The Illinois Institute of Technology, also known as IIT, is a private research university located in Chicago, Illinois. The university is known for its highly ranked engineering and architecture programs.
IIT was founded in 1891 by the American industrialists John Evans and Lewis Ginter. They intended to create a school that would provide practical knowledge for engineers and scientists who would work in industry. The institute opened its doors on October 3, 1892 with a class of 37 students. By 1905, enrollment had grown to over 600 students and the school began offering graduate courses in addition to bachelor’s degrees.
In 1917, IIT moved into its current campus located near Chicago’s Loop area. The campus was designed by architect Henry Ives Cobb Jr., who used reinforced concrete construction to support the large buildings on campus. Today, the campus contains more than 40 buildings built during this period and includes many works of art by sculptors such as Lorado Taft (1860-1936), Paul Manship (1885-1966) and Frederick MacMonnies (1863-1937).
In fact, IIT is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1987 as one of the top universities in the Midwest region for its graduate programs in engineering, architecture, business administration and applied science sciences.
