Roosevelt University facts for kids
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Former names
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Roosevelt College (1945–1954) |
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| Motto | "Dedicated to the enlightenment of the human spirit" |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | April 24, 1945 |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliations
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NAICU |
| Endowment | $161.2 million (2021) |
| President | Ali Malekzadeh |
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Academic staff
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216 (spring 2022) |
| Students | 4,015 (fall 2023) |
| Undergraduates | 2,605 (fall 2023) |
| Postgraduates | 1410 (fall 2023) |
| Location |
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Illinois
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US
41°52′34″N 87°37′31″W / 41.87600260°N 87.62518060°W |
| Campus | Large city, 34 acres (0.14 km2) (total) |
| Other campuses | Schaumburg, Illinois |
| Newspaper | The Torch |
| Colors | Green and white |
| Nickname | Lakers |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Fala the Laker |
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Roosevelt University is a private university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It was started in 1945. The university is named after former US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. About 4,000 students attend Roosevelt University. They study in programs for both new college students and those going for advanced degrees. Roosevelt University is also home to the Chicago College of Performing Arts.
The university has another campus in Schaumburg, Illinois. Roosevelt's newest building in Chicago is called Wabash. It is in the downtown area known as The Loop. This building is the tallest school building in Chicago. It is also one of the tallest school buildings in the United States.
Contents
Discovering Roosevelt University's Story
Roosevelt University was founded in 1945 by Edward J. Sparling. He used to be the president of Central YMCA College in Chicago. Mr. Sparling left his old job because he did not want to limit the number of African Americans, Jews, immigrants, and women at the school. Many teachers and students joined him to start a new college.
At first, the new college had no library or campus. It was first called Thomas Jefferson College. It received money from many people and groups. Two weeks later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt passed away. His wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, gave permission to rename the college Roosevelt College in his honor.
In 1947, the college bought the historic Auditorium Building for just one dollar. This building became the university's main home. In 1959, the college was rededicated to both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Important people like Marian Anderson and Albert Einstein were early advisors. In 1996, the university opened its campus in Schaumburg. This campus was named after Albert A. Robin, who donated money. In 2020, Robert Morris University Illinois joined with Roosevelt University. The combined school kept the name Roosevelt University.
| Ali Malekzadeh | 2015–Present |
|---|---|
| Charles R. Middleton | 2002–2015 |
| Theodore L. Gross | 1988–2002 |
| Rolf Weil | 1965–1988 |
| Robert Pitchell | 1963–1964 |
| Edward J. Sparling | 1945–1963 |
Exploring Roosevelt University Campuses
Main Campus in Chicago
Classes in Chicago are held in the historic Auditorium Building. It is located at 430 S. Michigan Avenue. This building is close to the famous Magnificent Mile. The Auditorium Building also has the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Many university offices are here too.
The Wabash Building for the downtown campus was finished in 2012. This tall building has 32 floors. It is one of the tallest buildings used for higher education in the world. The Wabash Building has student services, classrooms, and modern science labs. It also has offices and student homes. Students live on the top floors, from 14 to 32. Each floor has a shared lounge with views of Lake Michigan.
The Lillian and Larry Goodman Center is the newest addition. It is the first building just for college sports in Chicago's Loop. This center is the home for Roosevelt Lakers athletics.
Albert A. Robin Campus in Schaumburg
Roosevelt University's campus in Schaumburg is a large four-year university. It serves about 2,500 students in Chicago's Northwest suburbs. The campus is located in a building that used to be the main office for the Pure Oil Company. Roosevelt changed the building into a full campus in 1996.
The Albert A. Robin Campus is home to the Doctor of Pharmacy program. This program welcomed its first students in July 2011. The Schaumburg Campus is on 30 acres of land. It is on the north side of Golf Road, across from the Woodfield Mall. The university has also created prairies on parts of the land. These are used for environmental studies and education.
What Students Learn at Roosevelt
Roosevelt University offers many different degrees. Students can study in six main colleges. These include the Chicago College of Performing Arts for music and theater. There are also colleges for Arts & Sciences, Education, Pharmacy, and Business.
The university also has special centers and institutes. These focus on topics like African and African-American Studies and Social Justice. Social justice is a very important part of Roosevelt's history. It is included in what every student learns. Students learn about things like public rights to city parks. They also study how cities change and how to protect Earth's resources. Student projects have looked at gender equality and how minimum wage affects the economy.
The Roosevelt Pledge Program
Starting in fall 2025, Roosevelt University began a program called the "Roosevelt Pledge." This program helps new students pay for college. If a student's family earns less than $50,000 per year, their tuition not covered by other aid can be free. This financial help can last for up to four years. Students must be full-time, live in Illinois, and have gone to an Illinois high school. They also need to be younger than 24 to qualify.
University Rankings
For 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked Roosevelt University. It was tied at No. 390 among 439 National Universities. It was also tied at No. 174 among 434 schools for "Top Performers on Social Mobility." This ranking looks at how well schools help students from lower-income backgrounds succeed.
How to Get Into Roosevelt
In 2024, Roosevelt University accepted about 88% of students who applied. Getting in was considered quite easy. Students who enrolled had an average high school GPA of 3.13. The university does not require students to send in standardized test scores. However, they can be considered if submitted. Students who sent scores had an average 960 SAT score or an average 21 ACT score.
Life as a Roosevelt Student
Where Students Live
Roosevelt University has several places for students to live. The new Wabash building is a home for all new students. The University Center of Chicago (UCC) is another main residence hall. It has apartment-style options. The UCC opened in 2004. It houses students from Roosevelt, DePaul University, and Columbia College Chicago.
Fornelli Hall is another option, with only apartment-style living. It is located in the Pittsfield Building in Chicago. It opened in 2008. This hall is for older students at Roosevelt University. The new 32-story Wabash building is connected to the Auditorium Building. This allows students to easily go between the two buildings.
Student Activities and Clubs
There are many student groups and clubs at Roosevelt University. Students can join different organizations.
- Alpha Gamma Delta: A women's group that helps the community.
- Alpha Phi Omega: A co-ed service group that does good deeds.
- Sigma Alpha Iota: A music group for women.
- Oyez Review: Roosevelt's award-winning literary magazine. Students write and edit it.
- Black Student Union: Represents the interests of Black students and helps improve campus life.
- Colleges Against Cancer: Works to educate about cancer and support survivors.
- RU Green: Helps make the campus more eco-friendly and teaches about being green.
- PULSE: GSM (Gender and Sexual Minority) Society: A group that supports all gender and sexual minorities.
- The Torch: Roosevelt's student newspaper. It is known for first publishing the writer Shel Silverstein.
- WRBC The Blaze: Roosevelt's online student radio station.
Roosevelt University Sports
The sports teams at Roosevelt University are called the Lakers. The university is part of the NCAA Division II. They mainly play in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Roosevelt joined Division II in August 2022.
Roosevelt has 25 different sports teams. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, and football. Women's sports include basketball, soccer, and softball. There are also co-ed sports like cheerleading and dance. Before 2023, the Lakers played in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Famous People from Roosevelt University
Many famous people have attended Roosevelt University. These include entertainers, academics, and politicians. Some well-known alumni are Robert Lamm, Anthony Braxton, Jacques Paul Klein, Danitra Vance, and Harold Washington.
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Robert Lamm
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Jacques Paul Klein
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