Illinois has again demonstrated its academic strength, with two of its premier universities named among the best in the United States for 2026. The latest national ranking evaluated hundreds of colleges and universities across the country, measuring their performance on multiple dimensions of quality and student success. Northwestern University and the University of Chicago both earned places in the top 30, highlighting Illinois as one of the most academically accomplished states in the nation.

New research from Harvard economists is reshaping the long-held belief that a college degree guarantees long-term financial success. Once viewed as a secure investment in the future, many traditional majors are now delivering diminishing returns, as automation and evolving job markets rapidly redefine the worth of academic credentials. According to Harvard labor economist David J. Deming and researcher Kadeem Noray, the value of applied degrees such as business, computer science, an