Illinois Tech, one of the United States’ leading technology-focused research universities is set to open its new Mumbai campus in one of India’s most sustainable and innovation-driven evolving urban developments.
The selection of the site in Godrej Business District in Vikhroli, Mumbai reflects Illinois Tech’s long-standing relationship with India and its deep commitment to empowering global talent through academic excellence, according to a university release.
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It underscores the university’s focus on industry-aligned degrees and experiential learning powered by physically embedding the campus between 100-plus companies, including multi-national employers, it says.
The decision also carries a strong personal significance rooted in Illinois Tech’s connection with one of the stalwarts of Indian industry—alumnus Jamshyd N. Godrej, chairman and managing director of Godrej & Boyce.
The selection marks a significant next step following Illinois Tech’s historic approval earlier this year as the first U.S. university authorized by India’s University Grants Commission to establish a degree-granting campus in the country.
Set to welcome its first cohort of students in fall 2026, the new Mumbai campus will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in high-demand fields, including computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, and business.
The campus will deliver the same academically rigorous, experiential, multidisciplinary, and industry-aligned curriculum that defines Illinois Tech’s education in Chicago, while providing students with access to future career pathways in India’s dynamic economy.
Spanning approximately 90,000 square feet, Illinois Tech’s Mumbai campus will feature purpose-built academic and research spaces designed to support rigorous, experiential, and interdisciplinary learning.
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Facilities will include advanced classrooms, state-of-the-art laboratories, a modern library with digital and physical resources, and collaborative learning between Illinois Tech’s global campuses and co-working spaces.
Students will also have access to sports fields, an indoor complex, amphitheatre, other recreation facilities, student services, and Chicago-based and global faculty members who will teach course modules, lead seminars, and participate in joint research initiatives with local educational and industry partners.
The announcement of the new campus followed a ribbon-cutting and lamp-lighting ceremony held at the campus location, during which Illinois Tech and Godrej & Boyce signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalizing their collaboration.
Illinois Tech President Raj Echambadi says the decision to locate the new campus in the Godrej district reflects both strategic vision and historic ties to India. “Illinois Tech’s relationship with India is decades long, deeply personal, and foundational to our mission. Our Indian alumni have shaped industries, advanced technological innovation, and made extraordinary contributions across the world.
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“Establishing our Mumbai campus in a district led by one of our most distinguished alumni, Jamshyd N. Godrej, represents a meaningful continuation of that shared history. It allows us to bring world-class Illinois Tech education to India in a place that embodies innovation, purpose, and community.”
Home to Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited, the location offers modern infrastructure and strong connectivity to Mumbai’s corporate and research ecosystem, supporting Illinois Tech’s applied and interdisciplinary approach to STEM education.
Speaking on the announcement, Godrej says, “The education and experience I gained at Illinois Tech were instrumental in shaping my career and the impact I was able to create through the Godrej brand. I am honored that Illinois Tech has chosen the Godrej Business District for its Mumbai campus.”
“Having served on the university’s board for more than 25 years, I have seen firsthand its unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and opportunity. This moment represents a powerful continuation of that legacy, and I look forward to the transformative opportunities it will create for students in India,” he said.
While many global universities are entering India for the first time, Illinois Tech’s presence is built on decades of connection. Considering Illinois Tech’s community of more than 10,000 alumni from the country, India has consistently been a significant part of the university’s journey and a source of one of its largest international student communities, according to the release.
In the 1990s, Illinois Tech delivered distance-learning programs broadcast to India through television long before online education became mainstream.