Chicago is a global center for higher education and research, alongside a massive public school system.
* **Universities:** The city is anchored by two globally elite research institutions: the University of Chicago (in Hyde Park) and Northwestern University (which has its main campus in suburban Evanston and a massive medical/law campus in Streeterville). * **Other Major Institutions:** The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is the city's largest public research university. Other prominent private institutions include DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago, and the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). Columbia College Chicago and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) are premier institutions for arts and media. * **Public Schools:** Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the fourth-largest school district in the U.S. It operates numerous neighborhood schools and highly competitive selective-enrollment high schools, such as Walter Payton College Prep, Northside College Prep, and Lane Tech. * **Libraries:** The Chicago Public Library system is vast, anchored by the architectural landmark Harold Washington Library Center in the Loop, operating over 80 neighborhood branches.