University of Illinois, Chicago is a public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, USA, best known for sitting inside the global top 50 for nursing on ARWU GRAS 2026 while its overall world rank hovers in the mid-pack. The University of Illinois, Chicago ranking in QS World University Rankings 2027 stands at #370, yet its medicine, nursing and electrical engineering programs rank far higher than that headline position suggests.
Latest verified ranking positions for UIC:
- QS World University Rankings 2027: #370 globally
- THE World University Rankings 2027: #272 globally
- US News Best Global Universities 2026-2027: #204 globally
- ARWU GRAS Nursing 2026: #32 globally
Note for Indian applicants: UIC’s overall world rank sits well below IIT Delhi (QS #118) and IIT Bombay (QS #134), but Indian students targeting nursing, dentistry, pharmacy or electrical engineering tap into subject ranks inside the global top 50. The 100+ gap between UIC’s QS #370 and its THE #272 rank signals stronger research and teaching metrics than reputation-weighted scores capture. For MS Computer Science or MIS applicants from India, the THE Computer Science band of 126-150 is a more useful benchmark than the headline figure.
Table of Contents
- University of Illinois, Chicago Overall Rankings 2027
- University of Illinois, Chicago Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students
- University of Illinois, Chicago QS World University Rankings 2027
- University of Illinois, Chicago Times Higher Education Rankings
- University of Illinois, Chicago Other Global Rankings
- University of Illinois, Chicago Subject Rankings
- University of Illinois, Chicago Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
- University of Illinois, Chicago Ranking FAQs
University of Illinois, Chicago Overall Rankings 2027
UIC appears on every major global ranking body, with position gaps as wide as 166 places between its best and worst current ranks. The consolidated table below shows every verified overall position for UIC in the most recent edition of each body.
| Ranking Body (Edition) | University of Illinois, Chicago Rank |
|---|---|
| US News Best Global Universities 2026-2027 | #204 |
| THE World University Rankings 2027 | #272 |
| ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities 2026 | #301-400 |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | #370 |
UIC’s US News rank of #204 sits 166 positions above its QS rank, a gap that reflects US News weighting research output and citations more heavily than reputation surveys. The spread is a useful signal for Indian applicants: UIC’s research footprint lifts it on citation-based bodies while reputation-heavy QS pulls the overall figure down.
Key insight: UIC’s 68-position gap between THE #272 and ARWU 301-400 shows the university scores better on teaching and applied research than on pure research paper volume, a pattern that favours professional master’s applicants over PhD-only applicants.
University of Illinois, Chicago Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students
For Indian applicants, UIC’s headline rank undersells what the degree is worth. The strongest signals for an Indian student weighing UIC are its subject-level ranks and its US News national position, not the QS world figure.
| Signal | UIC Position | What it means for Indian applicants |
|---|---|---|
| QS World 2027 | #370 | Below IIT Delhi #118 and IIT Bombay #134 on reputation score; brand pull is weaker for Indian family circles |
| US News Best Global 2026-2027 | #204 | Strongest headline figure; useful for F-1 visa interviews and employer applications |
| US News National Universities | #80 tied | Inside the top 80 US universities; signals solid domestic hiring recognition |
| ARWU GRAS Nursing | #32 | Global top 50 for nursing research; strong signal for MS Nursing Indian applicants |
| ARWU GRAS Electrical Engineering | #37 | Global top 40 for EE research; competitive against IISc Bangalore (QS #221) on citation strength |
| THE Computer Science 2026 | 126-150 | Reliable benchmark for MS CS and MS MIS Indian applicants |
| QS Education & Training 2026 | =86 | Top 100 globally; strong for MA Education applicants from India |
Compared with IIT Delhi’s QS #118 and IIT Bombay’s #134, UIC’s overall position is weaker, but its subject-level dominance in healthcare and electrical engineering reverses the gap for applicants chasing those fields. The university’s #32 ARWU GRAS Nursing rank places it above every Indian institute in that discipline, since no Indian university ranks inside the ARWU Nursing top 100.
Quick takeaway for Indian applicants
- Degree value signal: US News #204 and THE #272 both place UIC ahead of IISc Bangalore (THE 251-300 band) and inside the top 300 globally.
- Subject-first decision rule: Pick UIC for nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, electrical engineering or communication; look elsewhere for arts or pure business.
- Rank-vs-cost calculus: At international tuition of USD 38,478 per year for engineering MS, UIC’s #204 US News rank gives better rank-per-dollar than most private US universities.
University of Illinois, Chicago QS World University Rankings 2027
UIC has slipped 85 positions on QS over the last five editions, with the sharpest fall between 2026 and 2027. QS, which ranks universities based on academic reputation, employer opinion and research citations, now places UIC at #370 globally in the 2027 edition released June 2026.
| Year | University of Illinois, Chicago QS World Rank |
|---|---|
| 2027 | #370 |
| 2026 | #334 |
| 2025 | #365 |
| 2024 | #317 |
| 2023 | #285 |
The 85-position slide from #285 in 2023 to #370 in 2027 reflects QS methodology shifts that added sustainability and international research network weightings in 2024. UIC’s five-year average QS rank of #334 sits comfortably above the global top 500 line, and the degree retains its US work visa eligibility regardless of this movement.
Trend signal: UIC’s QS rank peaked at #285 in 2023 and bottomed at #370 in 2027, a 85-position range that signals volatility rather than structural decline, and Indian applicants should treat the five-year average as the fair benchmark.
Read More: University of Illinois, Chicago Courses and Fees 2027 for Indian Students
University of Illinois, Chicago Times Higher Education Rankings
UIC’s THE position has climbed meaningfully over five editions, breaking out of the 251-300 band in 2024 and settling at #272 in 2027. THE, which weights teaching, research citations and industry income, consistently rates UIC higher than QS does.
| Year | University of Illinois, Chicago THE Rank |
|---|---|
| 2027 | #272 |
| 2026 | #201 |
| 2025 | #201-250 |
| 2024 | #201-250 |
| 2023 | #251-300 |
UIC’s break into the top 250 in 2024 and its 2026 peak at #201 represent a research-citation uplift that QS does not capture. The 98-position THE-QS gap in the 2027 edition is the single clearest signal that UIC’s research output is stronger than its reputation score, a pattern that matters for Indian PhD and research master’s applicants.
What it signals: UIC crossed into the top 275 on THE for the first time in 2026 and held that band in 2027, a two-edition stability pattern that typically precedes a longer-term climb if citation output stays flat.
University of Illinois, Chicago Other Global Rankings
UIC’s strongest headline figure comes from US News Best Global Universities, where it ranks #204 in the 2026-2027 edition released October 2026. ARWU, which ranks only research output and awards, places UIC inside the 301-400 band.
| Ranking Body | 2026-2027 Edition | Prior Edition |
|---|---|---|
| US News Best Global Universities | #204 | #261 (2025-2026) |
| US News National Universities (US only) | #80 tied | #82 (2025) |
| ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities | #301-400 | #301-400 (2024) |
UIC’s 57-position US News Best Global climb from #261 to #204 in one edition is the sharpest single-year movement across any ranking body for the university. For Indian applicants, this means the degree’s international signalling value just improved materially inside a 12-month window, and employer-facing applications benefit immediately.
India-relevance: UIC’s #80 tied US News national rank places it inside the top 25% of US universities, which is the practical threshold most Indian IT employers and MBA recruiters use when screening US master’s candidates.
University of Illinois, Chicago Subject Rankings
UIC’s subject rankings far outperform its overall position, with five disciplines ranking inside the global top 50 on at least one body. The strongest clusters are healthcare, electrical engineering, communication and education.
UIC’s strongest subjects at a glance
- Nursing: ARWU GRAS #32, QS 51-100, a top-50 global pick for Indian MS Nursing applicants.
- Electrical Engineering: ARWU GRAS #37, ahead of IISc Bangalore on citation strength.
- Communication: ARWU GRAS #42, UIC’s third-ranked subject globally.
- Dentistry & Oral Sciences: ARWU GRAS 51-75, matched by QS 51-150.
- Education: QS =86, ARWU GRAS 51-75, strongest for MA Education Indian applicants.
University of Illinois, Chicago Nursing Rankings
Nursing is UIC’s strongest subject globally. The university ranks #32 on ARWU GRAS 2026 and sits in the 51-100 band on QS Nursing 2026.
| Ranking Body (Edition) | UIC Nursing Rank |
|---|---|
| ARWU GRAS 2026 | #32 |
| QS Nursing 2026 | #51-100 |
UIC’s #32 ARWU GRAS Nursing rank places it 338 positions higher than its overall ARWU band, the single widest subject-vs-overall gap at the university. For Indian MS Nursing applicants, this translates to a research-grade program with teaching-hospital access through UI Health.
University of Illinois, Chicago Electrical Engineering Rankings
UIC’s electrical and electronic engineering sits at #37 globally on ARWU GRAS 2026. On THE Engineering, the subject ranks in the 201-250 band.
| Ranking Body (Edition) | UIC Electrical Engineering Rank |
|---|---|
| ARWU GRAS 2026 | #37 |
| THE Engineering 2026 | #201-250 |
The 164-position gap between ARWU’s #37 and THE’s 201-250 band is the sharpest cross-body divergence at UIC. ARWU rewards publication volume and awards, so UIC’s EE department publishes well above the global average, a signal that favours MS EE Indian applicants targeting research assistantships.
University of Illinois, Chicago Computer Science Rankings
UIC’s Computer Science ranks in the 126-150 band on THE Computer Science 2026. The subject is one of UIC’s most popular Indian student intakes.
| Ranking Body (Edition) | UIC Computer Science Rank |
|---|---|
| THE Computer Science 2026 | #126-150 |
UIC’s THE CS band is 146 positions higher than its overall THE rank of #272, which means the CS department punches above the university’s institutional weight. For MS CS applicants from India, this band aligns UIC with Purdue CS and University of Washington CS at the broader cohort level.
University of Illinois, Chicago Dentistry Rankings
UIC’s Dentistry sits at #51-75 on ARWU GRAS 2026 and in the 51-150 band on QS Dentistry 2026.
| Ranking Body (Edition) | UIC Dentistry Rank |
|---|---|
| ARWU GRAS 2026 | #51-75 |
| QS Dentistry 2026 | #51-150 |
UIC’s dental school ranks inside the global top 75 on ARWU, consistent across the past three editions. The subject’s narrow 51-75 ARWU band versus the broader QS 51-150 band shows ARWU rates UIC Dentistry more precisely, a product of its publication-only methodology.
University of Illinois, Chicago Education Rankings
UIC Education ranks =86 on QS Education 2026 and in the 51-75 band on ARWU GRAS 2026.
| Ranking Body (Edition) | UIC Education Rank |
|---|---|
| QS Education 2026 | =86 |
| ARWU GRAS 2026 | #51-75 |
| THE Education Studies 2026 | #126-150 |
UIC Education is the only UIC subject verified inside the top 100 on QS, a 284-position lift over the overall QS #370. For MA Education and PhD Education Indian applicants, the subject’s three-body top-150 presence is a stronger quality signal than any single body alone.
University of Illinois, Chicago Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
For an Indian student picking UIC, rankings matter less than subject fit. UIC’s 6,000 international students include a sizeable Indian cohort concentrated in CS, MIS, business analytics and finance programs.
The programs Indian students most commonly choose at UIC map to its ranking strengths and labour market demand:
- MS Computer Science: Backed by THE CS 126-150; STEM-eligible for 36 months OPT.
- MS Management Information Systems: Housed in Liautaud (Business); strong CS-business overlap for Indian engineers pivoting to tech consulting.
- MS Business Analytics: STEM-designated; competitive on THE’s business and economics band of 301-400.
- MS Finance: STEM-eligible since 2023; benefits from Chicago’s finance employer base.
- Flex MBA (Liautaud): Three annual starts, rolling admissions, popular with 2-5 year Indian work-experience applicants.
| Signal | UIC Value | What it means for Indian applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Peer-tier (QS) | UIC #370 vs IIT Delhi #118 | Weaker overall brand pull in India; subject-level reputation does the lifting |
| Peer-tier (THE) | UIC #272 vs IISc 251-300 | Edges out India’s top research institute on THE for the first time in 2026 |
| Subject-vs-overall gap (Nursing) | 338-position lift | Top 50 global signal for MS Nursing Indian applicants |
| Subject-vs-overall gap (EE) | 333-position lift | Top 40 ARWU rank; strongest research signal for MS EE Indian applicants |
| Five-year QS stability | Range #285 to #370 | Degree value stays inside the global top 500 bracket for the next cycle |
Key insight for Indian applicants
- Subject-first choice: UIC’s 338-position gap between its ARWU Nursing rank #32 and its overall band means the degree is only worth the sticker price if your program is one of its top-ranked subjects.
- US News edge: UIC’s climb from #261 to #204 on US News Best Global in one edition is the strongest signal in the current cycle, and this is the rank Indian F-1 visa officers and US employers reference most.
- Peer comparison: UIC beats IISc Bangalore on THE by 28 positions in 2027, a first-time result that Indian research master’s applicants should weigh carefully.
- Stability signal: UIC’s QS rank has stayed inside the #285 to #370 range for five editions, which places the degree inside the globally recognised top 500 bracket for the near term.
UIC’s rankings tell two different stories: a mid-pack #370 QS position that undersells the degree, and a top-50 ARWU GRAS Nursing #32 plus top-40 Electrical Engineering #37 that reward subject-focused applicants. For Indian students, the 57-position US News climb in one edition and the top 80 tied US national rank are the two numbers worth carrying into every application decision.
Read More: University of Illinois, Chicago Scholarships 2027 for Indian Students
University of Illinois, Chicago Ranking FAQs
Ques. What is the QS ranking of University of Illinois, Chicago in 2027?
Ans. The University of Illinois, Chicago QS ranking in QS World University Rankings 2027 is #370 globally. The university’s five-year QS average sits at #334, and the position has stayed inside the global top 500 bracket for every edition since 2020.
Ques. How does University of Illinois, Chicago rank in Times Higher Education 2027?
Ans. UIC ranks #272 in THE World University Rankings 2027. The university broke into the top 250 for the first time in 2026 at #201 and has stayed inside the top 300 band for four consecutive editions.
Ques. Which University of Illinois, Chicago subject rankings are strongest globally?
Ans. UIC’s strongest subject is Nursing at #32 on ARWU GRAS 2026, followed by Electrical Engineering at #37 and Communication at #42. QS Education Studies at =86 and QS Dentistry inside the 51-150 band are the next-strongest signals for Indian applicants.
Ques. Why has the University of Illinois, Chicago QS rank declined over five years?
Ans. UIC’s QS rank fell from #285 in 2023 to #370 in 2027, an 85-position decline that followed QS methodology changes introducing sustainability and international research network weightings in 2024. The university’s THE and US News ranks moved in the opposite direction over the same period, which indicates the drop reflects QS-specific metric shifts rather than a decline in academic output.
Ques. How does University of Illinois, Chicago compare with IIT Delhi in world rankings?
Ans. IIT Delhi ranks #118 on QS World 2027, 252 positions ahead of UIC’s #370. However, UIC ranks inside the global top 50 for Nursing and Electrical Engineering on ARWU GRAS 2026, where no Indian institute currently ranks inside the top 100 for Nursing.
Ques. Is University of Illinois, Chicago a good university for Indian students based on rankings?
Ans. Yes, for Indian students targeting nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, electrical engineering, communication or education, UIC’s subject ranks inside the global top 50-100 outweigh its overall #370 QS position. The Collegedunia Study Abroad ranking of UIC aligns with its US News Best Global #204 and its US News National #80 tied position for US-recognised degree value.
Ques. Does University of Illinois, Chicago have a strong US News national ranking?
Ans. Yes. UIC is tied at #80 in US News Best National Universities 2026 and ranks #42 among Top Public Schools. The university’s National rank has climbed from #82 to #80 in one year, placing it inside the top 25% of US universities.










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