Rankings and Reputation
Rankings and Reputation
Loyola University Chicago earns recognition for academic quality, research impact, and measurable student outcomes. These distinctions reflect the value of a Loyola degree and a Jesuit education.
Recognition Built on What Matters
At Loyola University Chicago, our reputation comes from competitive programs, respected faculty work, strong graduate placement, and service to humanity. The achievements highlighted here show how Loyola ranks and what that means for you. As a Jesuit university, we measure our standings in research, sustainability, teaching, and outcomes against our larger purpose: to form graduates who lead with both competence and conscience.
U.S. News & World Report
In U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 rankings, Loyola University Chicago earned high placement in undergraduate teaching, value, and multiple academic disciplines, including several programs that rank among the nation’s top performers and lead in Chicago.
2026 U.S. News & World Report: Overall Rankings
#51 – Best Undergraduate Teaching
#74 – Best Value School
#132 – National Universities (Top 30% overall)
2026 U.S. News & World Report: Undergraduate Program Rankings
#10 – International Business (Best in Chicago)
#13 – Nursing (Top 2% nationally; Top 4 among private universities)
#16 – Business Analytics (Best in Chicago through programs in Accounting and Analytics and Information Systems and Analytics)
#22 – Marketing (Best in Chicago)
#25 – Accounting (Best in Chicago)
#38 – Engineering (No Doctorate; Top program of its kind in Chicago)
#77 – Business (Top in Chicago for 12 consecutive years)
#5 – Online Bachelor's in Psychology
#9 – Online Bachelor's in Business
#24 – Online Bachelor's Program
2026 U.S. News & World Report: Graduate Program Rankings
#4 – Health Care Law (Best in Chicago and Illinois)
#15 – Part-Time Law JD (Best in Chicago, Illinois, and Midwest)
#27 – Trial Advocacy (Top 3 in Chicago)
#28 – Social Work (#2 in Chicago graduate programs)
#44 – Part-Time MBA (Top 3 in Chicago)
#51 – Doctor of Nursing Practice (Top third nationally)
#63 – Public Health (Top 30% of national graduate programs)
#95 – School of Education (Top 3 in Chicago graduate programs)
The Princeton Review
Loyola University Chicago is included in The Princeton Review’s 2026 Best 391 Colleges guide and earned distinction for regional strength and environmental leadership.
The Princeton Review 2026 Rankings
- Named a Best Midwestern College
- Designated a Top Green School with a Green Rating of 99/99
- #12 nationally in the Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition
- Highest-ranked Jesuit institution on the Green Colleges list
- Top-ranked institution in Illinois for sustainability
Forbes
Forbes evaluates colleges through a financial and long-term lens, focusing on return on investment, student debt, and graduates’ sustained career success. Loyola appears on Forbes’ 2026 America’s Top Colleges list across several national and regional categories.
In addition, Forbes named Loyola one of America's Best Midsize Employers (2026). We rank highly among a select group of institutions nationally and are one of only two universities in Illinois to receive this distinction. The faculty and staff who thrive here create better learning environments for you.
Forbes 2026 Rankings
- Named to America’s Top Colleges (Top 500 nationally)
- #41 in the Midwest
- #135 among private colleges
- #158 among research universities
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
Carnegie’s Research 1 (R1) classification identifies universities with the highest levels of research activity and doctoral output. Loyola earned this designation in 2025, joining only two other institutions in Chicago at this level. The classification underscores the scale of research funding, faculty scholarship, and doctoral education embedded in our academic environment. For undergraduate students, this means access to faculty who are actively advancing their fields and the opportunity to contribute to that research from day one.
A Best Value Education
Loyola’s inclusion among the nation’s Best Value Schools means you receive a valuable academic experience at a cost that is accessible and actively supported through financial aid and scholarships. For students who enrolled in Fall 2025, 99% received aid or merit, with average awards of $37,247, making a nationally competitive degree more attainable.
Loyola named new home for global Catholic leadership program
The Society of Jesus selected Loyola as the institutional home of the Discerning Leadership Program, a global formation initiative for senior Catholic Church leaders now stewarded by the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
See the announcement
Loyola University Chicago named a Best Midsize Employer by Forbes
Forbes ranked Loyola one of America's Best Midsize Employers for 2026, one of only two Illinois universities and three Jesuit institutions to earn the distinction.
See the ranking
Loyola’s online programs earn top national rankings
The Interdisciplinary Honors Program crosses traditional academic boundaries through advanced coursework and scholarship. In small seminar classes shaped by curiosity, you examine big questions alongside peers and faculty who value thoughtful exploration and intellectual challenge.
See the programs
Recognition Built on What Matters
At Loyola University Chicago, our reputation comes from competitive programs, respected faculty work, strong graduate placement, and service to humanity. The achievements highlighted here show how Loyola ranks and what that means for you. As a Jesuit university, we measure our standings in research, sustainability, teaching, and outcomes against our larger purpose: to form graduates who lead with both competence and conscience.
A Reputation for Academic Excellence
U.S. News & World Report ranks Loyola University Chicago among leading institutions for academic excellence and program quality in several departments.
National Rankings and Distinctions
National publications and higher education classifications consistently recognize Loyola’s academic and research performance. Discover how that standing is reflected in major national assessments.
Real Student Outcomes
At Loyola, your degree positions you for careers, graduate study, and service roles across Chicago and beyond. NOTE: The following stats represent reported outcomes for the Class of 2024, measured within six months after graduation.
Recent Awards and Recognition
Browse news stories that showcase Loyola’s latest rankings, awards, and institutional milestones.