Lewis University is a private Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition in Romeoville, a suburb 35 miles south-west of Chicago. It is best known for aviation, computer science, nursing, business and data science, with its own airport beside campus and small classes. Choose it for an affordable private degree with aviation and computing strengths near Chicago.
Romeoville, Illinois, United States
Official website: lewisu.edu
1932 in Romeoville, Illinois
Lewis University Airport beside campus, with FAA-approved programmes
NSA-designated Center of Academic Excellence in cyber defence
Around 6,000 students
$20,000 – $38,000
International students, master's (lower) and undergraduate (higher) before scholarships
$13,000 – $17,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on lewisu.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Information Security
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Aviation Flight Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 70
Aviation — a campus airport and flight programmes with airline pathways.
Computer science and data science — popular master's degrees with evening options.
Lasallian Catholic tradition with small classes.
Location in Chicago's south-west suburbs.
Graduates join United Airlines, Southwest, Caterpillar, Amazon logistics centres and Chicago's firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Nursing graduates enter hospital systems across the Chicago region.
Aviation alumni move into airline, airport and air traffic roles.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
The 410-acre campus sits beside Lewis University Airport, with residence halls, the library, the aviation centre and sports fields together on one site.
Romeoville is a quiet suburb with moderate rent, and downtown Chicago is about 45 minutes by car or train from nearby Joliet or Lockport.
Form I-20 issued by Lewis
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Lewis reviews applications on a rolling basis. International applicants should apply by 1 June 2027 for fall and by 1 November 2026 for spring to leave time for the I-20 and visa.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August) or spring (January). Computer science, data science, information security and the MBA admit for both fall and spring. Check your programme's page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Office of International Student Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, data science, information security, the MBA and aviation attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 and TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5; the GRE and GMAT are not required.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on their grades, and some graduate programmes offer partial awards. Check Lewis's financial aid pages for current amounts.
