Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois

Why the Department of ABE at Illinois?

The Top 10 Reasons to Attend the University of Illinois’ Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering

1. Our Agricultural & Biological Engineering program has been ranked #1 for the past two years in U.S. News & World Report.
2. We provide 2 Learning Communities for our incoming freshmen classes which allow our freshmen to get connected to one another, our faculty, and the department from their first week on campus.
3. Our students have access to 3 career services offices which has led to our virtually 100% placement rate over the past five years.
4. Students in both ABE and TSM can work on undergraduate research projects for faculty within the department.  Undergraduate research can involve everything from writing research proposals to publishing papers to a full-time job upon graduation to research projects abroad.
5. The faculty in our department are known not only for their research abilities but also for their excellence in teaching and advising; our faculty have won awards from the University as well as national teaching associations.
6. There are several excellent student clubs associated with the department which provide involvement, leadership opportunities, networking abilities, and a built-in social group.
7. Our students have access to all the benefits of a Big Ten Campus:
   o Big Ten sporting events
   o concerts & musicals at Assembly Hall
   o recreation at Campus Recreation Center East and the Activities & Recreation Center
   o operas & symphonies at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
   o and access to the largest public university library in the country
8. While also enjoying the benefits of a small department:
   o small class size (usually around 30 students),
   o all classes taught by faculty members not teaching assistants,
   o faculty advisors,
   o knowing your classmates,
   o knowing your professors,
   o and a family-like atmosphere.
9. Our students, graduates, faculty, and staff work on some of the biggest challenges currently facing humanity.  Joining ABE@Illinois can involve meaningful work in:
   o renewable energy,
   o carbon sequestration,
   o water quality,
   o agriculture (feeding people),
   o air quality,
   o and the environment.
10. Graduates of our programs have job security beginning with an average starting salary of $54,000 for our ABE grads and $40,000 for our TSM grads.