UIUC 7 On AIER's "College Destinations" List
University of Illinois ranks number 7 of 75 on AIER’s College Destinations List index for 2014-2015.
This week, the American Institute for Economic Research released a “College Destinations Index” for 2014-2015. The index ranks schools by more than the average ranking system; they rate the entire experience as provided by the universities.
The University of Illinois is ranked highly due to its larger than average population of foreign students and at 16.6% according to their study, the average is up there. UIUC received high rankings for more than just diversity, though. The campus is quoted as a “small, captivating city” with endless acres of straight deserted roads. AIER praises the “sprawling” and “captivating” campus.
AIER’s college experience criteria claims to consider all essential supplements to student’s formal education. There are twelve areas of criteria: student concentration, housing costs, city accessibility, arts and leisure, unemployment rates, earning potential and even education of the population.
The University also ranked highly in accessibility, with our extensive bus system and bike paths, as well as the concentration of 216 students per every 1,000 city residents. Some of our downfalls as a university were definitely the cost of housing and the unemployment rate. With 8.2% of the labor force unemployed and the average two bedroom apartment at a whopping $862 a month, the low ranked aspects aren’t good, but they could be worse.
The Boston area, which ranked in at number one has two bedrooms that will run you on average $1,454 a month.
UIUC was very high in the ranks competing with many metropolitan areas. Ranking way higher than classic spots like LA and Chicago, we trailed close behind places in Florida and Rochester.
Though the University of Illinois is a college focused area, it has plenty to offer and is being recognized for not only its formal education, but for its overall atmosphere as well.