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Nationally Recognized

Lewis is committed to student success and we strive to make sure that our students receive a quality educational experience. External national recognitions have validated that. Lewis is pleased to be one of the few universities in Illinois to be recognized by all of the following organizations:

U.S. News & World Report Ranks Lewis in Top Tier Regional Midwest Universities

U.S. News & World Report has ranked ȺpÎÞÂë among the top tier in its rankings of Midwest Regional Universities.

U.S. News & World Report ranks institutions with a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs. The Best Colleges rankings provide a thorough examination of how nearly 1,800 accredited four-year schools compare on at least 11 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings and key measures of quality are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and graduation rate performance.

U.S. News' Best Colleges rankings is available on , which features extensive statistical profiles for each school. It also includes a college search for students and parents looking for the school that best fits their needs.

Recognized for 2024-2025 Military Support

Lewis University has earned the 2024-2025 Military Support Colleges of Distinction recognition. Colleges of Distinction selected institutions for the Military Support recognition that are aware of the unique challenges military students face on college campuses. These institutions are proud to support and cultivate the skills that military and veteran students bring to the classroom, all while helping them achieve their personal and professional goals.

The methodology used to evaluate institutions by Colleges of Distinction included the following criteria: Comprehensive Educational Benefits, Military and Veterans Affairs Team, Flexible and Accessible Options, Faculty Training, and Campus Activities and Community Support. The initial cohort is comprised of those institutions that demonstrated best practices in creating a supportive environment.

Ranked #10 in Illinois

Schools.com recently ranked ȺpÎÞÂë as number 10 in their ranking of the "Best 4-year Colleges in Illinois.” Focused on affordability, flexibility and student services they used the most recent government data to evaluate public and private colleges and universities across the country.

There were 1,649 4-year colleges and universities which were ranked. Criteria included full-time tuition, books and supplies as well as financial aid and student debt. Graduation rates as well as student support services, the ability to earn Advanced Placement and dual credit, career counseling and placement rates also were considered.

PRINCETON REVIEW RECOGNIZES LEWIS AS A BEST IN THE MIDWEST

Lewis University again has been named one of the best colleges in the Midwest, according to The Princeton Review. ȺpÎÞÂë is included among its "Best in the Midwest" recommended schools in the Best Regional Colleges website ().

"We chose ȺpÎÞÂë and the other outstanding institutions on this list primarily for their excellent academics," said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's Editor-in-Chief. The Princeton Review editors made their selections based on data the company collected from its survey of administrators at several hundred colleges in each region, as well as its staff visits to schools over the years, and the perspectives of college counselors and advisers whose opinions the company solicits.

The Princeton Review scores the schools on its "Best Colleges: Region by Region" lists in six categories – academics, admissions selectivity, financial aid, fire safety, quality of life and green.

Recognized as a College of Distinction

Lewis University has been nationally recognized by Colleges of Distinction. Lewis also has earned recognition as an Illinois College of Distinction and a Catholic College of Distinction.

The Colleges of Distinction selection process comprises a sequence of in-depth research and detailed interviews with the schools, recognizing those that adhere to these Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes. These principles are all informed by high-impact practices to prioritize the ways that institutions enable students to have a fulfilling, individualized college experience both inside and outside of the classroom.

Colleges of Distinction is an online resource that helps students, their families and their counselors select colleges and universities. Colleges of Distinction strives to help students find a college where they can grow, learn and ultimately succeed for the rest of their lives. The online college guide describes schools that take a complete approach to admissions decisions, that consistently excel in providing undergraduate education and that have a truly national reputation.

Ranked in the 50 great affordable Colleges in the Midwest

Lewis University has been selected for the Great Value Colleges receiving the top 50 ranking among colleges and universities in the Midwest. Great Value Colleges is a highly rated website which assists students in finding colleges and universities that provide affordable degree and career options for students. Promising “to help students get the best possible education for their money,” this website features a list of 50 top affordable colleges in the Midwest according to various criteria.

Rankings are based on factors including academic programs, organizations, and retention.  The rate of tuition and actual expense of attendance also are considered, including costs for on-and-off campus students; the price for books, fees and incidentals; return on investment, and the availability of financial aid. The website notes that the University combines “qualities like research, scholarship, and service.”

Ranked #1 Among Private Colleges in Illinois – Best for Vets

Military Times has released its Best for Vets: Colleges 2022 rankings. Lewis is ranked the #1 Best for Vets private school in the state of Illinois and #3 overall in Illinois, and #19 Best for Vets private school in the United States. The rankings are based on the results of Military Times’ annual survey – the most comprehensive school-by-school assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement – as well as a detailed review of public data collected by federal agencies. This year’s survey is based on data from more than 300 schools.

As is true for all Military Times rankings, Best for Vets: Colleges is an editorially independent, objective and rigorous news project. This feature evaluates the many factors that help make colleges and universities a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families. 

Military Times’ annual Best for Vets: Colleges survey asks colleges and universities to disclose academic outcome and input data, describe many aspects of veteran culture on campus and meticulously document a wide array of services, special policies, accommodations and financial incentives offered to students with military ties. Military Times also factors in data from the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments, as well as three Education Department sources: the IPEDS Data Center, College Scorecard data and the Cohort Default Rate Database.

The full rankings are published at

We are also recognized by

• Wall Street Journal / Times Higher Education College Rankings
• Washington Monthly Annual College Guide and Rankings - Master's Universities

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