Diverse: Issues in Higher Education has ranked Northeastern Illinois University in 19 categories for graduating students of diverse ethnic backgrounds in its annual Top 100 Degree Producers rankings.
Three of those rankings came in the master’s category for Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender and Group Studies, in which Northeastern ranked first in the nation among African American students, 10th in the nation among Hispanic students and fifth in the nation among all minority students. Northeastern’s undergraduate programs are ranked in 16 categories.
“These rankings recognize the work we do to maintain a welcoming culture and an expectation of success for students at Northeastern,” Interim President Richard Helldobler said. “I am never prouder than when I see our students cross the stage at Commencement to accept their diplomas, and that’s what these rankings underscore.”
Northeastern’s Top 100 Degree Producers rankings, based on 2015-16 U.S. Department of Education data, are as follows:
Graduate Rankings
Ranking, Race, Major
1, African American, Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender and Group Studies
5, Total Minorty, Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender and Group Studies
10, Hispanic, Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender and Group Studies
Undergraduate Rankings
Ranking, Race, Major
13, Hispanic, Public Administration and Social Service Professions
19, Total Minority, Public Administration and Social Service Professions
24, Hispanic, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
26, Total Minority, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
31, African American, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
37, Asian American, Accounting and Related Services
39, Hispanic, Education
40, Asian American, Business/Commerce, General
40, Asian American, History
41, Asian American, Public Administration and Social Service Professions
41, Hispanic, History
42, Asian American, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
44, Asian American, Finance and Financial Management Services
45, Asian American, Education
49, Hispanic, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
93, Hispanic, All Disciplines Combined
According to The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings released in November 2016, Northeastern is the most diverse university in the Midwest. Nationally, Northeastern ranks 22nd.
Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Northeastern at the top for having the most diverse student population and graduating its students with the least amount of student debt among Midwest regional universities.
According to a report released in August by LendEDU, Northeastern students graduate with the 15th-lowest student loan debt nationally among public four-year colleges and universities and the lowest debt among all Illinois institutions.
