Illinois Tech Launches ‘You, Elevated’ Campaign, Spotlighting Student Success
The new campaign showcases Illinois Tech’s role as Chicago’s leading tech-focused university, highlighting students who have shaped their own futures and created an impact in a series of outdoor and digital ads.
CHICAGO—February 6, 2024—Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) launched its You, Elevated campaign, showcasing its position as Chicago’s leading tech-focused university and highlighting students who have found success through their experiences at Illinois Tech. The local awareness campaign to support student recruitment efforts—featuring real students—consists of ads that will be displayed prominently on the CTA, around campus, online, and on two billboards along the Stevenson and Kennedy expressways and will run through June.
“The Elevate program is a testament to Illinois Tech’s commitment to experiential learning, preparing our students to excel in the fast-evolving competitive global market,” said Mallik Sundharam, vice president for enrollment management and student affairs. “By immersing students in relevant challenges and opportunities, we prepare them to be innovators and leaders in their fields, fully equipped with the skills and experiences to make a significant impact on day one after graduation.”
The You, Elevated campaign emphasizes the power of an Illinois Tech education to expand graduates’ career opportunities and potential earnings. Illinois Tech graduates had a job placement rate of 91 percent and reported earning mean starting salaries well above the national average—$75,352 for undergraduate students and $87,258 for graduate students—based on information reported by the graduating class of 2022 (the most recent data available). Illinois Tech students also have low debt and loan default rates: 1.9 percent, far below the national average of 7.3 percent. That emphasis on high return on investment is why the Wall Street Journal ranked Illinois Tech as 16th in the country for Salary Impact, and U.S. News & World Report placed Illinois Tech at #29 for Best Value among National Universities.
Last fall—just as the university reported its highest enrollment in 30 years—the Wall Street Journal and College Pulse ranked Illinois Tech as the #1 university in the state and #23 in the nation in its 2024 Best Colleges in the United States ranking.
A major way Illinois Tech is able to achieve that success is through its emphasis on real-world experiences and learning outside of the classroom. The university’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program—which inspired the campaign—guarantees students access to research, competitions, leadership opportunities, co-ops, internships, and other such experiences that enhance learning by bridging the gap between academics and practical application.
The placement of ads on campus and on CTA buses, trains, and stations draws attention to the position of Illinois Tech in Chicago—with the city serving as a living laboratory for students—and shows how the city is an important asset for students looking to explore career opportunities. The billboard locations—one in the Wicker Park area and another near campus—are in highly trafficked, highly visible areas where they will be seen by potential students, commuters, and lifelong learners who are thinking about upskilling and elevating their career opportunities.
The symbiotic relationship between Illinois Tech and Chicago’s vibrant, diverse economy fosters unparalleled opportunities for students, as they can directly engage with a wide array of companies in every industry, shaping their educational journey in a city that thrives on technology, innovation, and diversity.
“For many years, Illinois Tech has been a best-kept secret, even though our alumni are responsible for some of the most high-impact innovations of our lifetimes, such as the cell phone, Amazon Alexa, and the telestrator,” said Chelsea Kalberloh Jackson, associate vice president for marketing and communications. “This campaign has allowed our marketing and communications team to amplify this legacy by highlighting our current students and their success within the greater Chicago community and beyond. They are our next generation of leaders and innovators.”
The campaign also invites students and alumni to share their personal success stories using the hashtag #YouElevated. It further emphasizes Illinois Tech’s global impact and the revolutionary power of a relevant tech-focused education.
Learn more about the You, Elevated campaign at youelevated.iit.edu.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Based in the global metropolis of Chicago, Illinois Tech was born to liberate the power of collective difference to advance technology and innovation for all. It is the only tech-focused university in the city, and it stands at the crossroads of exploration and invention, advancing the future of Chicago and the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, computing, architecture, business, design, science and human sciences, and law. Illinois Tech students are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences, personalized mentorship, and job readiness through the university's one-of-a-kind Elevate program. Its graduates lead the state and much of the nation in economic prosperity. Its faculty and alumni built the Chicago skyline. And every day in the city's living lab, Illinois Tech fuels breakthroughs that change lives. Visit iit.edu.
Media contacts
Petra Kelly
Communications Director
Illinois Institute of Technology
Cell: 773.771.1064
pkelly6@iit.edu
Kevin Dollear
Communications Manager
Illinois Institute of Technology
Cell: 773.860.5712
kdollear@iit.edu
