<p>I would like to say a word about the “other” programs at IIT. [full disclosure I am a professor of physics at IIT as well as a parent of a college-bound high school senior] While Engineering, Architecture and Computer Science are the biggest majors on campus, there are degrees in the basic sciences, business, psychology, and social sciences too. They are smallish programs and that gives students an excellent chance to get to know the faculty and get involved in research. Speaking for the physics program, our preparation for graduate school or a job in industry is as strong as any other school with our students getting into top graduate physics programs all over the
country. The difference between IIT and some of the other schools mentioned in the thread is that we are a research-intensive university with M.S. and Ph.D. programs, not just undergraduate degrees.</p>
<p>I second higgins2013 statements about campus. I have never been mugged in 29 years and the surroundings are much improved with the Chicago Police Headquarters just off campus, a lot of gentrification nearby, and good public transportation access (CTA and Metra). An urban campus is not for everyone though.</p>