ISAC's need-based Monetary Award Program (MAP). MAP is the second largest program of its kind in the country, annually awarding over $300 million in aid. Other popular forms of scholarships and grants include:

• General Assembly Scholarship
• Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program
• Merit Recognition Scholarship (MRS) Program
• Medical Student Scholarship Program
• Nursing Education Scholarship Program
• Allied Health Care Professional Scholarship Program

"While our resources are intended for state residents, many colleges have reciprocity agreements that allow students from nearby states to qualify for resident tuition rates," Reimers emphasized. And in addition to federal aid, many out-state students qualify for other types of funding, including special monies that certain schools and high demand program areas have available to help recruit students from around the globe.

Internships

Many of these and other Chicago area employers also offer internship opportunities, providing hands-on learning experiences for students in a wide variety of educational programs. One unique possibility is to intern at Argonne National Laboratory, one of the U.S. government's oldest and largest science and engineering research laboratories. The University of Chicago oversees operations at Argonne on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy. Students can assist with the lab's research in areas such as atmospheric sciences, ecology, global carbon cycles, climatology, and terrestrial processes.

Other Chicago area businesses and organizations that offer internship to students include:

• Boeing
• Field Museum of Natural History
• SBC Communications
• Sears Holdings
• UPS

Employment in Chicago

Chicago and many other cities in Illinois are experiencing the same healthcare worker shortage that exists across the United States. This lack of qualified healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, is of significant concern in Chicago where health care is the largest employment sector, and where several large health care facilities rank as top employers.

SouthMetroEd is a partnership of colleges and universities sharing resources to enhance educational opportunities in the Chicago southland. Executive Director, Genevieve Boesen, pointed out that Chicago has become a health care mecca, adding that the city is home to five or six very large research hospitals. Boesen shared that the hospitals in the area are in a staffing crisis and are anxious to partner with schools to help the region increase its capacity to train healthcare workers. In addition to nursing, there are several other career fields that initiatives are targeting.

"Imaging programs are in very high demand as far as marketplace is concerned," Boesen stated. This field includes X-ray technologists and radiologists on an entry level, but requires staff trained in more specific areas such as polysomnography, which deals with using imaging technology to help study sleep disorders. Boesen said this is a very lucrative field, adding that graduates with two-year degrees can expect to earn around $70,000 or $80,000 in the Chicago area. Boesen also pointed out that hospitals and healthcare centers hire nearly all types of employees, from as artists and musicians to work with therapy programs, to attorneys, insurance specialists, human resources staff, and maintenance workers. "Any IT technology is huge at hospitals," she added.

In fact, close behind healthcare on the list of top Chicago employment fields are the professional services and finance and insurance sectors. In addition, the city has over 7,000 high tech employers, making it one of the top employment locations for technology graduates. Other high demand careers in Chicago include consumer goods marketing, consulting, and general management and leadership development. Key employers include Boeing, SBC Communications, United Parcel Service, Allstate, and Abbott Laboratories.

Summary

With an expansive list of recognized colleges and universities, one of the world's largest and most diversified economies, nearly 100 corporate headquarters and thousands of other businesses, along with generous financial aid resources and programs, Chicago is an appealing place to earn a degree and pursue a career.