DeVry University Named a 2026 Chicago Tribune Top Workplace
Recognition highlights DeVry’s Chicago roots, culture of care and commitment to academic excellence
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DeVry University has been named a 2026 Chicago Tribune Top Workplace, recognizing the university’s commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture where colleagues feel valued, engaged and empowered to grow. The recognition, based on direct feedback from employees, comes as DeVry celebrates 95 years since its founding in Chicago and continues to build a workplace culture rooted in care, collaboration, academic innovation and workforce-focused education.
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DeVry University has been named a 2026 Chicago Tribune Top Workplace, recognizing the university’s commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture where colleagues feel valued, engaged and empowered to grow.
Presented by the Chicago Tribune in partnership with Energage, the award recognizes organizations that foster strong workplace cultures based on feedback collected through confidential employee surveys. DeVry was selected among Chicago-area employers with 1,000 or more employees, a category in which only 65 organizations earned the distinction.
“Chicago is where DeVry University’s story began 95 years ago, and I could not be prouder to see our university earn this recognition from the Chicago Tribune,” said Elise Awwad, president and CEO of DeVry University. “Our colleagues bring tremendous energy to helping our learners reach their goals, continually driving academic excellence and introducing innovations that improve student outcomes. They deserve to work at a university that cares just as much about their own success. Knowing this honor comes from their feedback makes it even more meaningful and significant. These are the people behind everything we accomplish as a university, and I am grateful to work alongside them.”
While DeVry serves students nationwide, it maintains a strong presence in Chicagoland. The university serves more than 2,900 local students, employs over 670 local faculty and staff and invests in the community through initiatives such as DeVry University Advantage Academy (DUAA), partnerships with Chicago Innovation, 1871, and a sponsorship of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Through these efforts, DeVry continues to expand educational opportunities and strengthen its ties to the community.
Results from the employee survey conducted by Energage underscore the university’s commitment to cultivating a workplace where colleagues feel supported and empowered to succeed. Among participating employers in its size category, the university ranked No. 2 for employees receiving helpful performance feedback, No. 5 for managers caring about employee concerns and No. 6 for managers helping employees learn and grow. DeVry also ranked No. 9 for workplace flexibility and No. 13 for overall job satisfaction.
“A strong workplace culture is not defined by what an organization says it values, but by what its people experience every day,” Awwad added. “That means setting clear expectations, providing meaningful feedback, investing in our colleagues’ growth and holding ourselves accountable for the results we deliver. At DeVry, we know that when our people are engaged, challenged and connected to our mission, the impact extends well beyond our workplace culture. It reaches the students we educate and the workforce we help prepare.”
The findings further highlight the connection between DeVry’s workplace culture and its educational mission. The university ranked No. 17 for employees feeling their work is part of something meaningful, reinforcing the shared sense of purpose that connects faculty and staff to student success.
“I am surrounded by people driven to serve our learners and to support one another. My DVU team is my family,” wrote an employee in the confidential survey.
The Chicago Tribune award adds to DeVry’s growing list of workplace accolades in 2026. Earlier this year, the university earned a Top Workplaces Industry Award for Education and eight Culture Excellence Awards, Top Workplace for Remote Work and Woman-Led Top Workplace award.
For more information, visit DeVry.edu and TopWorkplaces.com.
About Energage
Making the world a better place to work together.™
Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 20 years of culture research and the results from 30 million employees surveyed across more than 80,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.
About DeVry University
DeVry University strives to close society’s opportunity gap and address emerging talent needs by preparing learners to thrive in careers shaped by continuous technological change. Founded in 1931, the university offers undergraduate and graduate programs onsite and online in Business, Healthcare and Technology. DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC, www.hlcommission.org/). The university’s Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. To learn more, visit devry.edu.
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