This Illinois university is among ‘25 Best-in-Class Colleges,’ analysis finds
A public university in Illinois was recently named among the 25 Best-in-Class Colleges in the U.S. by nonprofit magazine Washington Monthly.
The Aug. 24 Washington Monthly report named the University of Illinois Chicago in its top 25 list, recognizing the institution for its “accessibility, affordability and strong outcomes.”
“It’s deeply gratifying to see UIC nationally recognized for delivering on our mission to provide the broadest access to the highest levels of educational, research, and clinical excellence,” UIC Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda said in an Aug. 25 press release. “We’re proud to be a public university committed to advancing access and social mobility for our students while driving research, innovation, and impact across the many wonderful communities we serve in Chicago, throughout Illinois, and indeed the world.”
In addition to the recognition in Washington Monthly’s 25 Best-in-Class Colleges list, which does not numerically rank the schools, UIC also received several other honors from the publication.
Washington Monthly also named UIC the No. 1 “Best Bang for the Buck College” in the Midwest and No. 40 in the “2025 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars,” among other recognitions.
Washington Monthly evaluated 1,421 colleges on access, affordability, outcomes and community and national service in its rankings, and the top 25 best-in-class colleges stood out for putting “students and the public good first,” according to the publication.
Public and private institutions were considered in the rankings. Washington Monthly aims to provide an alternative to rankings in which the “wealthiest, most exclusive” schools consistently outperform others, according to the publication’s website.
Here are some of the metrics the 25 Best-in-Class Colleges list considered in its methodology:
- Number of students receiving Pell grants
- Net price of attendance and how much debt graduates leave with
- Percentage of students graduating within eight years
- Typical incomes for graduates compared to their peers
- Number of graduates who enter AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps
- Number of ROTC cadets on campus
- Number of students enrolled in “service-oriented majors” such as social work
- Colleges’ commitment to encouraging voting participation
What made UIC stand out?
UIC performed strongly in Washington Monthly’s rankings for its affordability, accessibility, research and more.
“After financial aid, the average student pays less than $10,000 a year—a rare number for any major research university, especially one located in a large metro area. Starting in fall 2025, UIC is also offering free tuition to any student who is a citizen and an Illinois resident from a family earning less than $75,000,” Washington Monthly’s analysis said.
Washington Monthly recognized UIC for its 80% acceptance rate, relatively high proportion of students who receive Pell grants and high average earnings after graduation compared to other institutions.
Student reviews commended UIC’s small class sizes and quality faculty members, libraries, labs and recreation center, according to Washington Monthly.
UIC tied for 80th place in the U.S. News & World Report’s National Universities ranking, with yearly in-state tuition and fees sitting at $18,180 and an undergraduate enrollment of 22,107.
Top 25 best-in-class colleges
Here’s the full list of institutions that made Washington Monthly’s 25 Best-in-Class Colleges list:
- Berea College
- California State University, Fresno
- Princeton University
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- The University of Central Florida
- Williams College
- Brigham Young University
- Pomona College
- Arizona State University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Florida Atlantic University
- University of Illinois Chicago
- University of California Berkeley
- Boricua College
- Northeastern State University
- Metropolitan State University
- CUNY Lehman College
- Towson University
- SUNY Geneseo
- Rutgers University-Camden
- Appalachian State University
- Mississippi University for Women
- Evergreen State College
- Blue Field State University
- Elizabeth City State University
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