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Chicago holds a distinguished place in the history of American education. The University of Chicago, in particular, was the site of the first human initiated, controlled and sustained nuclear reaction. The concept of junior colleges was pioneered by William Rainey Harper, the first president of the University of Chicago, and J. Stanley Brown in 1899. At the time, Brown was the superintendent of the Joliet Schools. During this time he developed a six year plan for high school students. As a result, Joliet Junior College was established and to this day, it remains the nation's oldest community college.

A person walking on the campus of the University of Chicago.

Universities in Chicago have made many significant contributions to the sciences. Notable among them is the University of Chicago, which has contributed to the understanding of the electron and helped lay the foundation of our understanding of quantum mechanics as well as produce the first self sustained nuclear reaction. Besides the University of Chicago, the city is home to a large number of arts and sciences colleges, including Northwestern University.

The Illinois Institute of Technology is a private Ph.D.-granting technological university. The main campus is established in Bronzeville, and is home to renowned engineering and architecture programs. The university was host to world-famous modern architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for many years. IIT also maintains a formal academic and research relationship with the Argonne National Laboratory. The IIT Institute of Design is located downtown, and the Stuart School of Business and Chicago-Kent College of Law are located within the city's financial district. IIT shares its main campus with the VanderCook College of Music, the only independent college in the country focusing exclusively on the training of music educators, and Shimer College, a private liberal arts college which follows the Great Books program.

Lake Forest College is Chicago's national liberal arts college. North Park University is located in Chicago's North Park community area, it enrolls a little over 3,000 students and has been listed on US News' college review as one of the best universities in the Midwest.

Founded in 1867 Northeastern Illinois University is one of the oldest and most diverse universities in the Midwest.

Founded on the principles of social justice, Roosevelt University was named in honor of president Franklin D. Roosevelt, two weeks after his death. It houses the Theatre and Music Conservatories under the Chicago College of Performing Arts.

Rush Medical College, now part of Rush University, was the first institution of higher learning chartered in Illinois and one of the first medical schools to open west of the Alleghenies. Fine and performing arts programs in Chicago may be pursued at the The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, The American Academy of Art and Columbia College Chicago.

Specialized schools include Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies which offers graduate degrees in the areas of Jewish Studies, Nonprofit Management, and Leadership. East-West University is located downtown with several of the other schools. The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, became affiliated with Le Cordon Bleu of Paris in June 2000.

[edit] Theological Universities

There are several theological seminaries in Chicago, including the worlds largest, the Catholic Theological Union. Other private universities also offer theology as a major, even if it is not the main fair of the school. At most of the theological affiliated universities, undergraduate and graduate courses are offered in other fields, for example, law at DePaul University or liberal arts and sciences at Loyola University Chicago.