What if I told you that a humble training school in Chicago evolved into a nationwide university system? That’s the story of DeVry University.
Founded in 1931 as De Forest Training School, DeVry started with Herman A. DeVry. He was an inventor who named the school after his friend Lee de Forest. Initially, the school focused on projector and radio repair. It later expanded into other electronics.
After Herman A. DeVry’s death in 1941, the school was renamed DeVry Technical Institute in 1953. By 1957, it gained accreditation to award associate degrees in electronics.
In 1967, Bell & Howell acquired DeVry Technical Institute. A year later, they also acquired the Ohio Institute of Technology. DeVry then became DeVry Institute of Technology. In 1969, it gained accreditation to confer bachelor’s degrees in electronics.
Dennis Keller and Ronald Taylor, two DeVry teachers, founded the Keller Graduate School of Management in 1973. In 1987, the Keller Graduate School of Management acquired DeVry from Bell & Howell. The two schools combined as DeVry Inc.
DeVry Inc. went public in 1991. Over the years, DeVry acquired various institutions. These included Becker CPA Review in 1996 and Ross University in 2003. In 2005, DeVry entered the nursing field by acquiring Deaconess College of Nursing.
By 2010, DeVry University had nearly 90 campus learning sites in 26 states. It had over 7,000 employees. The parent company had more than 12,000 employees.
In December 2018, Adtalem finalized the handover of DeVry University to Cogswell Education. In 2023, Elise Awwad became the first female President and CEO of DeVry. The main campus and headquarters moved to Lisle, Illinois.
DeVry University offers undergraduate and graduate programs online and on-site. These programs cover Accounting, Business, Healthcare, and Technology. DeVry operates on a uniform academic calendar with six eight-week sessions.
DeVry is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Chicago Loop location is in downtown Chicago. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in growing fields. The Chicago campus is located at 1900 W Lawrence Ave.
DeVry University has had its share of challenges. There have been investigations and lawsuits. However, it remains a significant institution. It has a network of alumni including Steve Cartwright and David Crane.
DeVry partnered with the United States Olympic Committee. It also partnered with Minor League Baseball. These partnerships provided educational opportunities for athletes and staff.
Today, DeVry University continues to evolve. It adapts to the changing needs of students. It provides career-oriented education. DeVry stands as a testament to the power of innovation and adaptation in education.