Admission counselors will review your application to ensure you are fully prepared to have a successful experience at Illinois Tech. Our team will take a holistic approach to reviewing your application, taking various factors into account such as high school performance, essays, choice of major, and test scores (optional) to make an admission decision and determine your optimal pathway to achieving your goals. Here is what we will consider when reviewing your application:
- High school performance
- Course selection and rigor (see recommended coursework below)
- Grade-point average (see admitted student profile below)
- Essays
- Quality of response
- Demonstration and understanding of academic interest
- Explanation of any circumstances that contributed to your high school performance
- Tip: Some of the Illinois Tech essay questions are optional. Our admission counselors encourage you to provide as much information as possible in order to help us understand your interests, needs, and goals for your college experience, and to best support you in finding your pathway to success. However, opting out of these questions will not negatively impact your application or admission decision.
- Choice of Major
- Each academic program at Illinois Tech has its own criteria for admission. Many of our STEM-related programs such as engineering, computing, hard sciences, and math may have different requirements than Illinois Tech’s architecture, business, and humanities programs. Please see the recommended coursework below to plan your high school academic schedule.
- Test Scores (Optional)
- ACT or SAT scores are completely optional for admission. Admission counselors will review your scores if provided. Opting out of providing test scores will not negatively impact your application for admission.
Recommended Coursework for Competitive High School Applicants
| Subject | Discover +, Tech +, or Innovation and Society Tracks | STEM Track |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Three to four years | Four years (coursework at or above pre-calculus is highly recommended) |
| Science | Three years | Four years (coursework including physics or AP Physics is highly recommended) |
| English | Four years | Four years |
| Social Science | Three years | Three years |
| Second Language | Not required | Not required |
Additional Recommendations
- Take advantage of AP, IB, honors, and/or dual enrollment courses offered at your high school. Strong performance in rigorous courses demonstrates your ability to be successful at the college-level. When reviewing course rigor, admission counselors will consider the coursework available at your high school.
- Submit letters of recommendation from teachers in subject areas aligned with your first choice major. For example, if you hope to pursue engineering, provide a letter from a calculus or physics teacher.
Admitted Student Profile
| Tracks | Recommended GPA Range | Average GPA for 2023 Admits | Recommended Test Score Ranges | Average Test Score for 2023 admits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEM* | 3.5–4.0+ | 4.12 | ACT Composite: 25–30+ ACT Math: 25–30+ SAT Composite: 1200–1380+ SAT Math: 590–700+ | ACT Composite: 29 ACT Math: 29 SAT Composite: 1340 SAT Math: 695 |
| Discover+, Tech+, Innovation and Society**, Architecture | 3.4–4.0+ | 4.0 | ACT Composite: 23–30+ ACT Math: 22-30+ SAT Composite: 1100+ SAT Math: 550+ | ACT Composite: 27 ACT Math: 26 SAT Composite: 1244 SAT Math: 632 |
*STEM track includes all programs in Armour College of Engineering (except Industrial Technology and Management), all College of Computing Programs (except Information Technology and Management/Computer Information Systems), Financial Economics, Finance, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Food Science and Nutrition.
**Innovation and Society track includes Behavioral Health and Wellness, Business Administration, Communication, Digital Humanities, Humanities, Game Design and Experiential Media, Marketing Analytics, Information Technology and Management, Industrial Technology and Management, Psychological Science, and Social and Economic Development Policy