Northeastern Illinois University is the most diverse university in the Midwest, according to data released Nov. 23 by The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Ranking. Nationally, Northeastern ranks 22nd.
The rankings were calculated by tracking diversity measures such as the racial and ethnic mix of students, the number of international students and the number of students “from less fortunate financial backgrounds.”
“Northeastern Illinois University is proud and honored to be the most diverse institution in the Midwest. Now more than ever, we must embrace our differences and learn from one another,” Interim President Richard Helldobler said. “Today’s ranking serves as the latest high-profile affirmation of the mission we serve every single day: to prepare a diverse community of students for leadership and service in our region and in a dynamic multicultural world.”
Northeastern was one of four institutions from Chicago and five from the state of Illinois to make the Top 10 in the Midwest.
The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Ranking is the latest of a string of positive rankings for Northeastern this fall.
In its annual publication of “Best Colleges,” U.S. News & World Report announced in September that Northeastern boasts the most diverse student population among Midwest regional universities and graduates its students with the least amount of student debt. It marked the third year in a row that Northeastern had earned the No. 1 spot for students who graduate with the least amount of debt among Midwest regional universities. Northeastern has been on U.S. News & World Report’s list of most diverse universities since 1997, the first year the publication established the category in its “Best Colleges” rankings.
In August, a report by LendEDU found that Northeastern students graduate with the ninth-lowest student loan debt nationally among public four-year colleges and universities. Among all four-year colleges and universities, Northeastern ranks 28th.
Northeastern Illinois University enrolls about 10,000 students and offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure, and endorsement programs. In 2012 Newsweek magazine named Northeastern Illinois University the sixth-best investment among all universities in the nation and No. 1 in Illinois.
