University of Chicago

University of Chicago Overview

University of Chicago is a private, nonprofit school in the urban setting of Chicago, Illinois. UChicago was founded in 1890 and the school currently enrolls around 16,274 students per year, including 7,526 undergrad students. UChicago provides on-campus housing for up to 4,532 students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing.

Student Activities at UChicago

Love music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of UChicago's theater groups.

Are you interested in journalism and communications? UChicago students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Thinking of pledging? UChicago has both fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? UChicago has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at UChicago on the Student Life page.

Is UChicago a Good School?

Different people have different ideas about what makes a "good" school. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how selective an institution is.

Let's take a look at these areas to get a better idea of what UChicago offers and if the college might be a good fit for you.

2022 Acceptance Rate for University of Chicago

It is extremely difficult to get into UChicago. UChicago admitted 6% of all applicants in 2022. Out of 37,974 applications received in 2022, 2,460 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at UChicago

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. It is a way to measure how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Approximately 99% of first-year, full-time undergrads who start at UChicagoreturn for the next year. 96% of UChicago undergrads graduate within six years. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outcomes for UChicago Grads

Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school.

Check with UChicago directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

University of Chicago's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.

As of 2022, the total market value of University of Chicago's endowment was $11 billion. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, UChicago spends about $78,564 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at UChicago

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

UChicago meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend UChicago full-time are awarded $63,056 a year in financial aid, on average.

Students in the class of 2022 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $24,686 of debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at UChicago.

Based on this information, how does UChicago sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may be a terrible fit for someone else! So ask yourself: Is UChicago a good school for you?

If University of Chicago seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Looking for Schools?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Admissions

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

UChicago Community Forums

Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting into some of the colleges and universities in the U.S.

Where is UChicago?

UChicago is located in the urban setting of Chicago, Illinois, less than an hour from Chicago.

If you are interested in seeing UChicago for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 94 to Chicago, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Chicago Midway Airport.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what UChicago and Chicago are like without leaving home.

Considering Colleges in Illinois?

See a full list of colleges in Illinois and save your favorites to your college list.