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University of Chicago

Private

Chicago, IL

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Located in Chicago, IL, University of Chicago is a private mid-sized school with roughly 7,569 undergraduates. Admissions are highly selective here -- roughly 4% of applicants get in. Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services graduates, especially in Computer Science, report the strongest earnings here: a median of $178,068/year. On-campus housing is mandatory here.

Admissions

Admit rate4%
SAT range1510–1580
ACT range34–35
Undergrads7,569
Yield (admits who enroll)85%
Next deadlineNov 2, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$90,360
4-year grad rate95%
Median earnings, 10yr out$91,885

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against University of Chicago's numbers?

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How University of Chicago weighs your application

From University of Chicago's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankConsidered
Academic GPAConsidered
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayVery important
RecommendationsVery important
Nonacademic factors
InterviewNot considered
Extracurricular activitiesVery important
Talent/abilityVery important
Character/personal qualitiesVery important
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyConsidered
Religious affiliationConsidered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Not considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans5%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out87%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$59,794/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science$178,068/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$78,169/yr
History
History$64,330/yr
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$96,510/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics$172,826/yr
Statistics$130,189/yr
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Philosophy$71,709/yr
Psychology
Research and Experimental Psychology$73,483/yr
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology$59,898/yr
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Public Policy Analysis$94,237/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$159,578/yr
Political Science and Government$87,869/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusYes
Dormitory capacity4,573
Typical room chargeNot reported
Typical board chargeNot reported

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPAConsidered, not required
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does University of Chicago look for in applicants?

Per University of Chicago's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates character/personal qualities, application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, rigor of secondary school record, talent/ability as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is University of Chicago's acceptance rate?

University of Chicago in Chicago, IL admits approximately 4% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for University of Chicago?

Admitted students at University of Chicago typically score between 1510–1580 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for University of Chicago?

Admitted students at University of Chicago typically score between 34–35 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does University of Chicago cost?

University of Chicago's total cost of attendance is reported at $90,360 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for University of Chicago?

University of Chicago's earliest deadline is Nov 2, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does University of Chicago require students to live on campus?

Yes -- University of Chicago requires students to live in on-campus housing.

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