# East–West University

East–West University is a private university in Chicago, Illinois. The university was founded in 1980. It offers associate in liberal arts, office administration, electronics engineering technology, and computer and information science, and bachelor's degrees in behavioral and social sciences, business, electronics engineering technology, mathematics, biology, computer and information science, and English and communication. The university has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1983.
East–West University is a member of America's Urban Campus, a group of 20 Chicago-area colleges and universities, which works with governmental, business, civic, cultural, and philanthropic organizations throughout the Chicago area.

## Buildings

The university is housed in three buildings connected by bridges.
* The East Building at 816 S. Michigan was the original home of the university when it opened on September 5, 1980. It currently houses the mathematics and science departments.
* The Loftrium Building, also known as the West Building, at 819 S. Wabash Avenue was acquired in 1999. This is where the majority of the English and Business course are conducted.
* In 2014 the university opened its Student Life Center at 829 S. Wabash, which connects to the Loftrium. The 17-story building was designed by the firm of Holabird & Root and includes an auditorium, gym and dormitory space for 220 students.
* The Flats at East–West University offers student housing attached to the university buildings.

## Media

Beginning in 2016, East-West began publishing its own student newspaper The Phantom Press, which has published quarterly since its inception. The paper is made up of writing submissions from students and alumni, highlights of events in the surrounding area, tips for adjusting to campus life and profile pieces on various faculty members.

## Academic Activities

East–West University holds an annual Story Slam competition, in which students present works of creative writing. Other events include the Battle of the Majors and quarterly capstone presentations. The university also hosts a series of lectures and seminars called "East-West Perspectives," in which both faculty members and guest speakers visit campus to discuss their areas of expertise. The most recent of these was Professor Reginald Lomax's "The Modern-Day Black Experience... The Need for a Call to Action."

## Athletics

At present, East-West offers an intercollegiate basketball team known as the East-West Phantoms. They are coached by Tommie Posley. EWU is a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and competes as an independent outside of an athletic conference. In addition to other USCAA teams, the Phantoms routinely play NCAA and NAIA competition.
Other athletic organizations on campus include the Prancing Phantoms dance and cheer team, the Lady Phantoms volleyball team, and track and field.

## Student loan debt

According to a non-comprehensive survey, in December 2014, East–West University had the second lowest average student loan debt per graduate in the United States. Only one American university was ranked above it, City University of New York. East–West University has the lowest tuition of all private schools in Chicago and the surrounding area. Additionally, 97% of admitted students receive some amount of financial aid.

## Economic and gender diversity

East–West University's median family income of a student is $24,200 in 2017.
In 2016, the student body and gender ratio was as follows:
* Women 54.0%
* Men 46.0%
* Total number of Undergraduate Students - 419