University of Chicago is a private institution that was founded in 1890. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,941, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 217 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. University of Chicago's ranking in the 2018 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 3. Its tuition and fees are $54,825 (2017-18).
The University of Chicago, situated in Hyde Park, offers a rich campus life in a big-city setting. In addition to the college, the university has postgraduate offerings that include the highly ranked Booth School of Business, Law School, Pritzker School of Medicine and Harris School of Public Policy Studies. The Chicago Maroons have more than 15 NCAA Division III teams, which compete in the University Athletic Association, and have strong basketball and wrestling programs. Freshmen are required to live on campus, and more than 50 percent of upperclassmen choose to remain on campus. On-campus students are placed in "houses" within their dorm, which serve as tight-knit communities and provide academic and social support. The university offers more than 400 student organizations.
Is there in-state tuition for the University of Chicago?
The University of Chicago is a private institution and does not offer in-state tuition. Tuition and fees are just under $55,000 a year, according to U.S. News data.
What is the University of Chicago known for?
The University of Chicago is known for its location as well as its rigorous academic and enrichment programs. The school is located in the Hyde Park neighborhood, former home of past president Barack Obama. Obama taught at the University of Chicago Law School for 12 years.
Students can choose from more than 100 majors and minors – such as history or environmental studies – and have visited Greece, China and France during study abroad experiences. The university has 89 Nobel Prize winners in its ranks.
Is the University of Chicago safe?
Violent crime – such as murder, criminal sexual assault and robbery – increased by 8 percent in 2016, compared with the period from 2011 through 2015, according to the school’s website. The university, however, has several systems in place to keep students safe.
Students can request safety escorts or ride shuttles during the day and night to safely move around campus. The University of Chicago also has hundreds of emergency phones throughout campus and an emergency management division that can quickly share information via text, email, phone calls and social media if there is an actual emergency.
How difficult is it to get accepted into the University of Chicago?
It is very difficult to get accepted into the University of Chicago, because it has an extremely competitive admissions process. Just 8 percent of applicants were accepted for fall 2016, according to U.S. News data. More than 31,000 applied and less than 2,500 were accepted.
The University of Chicago is universally recognized for its devotion to open and rigorous inquiry. The strength of our intellectual traditions, intense critical analysis, and free and lively debate draws from our engaged scholars who continually seek creative solutions to complex problems. Our College graduates have made discoveries in every field of academic study; they are ambitious thinkers who are unafraid to take on the most pressing questions of our time. Their accomplishments have established the Universitys legacy as one of the worlds finest academic institutions. The University of Chicago is affiliated with 89 Nobel Prize winners, over 260 Guggenheim Fellows, 32 MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellows, and 24 Pulitzer Prize winners. UChicago is also renowned for the unparalleled resources it provides its undergraduate students. Our 217-acre campus contains six libraries with over 11 million print volumes; over 150 research centers and institutes, including the new Institute for Molecular Engineering and the Institute of Politics; world-class theaters, museums, and art centers; and three of the nations top professional schools in law, business, and medicine. Rooted in Hyde Park, a neighborhood home to both our campus (certified as a botanical garden) and over 60 percent of the private homes of our faculty, UChicago offers a true campus-based community within the context of a major American city. Our students engage the city of Chicago and its many neighborhoods through groundbreaking research and scholarship, unparalleled internship opportunities, and a commitment to community service. Just as Chicago is a global city, the University of Chicago remains a truly international university: we offer over 45 faculty-led study abroad programs in over 20 countries, including those in conjunction with our centers in Beijing, Hong Kong, Delhi, and Paris. UChicago maintains a student-faculty ratio of 5:1, ensuring that every classroom experience exemplifies our commitment to close interactions between students and faculty in small, discussion-style seminars. Our famous Core curriculum - courses in eight subject areas that all students, regardless of their major, are required to take - provides students with a common vocabulary and a well-balanced academic experience, while allowing them the flexibility to explore their own particular interests within those eight subject areas. The Office of Career Advancement helps students translate what they are studying in our classrooms to their future careers. Career Advancement counsels students through individual meetings and larger pre-professional programs, the UChicago Careers In programs. There are eight different UChicago Careers In programs that cover sectors ranging from business and law to health professions and journalism, arts, and media. Additionally, Career Advancement connects students with over 1700 Metcalf internship opportunities - fully funded internships across a range of industries that are only available to UChicago students. Students also enjoy a highly successful Division III sports program; a small but active Greek life community; over thirty-five student theatrical productions a year; a rich music scene; and extraordinary opportunities in politics, music, theater, commerce, and neighborhood life in the city of Chicago. The Universitys Financial Aid program is extraordinary thanks to the new No Barriers program. No Barriers is a comprehensive plan to increase access to college, support students as they receive an empowering education, and prepare them for lifelong professional success. Families who apply for financial aid do not have to pay a college application fee to UChicago. All of UChicagos need-based financial aid comes in the form of grants and scholarships, which do not need to be repaid. No loans are included as part of financial aid packages at the University of Chicago.
University of Chicago is ranked #3 in National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.
See all scores and key indicators.
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Below are the median starting salaries by major for alumni of University of Chicago.
Median starting salary of alumni $54,400* *
By major
. Last updated 2017.
When applying to University of Chicago, it's important to note the application deadline is Jan. 1, and the early action deadline and the early decision deadline are Nov. 1 and Nov. 1, respectively. The application fee at University of Chicago is $75. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due Nov. 4. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 8 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
Selectivity Most selective
Fall 2016 acceptance rate 8%
Application deadline Jan. 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by Nov. 4
The student-faculty ratio at University of Chicago is 5:1, and the school has 77 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Chicago include: Economics, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Mathematics, General; Political Science and Government, General; and Public Policy Analysis, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 99 percent.
University of Chicago has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,941, with a gender distribution of 52 percent male students and 48 percent female students. At this school, 56 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated or -affiliated housing and 44 percent of students live off campus. In sports, University of Chicago is part of the NCAA III.
Total enrollment 13,322
Collegiate athletic association NCAA III
At University of Chicago, 43 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid, and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $43,792.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs, or use the U.S. News 529 Finder to choose the best tax-advantaged college investment account for you.
Tuition and fees $54,825 (2017-18)
Room and board $15,726 (2017-18)
Campus safety data were reported by the institution to the U.S. Department of Education and have not been independently verified. The numbers for criminal offenses reflect reports of alleged offenses to campus security and/or law enforcement authorities, not necessarily prosecutions or convictions. Experts advise prospective students and their families to do their own research to evaluate the safety of a campus as well as the surrounding area.
University of Chicago offers a number of student services, including nonremedial tutoring, health service, health insurance. University of Chicago also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc.). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of Chicago.
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