Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) is a private Ph.D.-granting university on the south side of Chicago with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, design and law. It was founded in 1940 by the merger of Armour Institute, founded 1893, with Lewis Institute (est. 1895). Several others colleges have since merged with it. It has a student population of around 6000. It is known by its student population as Illinois tech.

Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed the main campus buildings. In 1976, the American Institute of Architects recognized the campus as one of the 200 most significant works of architecture in the U.S.

Illinois Institute of Technology was founded on a million dollar grant by Mr. Armour. The school was founded on the idea of being available higher education for the poor of south Chicago.