Rush University

What Rush University does

Rush University is a private academic medical institution founded in 1972 and headquartered in Chicago's Illinois Medical District, operating as part of the Rush University System for Health. It comprises four colleges—the College of Health Sciences, the College of Nursing, Rush Medical College, and the Graduate College—offering undergraduate through doctoral degrees across nursing, medicine, allied health, biomedical sciences, and public health, alongside over 90 residency and fellowship programs. The institution generated 700+ graduates at its 54th commencement in May 2026 and reported Spring 2020 enrollment of 1,721 Title IV-eligible students.

The university's core technology stack blends clinical simulation infrastructure (RUSH Center for Clinical Skills and Simulation, Nursing Learning Lab) with proprietary AI training platforms—Socrates AI and Socrates Coach AI—developed for suicide-prevention and firearm-safety crisis-response training in partnership with STRONG STAR and the Face the Fight initiative. Research infrastructure includes the longitudinal Rush Memory and Aging Project (1,338+ participants), the Institute for Translational Medicine, and active collaborations with Mass General Brigham, Parkinson's Foundation, CurePSP, and others on Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and progressive supranuclear palsy.

Revenue mechanics are tuition-driven (~$1,154/credit for the Generalist Entry MSN; ~$55,620 annual for first-year medical students) supplemented by federal grants (HEERF/CARES Act), private foundation research funding, endowed chair income, and affiliated clinical revenue through Rush University Medical Center. Go-to-market is direct admissions via on-campus, hybrid, and international-student channels, with VA education benefits (Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon) broadening the addressable student base. The institution ranks in the top 5 nationally (U.S. News & World Report 2026) for its College of Nursing and College of Health Sciences and reports a 100% NCLEX pass rate for the Generalist Entry MSN program.

Name

Rush University

Legal name

Rush University

Website

https://rushu.rush.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Rush University is a private Chicago-based academic medical institution (founded 1972) within the Rush University System for Health, operating four colleges that train nursing, medical, allied-health, and biomedical-research professionals across undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and residency/fellowship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Academic Medical Centers & Teaching Hospitals (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Allied Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Schools (PT/OT/SLP, etc.) (EDAHAGAH), Medical Schools (MD/DO Granting) (EDAHAGAB)

Keywords

• Healthcare education
• Medical college programs
• Nursing degree programs
• Graduate medical education
• Health sciences training

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Rush University is a private academic medical institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral healthcare education across three colleges—College of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, and Rush Medical College—plus more than 90 residency and fellowship programs. It provides hands-on clinical training through its own simulation center and affiliated Rush University Medical Center, and conducts clinical and translational research in aging, neuroscience, and population health. The institution also operates student support services such as the Center for Clinical Wellness, veterans education benefits administration, and international student services.

Product overview

Rush University is a comprehensive academic medical center comprising three colleges: the College of Health Sciences, the College of Nursing, and Rush Medical College. The institution offers a wide range of degree programs including Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Doctor of Audiology, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Philosophy, and Health Care Ethics certificates. Programs span diverse health disciplines including nursing, medicine, clinical laboratory science, imaging sciences, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, cardiovascular perfusion, respiratory care, social work, public health, physician assistant studies, and health systems management. The university also provides residency and fellowship programs across numerous medical specialties. Rush University operates as an integrated academic health system with its primary clinical partner Rush University Medical Center, providing hands-on training opportunities for students while conducting research to advance healthcare knowledge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• College of Nursing

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% NCLEX pass rate (Q1 2024) compared to national average of 86% and Illinois average of 84%
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CurePSP (with Parkinson Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026CurePSP CARES grant program awarded $155,000 to four research projects at seven medical institutions including Rush. Two projects co-funded with Parkinson Canada focusing on progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, and multiple system atrophy research.
• Parkinson's FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Parkinson's Foundation invested nearly $600,000 through three inaugural Paul Oreffice Innovations in Care Awards grants to fund innovative clinical care practices. Rush University Medical Center was one of three award recipients alongside UNC Chapel Hill and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Projects explore telehealth apps, peer mentorship programs, and AI technologies for Parkinson's care.
• Mass General BrighamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Mass General Brigham partnered with Rush University Medical Center on research study linking excessive daytime napping in older adults to higher mortality rates. Study analyzed data from 1,338 participants in the Rush Memory and Aging Project over 56 years old.
• Face the Fight Initiative (USAA, Humana Foundation, Reach Resilience)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Face the Fight initiative funded development of AI-based training programs for suicide prevention targeting firearm safety conversations and crisis response planning. Led by The University of Texas at San Antonio and Rush University, building on STRONG STAR Training Initiative and expanding Socrates and Socrates Coach AI platforms.
• Chicago Healthcare Facilities NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClinical practice sites include Rush University Medical Center, Rush Oak Park Hospital, Rush Copley Medical Center, and other healthcare facilities in the Chicago metropolitan area. Clinical rotations arranged by Rush coordinators for all students.
• Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Safe Chicago initiative for Stop the Bleed training program. Nursing students collaborate with OEMC to bring bleeding control training and kits to hospitals and communities.
• Loyola University Medical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransfer partner for emergency patient care - Rush Oak Park Hospital transfers critical patients to Loyola for advanced care after stabilization.
• John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliates of John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County can qualify for reduced tuition rate for Clinical Research degree programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Midwestern University: A private health sciences university with campuses in Downers Grove (Illinois) and Glendale (Arizona) offering osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, dental, physician assistant, and nursing programs. Comparable to Rush as a private, multi-professional health sciences institution.
• Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science: A private health sciences university in North Chicago (Illinois) offering MD, pharmacy, nursing, and allied health programs. It is the closest direct peer to Rush given similar size, private nonprofit status, and exclusive focus on healthcare professional education in the same regional market.
• Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine: Feinberg is a top-tier private medical school in downtown Chicago with affiliated nursing and health sciences programs. It competes with Rush Medical College for the same applicant pool and clinical rotations in the Illinois Medical District.
• University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine: Pritzker is an elite private medical school on Chicago's South Side with a smaller but highly selective MD program and growing bioscience footprint. It is a peer to Rush Medical College in applicant caliber and research intensity.
• Quinnipiac University (Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine): A private university in Connecticut with dedicated medical, nursing, and health sciences schools. Comparable to Rush in scale, private status, and exclusive focus on health professional education with strong clinical placement infrastructure.
• Loyola University Chicago - Stritch School of Medicine: Loyola's Stritch School of Medicine, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, and Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health provide private, Jesuit-affiliated health professional education in the same Chicago market as Rush. Both compete for similar students and clinical placements.
• A.T. Still University of Health Sciences: A private health sciences university offering osteopathic medicine, dental, audiology, physical therapy, and online health sciences programs across Missouri and Arizona. Comparable to Rush as a private, multi-college health-only university with strong online and residential programs.

Regional players

• University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine: UIC is a public research university with the largest medical school in the U.S. by enrollment and substantial nursing and allied health programs. As the principal public peer in the same Chicago market, it competes head-to-head with Rush for applicants and clinical training sites.

Broad incumbents

• Tufts University School of Medicine: Tufts School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine provide private, Boston-based health professional education inside a broader comprehensive research university. Comparable to Rush in operating a private academic medical center with multiple health-focused schools.
• Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine: Boston University's medical school and affiliated Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences offer private health professional education within a large urban research university. Comparable to Rush in operating a private academic medical center with a strong urban clinical placement network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RushUniversity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/rushuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/RushUniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/edu/rush-university-18300
• Instagraminstagram.com/rushuniversity

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rush University