University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a large public research university in Champaign, Illinois, known for its strength across engineering, computer science, and information sciences alongside a highly regarded business program. The campus blends serious academic firepower with a welcoming Midwestern culture, and its scale gives students access to an especially broad range of cross-disciplinary opportunities and student organizations.

Gies College of Business
Established in 1915 and renamed in 2017 following a $150 million gift, Gies College of Business is one of the oldest and most well-resourced public business schools in the country, built around what it calls a “Business on Purpose” philosophy.

Home to the largest student-run consulting organization in the country
Illinois Business Consulting (IBC), founded in 1995, is the largest student-run consulting firm in the U.S. In a single recent semester, 250 students from Gies and other colleges across campus led 22 consulting projects for 19 different client companies — ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups and nonprofits. IBC gives students a genuine, professional consulting experience — complete with staff mentorship and real business development — well before they ever sit for a first-round interview.

Strong, well-rounded rankings
Gies ranks No. 15 nationally in Poets & Quants’ 2026 Best Undergraduate Business Programs ranking, including No. 5 in Academic Experience.

Business and technology, combined
Gies partners closely with the nationally ranked Grainger College of Engineering, including through the Hoeft Technology & Management Program, a selective joint minor combining business and engineering coursework — a distinguishing feature for students pursuing tech-adjacent consulting roles.

Additional hands-on consulting exposure
Beyond IBC, students can also gain experience through EntreCorps, a student-run pro bono consulting firm supporting startups, and the iVenture Accelerator, which supports student-founded companies with mentorship and funding.

Strong outcomes across sectors
Gies graduates go on to roles with Big Four firms, major banks, consultancies, and global corporations, supported by an extensive alumni network and Gies’ geographic and industry partnerships.

Programs
Undergraduate and graduate concentrations include Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Management Information Systems, Supply Chain Management/Logistics, Entrepreneurship, and more — with graduate offerings including the iMBA, MSF, MSTM, and MSBA programs.