Time Names North Park University Among America’s Best Colleges

Time included North Park University on its inaugural America's Best Colleges list, which featured 500 institutions. North Park University was one of 28 Illinois four-year institutions included, with only eight located in Chicago.

Time partnered with the data research firm Statista to develop the methodology, which highlights universities and colleges that deliver a high return on investment for their students. The rankings weigh student outcomes at 75%, the learning environment at 15%, and attractiveness-which assesses how much prospective students seek out an institution using admissions rates and the enrollment yield rate-at 10%.

The list reflects a broader shift in how students and families evaluate institutions in the college decision-making process: less about prestige alone and more about whether a degree translates into tangible career outcomes.