Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), Chicago’s premier technology-driven university, will be the first U.S. institution to open an independent degree-granting campus in India. The new Illinois Institute of Technology—Mumbai campus has been approved by India’s University Grants Commission (UGC), which is a key milestone in the rollout of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The campus is set to start operations in autumn 2026.
This trailblazing campus will provide a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees in major fields like computer science, engineering, and business. As per an official release, the Illinois Institute of Technology plans to take its academically challenging, industry-focused curriculum and experiential learning model to Indian students without having them move abroad.
The new campus in Mumbai will replicate the curriculum provided in Chicago, including Illinois Tech’s Elevate program. This program ensures all students receive access to experiential, career-focused opportunities like internships, research, industry competitions, and entrepreneurial ventures. These real-world experiences are intended to prepare students with the skills and networks required to succeed in competitive global markets.
Illinois Institute of Technology expansion into India poses important questions: How will this first-of-its-kind U.S. campus in India affect the nation’s higher education scene, and what fresh opportunities will it present for Indian students and professors?
As Illinois Institute of Technology officials reported, the university’s move to open a campus in India signifies the institution’s dedication to greater access to high-quality education and upward social mobility. “We are proud to be the first American university to open an independent degree-granting campus in India,” commented a university spokesman. “This initiative will enable Indian students to access a widely respected education system and open new opportunities for global collaboration.
The Mumbai campus faculty will consist of internationally hired professors, visiting Illinois Tech scholars from the U.S. campuses, and scholars with excellent international credentials. The intention is to maintain equality in academic excellence and creativity among Illinois Tech’s campuses. The students studying at the Mumbai campus will also have access to cross-campus courses and globally networked learning classrooms, which enable them to collaborate with students and teachers of different cultural and academic backgrounds.
Illinois Institute of Technology’s international reputation bolsters its ambitious growth. Illinois Tech’s undergraduate and graduate computer science programs were ranked among the top 100 in the country in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report rankings. Its business school has also earned a reputation for excellence: TFE Times placed its master’s in management, marketing, and finance at #15, #24, and #26, respectively, in its 2025 rankings. Furthermore, Opportunity Insights (2024) placed Illinois Tech second nationwide for upward mobility among highly selective private universities.
The new Mumbai operation of the university is not merely a reflection of India’s enhanced role in the global education market but also endorsement of its National Education Policy 2020. The NEP invites foreign universities to establish Indian campuses to extend access to education of global quality and facilitate transformation of India as a global knowledge hub. In providing education with global benchmarks delivered locally, the Illinois Institute of Technology is acting in sync with these long-term national agendas.
Illinois Tech’s move to establish a full campus in India is likely to enhance cross-border industry and academic linkages. The Mumbai campus will emphasize the combination of education with practical applications and entrepreneurship, aligned with Illinois Tech’s mission in the US. The curriculum will be designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to excel in STEM disciplines and business innovation, especially in rapidly growing industries.
Apart from academic advantage, the relocation is also expected to help India internationalize its education system. The Illinois Institute of Technology has long attracted a world-wide diverse student pool, with over 25% of its Chicago campus students being international students. The Mumbai campus is likely to pull in students from all over India and South Asia, and possibly even other countries in the subcontinent, thereby further diversifying the university’s global presence.
Somnath Ghosh, Indian Consul General in Chicago, welcomed the development as a revolutionizing step for India–U.S. cooperation in education. “Illinois Institute of Technology’s Mumbai campus — India’s first-ever American university campus with STEM programs — is a representation of the far-sighted goals of the National Education Policy 2020,” Ghosh commented. “It makes India an international education hub and enables us to realize our national objective to become a knowledge society by 2047.”
The Illinois Institute of Technology Mumbai campus is likely to act as a model for other American and foreign universities that are planning similar forays. UGC Chairperson M. Jagadesh Kumar recently told us that some other foreign institutions have also evinced interest in establishing campuses in India, and the successful opening of Illinois Tech in Mumbai could act as a template for future forays.
As India continues to prioritize digital transformation, innovation, and international connectivity, projects such as the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Mumbai campus are likely to play an important role in shaping the next generation of international leaders. Through the bridging of continents through education, Illinois Tech’s expansion holds the promise of being not only a landmark for the university, but also a driver of higher education reform and international academic collaboration.
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