University of Chicago
The University of Chicago, often referred to as UChicago, Chicago, or UChi, is a private research university located in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is situated in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood on the city’s South Side, just a few blocks from Lake Michigan and about seven miles from downtown Chicago’s Loop.
The university comprises an undergraduate college and four graduate divisions: Biological Sciences, Humanities, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences, which house a wide range of academic departments and research institutes. UChicago also operates eight professional schools, offering programs in business, law, medicine, public policy, social work, divinity, molecular engineering, and professional studies. Additionally, it maintains global centers and satellite campuses in cities such as London, Paris, Beijing, Delhi, and Hong Kong, along with a location in downtown Chicago.
UChicago scholars have been instrumental in shaping numerous academic disciplines, including economics, political science, sociology, law, literary criticism, mathematics, physics, and religion—many of which gave rise to influential intellectual movements known as the “Chicago schools” of thought. The university’s historic contributions to science include the world’s first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, achieved at its former Stagg Field as part of the Manhattan Project. UChicago researchers have also pioneered breakthroughs in carbon-14 dating and continue to play a central role in operating national research facilities such as Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory. The university also hosts the University of Chicago Press, the largest academic press in the United States.
2025 Rankings
by U.S. News & World Report
by QS World University Rankings
by Times Higher Education
Undergraduate Admissions Process Summary
Application Deadlines
Early Decision: November 1
Regular Decision: January 6
Application Portal
Common Application
Coalition Application
UChicago's own application portal
QuestBridge Application
Standardized Tests
Optional
Recommendation Letters
Teacher Evaluation: 2 Required
Counselor - optional
On Campus Residence for Freshmen
Required
International Students
English Proficiency
TOEFL: minimum score 100
IELTS: minimum score 7.0
Interview
Optional
University Specific Requests
None
Application Fee
$75
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Social Sciences 34%
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Mathematics 11%
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Biology 8%
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Physical Sciences 8%
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Computer Science 6%
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Psychology 6%
Popular
Majors
4.5%
Acceptance Rate
Total Students
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White 37%
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Asian 15%
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Hispanic 17%
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Black 5%
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Multi-Ethnic 4%
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Native American 1%
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International 20%
Campus
The University of Chicago’s campus, located in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, is both intellectually vibrant and architecturally stunning. Spanning 217 acres, the campus is known for its distinctive blend of Collegiate Gothic architecture and modern design, with ivy-covered buildings, tranquil quadrangles, and cutting-edge academic facilities. The central quadrangles provide a park-like setting that encourages both quiet study and community interaction, fostering a strong sense of place and tradition.
One of the campus’s most iconic structures is Harper Memorial Library, which, along with buildings like Swift Hall and Bond Chapel, reflects the university’s Gothic heritage. In contrast, modern additions like the Mansueto Library—with its glass dome and underground storage system—and the Logan Center for the Arts reflect UChicago’s embrace of innovation. This architectural diversity mirrors the university’s academic culture, which values both rigorous tradition and bold, forward-thinking inquiry.
The campus is not only a hub of scholarship but also a part of a dynamic urban environment. Located just a few miles from downtown, students benefit from access to Chicago’s world-class museums, music venues, startups, and internships. Meanwhile, the surrounding Hyde Park neighborhood offers bookstores, cafes, and cultural landmarks like the Museum of Science and Industry and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House.
Cost of Attendance
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Tuition: $62,940
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Room and Board: $19,089
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Student Fees: $1,092
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Books and Supplies: $1,800
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Personal Expenses: $1,900
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Total $85,821
At Brown, 14% of undergraduates qualified for the Pell Grant
Notable Affiliations
The University of Chicago has produced an extraordinary roster of alumni who have made landmark contributions across science, business, politics, sports, and the arts. Its commitment to academic rigor and intellectual freedom has shaped leaders, innovators, and public figures who have left a global impact.
In science, UChicago is a powerhouse, having educated or employed nearly 100 Nobel laureates. Notable alumni include Carl Sagan, the renowned astrophysicist and science communicator, and Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the structure and evolution of stars. James Dewey Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA double helix structure and Nobel Prize winner, also studied at UChicago. The university’s foundational work in nuclear physics, chemistry, and economics has deeply influenced modern science.
In business, the university’s Booth School of Business has produced leaders such as Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, and James O. McKinsey, founder of McKinsey & Company. Nobel laureates in economics, including Milton Friedman and Gary Becker, helped define the Chicago School of Economics, influencing global financial policy and market theory.
In politics, UChicago boasts alumni such as Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator and 2016 and 2020 presidential candidate, and David Axelrod, senior advisor to President Barack Obama. Obama himself taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School before entering national politics. Carol Moseley Braun, the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Senate, is also a graduate.
Though not known for athletics in the way some larger universities are, UChicago has its place in sports history as one of the founding members of the Big Ten Conference. Amos Alonzo Stagg, one of the most influential figures in early American football, coached at UChicago for decades, helping define the game’s modern structure.
In the realm of entertainment and the arts, UChicago alumni include Susan Sontag, celebrated writer and intellectual; Mike Nichols, Oscar-winning director of The Graduate; and Kurt Vonnegut, who took courses at the university while working in Chicago. Actor Ed Asner, best known for The Mary Tyler Moore Show, also studied there.
The University of Chicago is renowned for its rigorous academics, interdisciplinary research, and significant contributions to various fields such as economics, sociology, political science, law, physics, and mathematics. It is also known for its commitment to fostering intellectual freedom and its strong emphasis on critical thinking.
This tongue-in-cheek slogan pokes fun at UChicago’s reputation for intense academics. But students will tell you it’s more myth than truth—yes, it’s rigorous, but campus is also full of quirky traditions, spirited student groups, and a healthy sense of humor.
The University of Chicago has a competitive admissions process. Applicants must submit an application, high school transcripts, standardized test scores (optional), recommendation letters, and personal essays. The university considers a holistic approach to admissions, looking at academic performance, extracurricular activities, and personal qualities.
There was! In 1942, scientists at UChicago created the world’s first human-made, self-sustaining nuclear reaction under the old Stagg Field stands. While the field is long gone, this historic milestone kicked off the nuclear age.
Absolutely. The UChicago Scav Hunt is legendary. Teams have four days to complete over 300 bizarre tasks—from building “functional” time machines to training rats for races. It’s chaotic, nerdy, and completely on-brand.
Kind of! UChicago offers Big Problems courses that take on pressing issues like climate change, ethics, and artificial intelligence from multiple disciplines. They’re part of the school’s Core Curriculum, which emphasizes deep, critical inquiry—quirky name, serious topics.