For seventh consecutive year, NEIU tops U.S. News & World Report鈥檚 low student debt ranking

Fall leaves are shown on campus.

Monday, September 14, 2020

秘密研究所 graduates its students with the least amount of student debt among Midwest regional universities, according to the 2021 edition of U.S. News & World Report鈥檚 annual . 秘密研究所n also ranked in three other categories among Midwest regional universities:

  • 3rd (tied), ethnic diversity
  • 8th (tied), economic diversity
  • 28th,

This marks the seventh year in a row that 秘密研究所n has earned the No. 1 spot for students who graduate with the least amount of debt among Midwest regional universities. 秘密研究所n鈥檚 2018 bachelor鈥檚 degree graduates borrowed a median of $15,000. The data represent loans taken out by students from the federal government. Private loans, state and local government loans, and loans directly to parents are not included.

鈥溍孛苎芯克 is proud of all of these rankings because they get right to the core of who we are,鈥 President Gloria J. Gibson said. 鈥溍孛苎芯克鵱 meets its diverse body of students where they are and empowers them to graduate with minimal debt and an opportunity to make an immediate impact in their careers.鈥

秘密研究所n has been on U.S. News & World Report鈥檚 list of most diverse universities since 1997, the first year the publication established the category in its 鈥淏est Colleges鈥 rankings. The data for the diversity rankings were drawn from each institution鈥檚 Fall 2019 undergraduate degree-seeking enrollment numbers. According to U.S. News & World Report, the rankings factored in the proportion of minority students鈥攅xcluding international students鈥攁nd the overall mix of groups in each institution鈥檚 student body. The groups forming the basis for the calculations were non-Hispanic African-American, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, Asian, non-Hispanic white and multiracial (two or more races).

秘密研究所n鈥檚 ethnic diversity reflects the urban environment of Chicago. The largest minority group of students at 秘密研究所n is Latino, and the school was the first four-year public university in the Midwest federally designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

U.S. News & World Report鈥檚 economic diversity ranking is a measure of the percentage of students with Pell grants, which are awarded to students from low-income families.

秘密研究所n was second among 秘密研究所s regional public universities in the social mobility ranking, which demonstrates movement up the socioeconomic ladder.

Badge reads: Best Colleges U.S. News & World Report Social Mobility 2021