The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Loop. It is part of the University of Illinois system and is the largest university in the Chicago area, with approximately 27,000 students enrolled in 15 colleges. UIC operates the nation's largest medical school, with research expenditures exceeding $340 million and consistently in the top 50 U.S. institutions for research expenditures. In the 2011 edition of the U.S. News & World Report's widely known rankings of colleges and univsersities, the University of Illinois at Chicago is listed as the 143rd best "National University" In 2003 UIC was ranked as one the 100 best universities in the world out of 500 institutions compared in the Academic Ranking of World Universities. UIC operates the state’s major public medical center, and serves as the principal educator for Illinois’ physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and other healthcare professionals. UIC competes in NCAA Division I Horizon League as the UIC Flames in sports. The UIC Pavilion is home to all UIC basketball games.