University of Chicago : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details | Top Universities
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University of Chicago

Location

University of Chicago, Chicago United States

Ranking

# 21QS World University Rankings

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36Undergraduate programs

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31Postgraduate programs

Scholarship

AvailableScholarship

About University of Chicago

Established in 1856, the University of Chicago is a private research university based in the urban center of Chicago, the third most populous city in the United States. Outside of the Ivy League, Chicago is one of America’s top universities, and holds top-ten positions in various national and international rankings.

  Beyond the arts and sciences, Chicago has a glowing reputation for its professional schools, including the Pritzker School of Medicine, the Booth School of Business, and the Harris School of Public Policy Studies. University of Chicago alumni are responsible for the development of many academic disciplines, such as sociology, economics, law, and literary criticism. 

  The college’s crest sees a phoenix rising from the ashes, a reference to the fire, foreclosure, and demolition of the Old University of Chicago campus, with the current University of Chicago emerging triumphantly in its place in 1890. The old university was founded through a land endowment from the controversial senator Stephen Douglas, a supporter of slavery who authored the Kansas-Nebraska act. By contrast, the new University of Chicago was co-educational and funded through donations from wealthy Chicagoans and the oil magnet John D. Rockefeller.

  Today, the University of Chicago has approximately 16,000 students enrolled, with a male to female ratio of 56:44. A quarter of all students hail from overseas, a nod to the institution’s progressive credentials.

  Students run more than 400 clubs and societies, which consist of a typical mix of sports teams, arts, cultural and religious groups, academic and political groupings, and societies that promote eclectic common interests. Among the more famous examples are the University of Chicago bowl team, which has won 118 tournaments and 15 national championships, while the university's competitive Model United Nations team was the top ranked team in North America in 2013–14 and 2014–2015.

  If you have an interest in media and film, then you’re well catered for: the university is home to the longest continuously running student film society Doc Films and publishes several newspapers and magazines. Budding thespians can join renowned improvisational theater troupe Off-Off Campus or learn how to broadcast at the university-owned radio station WHPK.

  Notable faculty members past and present include 29 Nobel laureates and former US president Barack Obama. Illustrious alumni come in practically every field, including the novelists Philip Roth and Saul Bellow, political movers and shakers such as pollster Nate Silver and Obama strategist David Axelrod, pioneering balloonist Jeannette Piccard, and the fictional archaeologist Indiana Jones.

 

About University of Chicago

Established in 1856, the University of Chicago is a private research university based in the urban center of Chicago, the third most populous city in the United States. Outside of the Ivy League, Chicago is one of America’s top universities, and holds top-ten positions in various national and international rankings.

  Beyond the arts and sciences, Chicago has a glowing reputation for its professional schools, including the Pritzker School of Medicine, the Booth School of Business, and the Harris School of Public Policy Studies. University of Chicago alumni are responsible for the development of many academic disciplines, such as sociology, economics, law, and literary criticism. 

  The college’s crest sees a phoenix rising from the ashes, a reference to the fire, foreclosure, and demolition of the Old University of Chicago campus, with the current University of Chicago emerging triumphantly in its place in 1890. The old university was founded through a land endowment from the controversial senator Stephen Douglas, a supporter of slavery who authored the Kansas-Nebraska act. By contrast, the new University of Chicago was co-educational and funded through donations from wealthy Chicagoans and the oil magnet John D. Rockefeller.

  Today, the University of Chicago has approximately 16,000 students enrolled, with a male to female ratio of 56:44. A quarter of all students hail from overseas, a nod to the institution’s progressive credentials.

  Students run more than 400 clubs and societies, which consist of a typical mix of sports teams, arts, cultural and religious groups, academic and political groupings, and societies that promote eclectic common interests. Among the more famous examples are the University of Chicago bowl team, which has won 118 tournaments and 15 national championships, while the university's competitive Model United Nations team was the top ranked team in North America in 2013–14 and 2014–2015.

  If you have an interest in media and film, then you’re well catered for: the university is home to the longest continuously running student film society Doc Films and publishes several newspapers and magazines. Budding thespians can join renowned improvisational theater troupe Off-Off Campus or learn how to broadcast at the university-owned radio station WHPK.

  Notable faculty members past and present include 29 Nobel laureates and former US president Barack Obama. Illustrious alumni come in practically every field, including the novelists Philip Roth and Saul Bellow, political movers and shakers such as pollster Nate Silver and Obama strategist David Axelrod, pioneering balloonist Jeannette Piccard, and the fictional archaeologist Indiana Jones.

 

Available programs

Entire fields of study such as ecology and sociology were established by the University of Chicago, so it’s hardly surprising that the College is home to some of the most venerated academic programs in the world.

 Focused on careful reading, analytical writing, and critical thinking, UChicago’s Core Curriculum is the perfect foundation for any major and all future endeavors. The university grants Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in 52 academic majors and 46 minors. These are divided into five academic divisions: The Biological Sciences Collegiate Division, the Physical Sciences Collegiate Division, the Social Sciences Collegiate Division, the Humanities Collegiate Division, and the New Collegiate Division.

 Undergraduates can choose to study anything from astrophysics to molecular engineering, as well as a range of liberal arts, social sciences, anthropology, music, and language-focused degrees. Students choose electives from more than 3,000 courses offered in the College each year, and over 40% study abroad through nearly 60 faculty-designed and taught programs. UChicago also sponsors a wealth of undergraduate research opportunities in programs ranging from economics and psychology to astrophysics and sociology. More than 160 institutes and centers provide a home for true innovation.

 About 60 per cent of undergraduate students live on campus, in one of seven residence halls. These are divided into Harry Potter-esque “houses”, communities of affiliated faculty, staff, and students who all live, eat, debate, and play together. In total, there are 39 houses with a maximum of 105 students in each one. Each house also has its own unique traditions and customs, something which the university says is intended to encourage residents to feel pride in where they live.

 Undergraduate accommodation and the communities within it are intended to provide important social and intellectual outlets where spontaneous conversation and structured programming enrich the academic pursuits of students and faculty.

 As is to be expected with a top school, UChicago is highly selective, with only eight percent of applicants accepted. Candidates apply to the undergraduate College, which includes all majors, minors, and programs of study. UChicago accepts the Coalition or Common Application. Both ask for basic information about your background, academic profile, extracurricular activities, as well as a brief personal statement. You will also need to submit a secondary school report and transcript; two teacher evaluations; standardized test scores; and an application fee of US$75. UChicago also offers a test optional method of application and does not charge an application fee for students applying for need-based financial aid, veterans, or veteran dependents.

 On top of this, you must also tackle the supplementary essay, which contains questions that are designed to be provocative and thought-provoking. International candidates must also submit English language proficiency test scores. Fees and tuition for all applicants for the 2020-2021 academic year is US$57,642.

 Fortunately, the University of Chicago offers financial aid that can contribute up to 100 per cent of a family’s demonstrated need, as well as merit scholarships. Thanks to the university’s three scholarship and access initiative programs—UChicago Stand Together, No Barriers, and UChicago Empower—most students graduate debt-free, no matter their chosen major or background prior to enrollment.

Graduate research and professional training have been part of the University of Chicago's history from its inception. It has more than 100 graduate programs in four graduate divisions (biological sciences, humanities, physical sciences, and the social sciences) as well as eight professional and continuing education schools such as the Pritzker School of Medicine, the Booth School of Business, the University of Chicago Law School, and the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering.

 Chicago is one of the world’s premier research universities, and graduate students gain access to some of the world’s most innovative scholars and facilities, such as the three major affiliated laboratories, the Argonne National Library, Fermi National Accelerator Library, and the Marine Biological Laboratory.

 As well as a wide range of doctoral programs there are also master’s degrees that either terminate after one or two years or lead students towards further doctoral study.

 Each school and division of the University of Chicago has its own form of application, and since study is so specialized at graduate level most programs have their own way of deciding which applicants they wish to admit.

 Generally, an application to UChicago graduate school will mean completing an online application form and submitting university transcripts, GRE and subject test scores, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, an up-to-date resume, and any additional material (e.g. essays) that may be required.

 International students may also have to submit the results of standardized English language tests. The progress of an application can be tracked online, and the university advises students to apply as early as possible.

 UChicago helps graduate and professional school students pay for their education in manifold ways. The cost of programs varies, but in the humanities division work out at around $11,000 per quarter for the first four years, and $3,500 per quarter for years five to 12. Most PhD students receive a full, five-year package, however, which includes tuition and a generous stipend.

 Master’s programs cost around $3,759 per quarter per course. Funding arrangements differ, from the doctoral level, with many master’s programs offering merit-based aid awards and a few offering need-based funding aid.

University information

Bachelor

1020+
610+
2.7+
7+
100+

Master

610+
320+
2.7+
7+
104+
16,864
45%
55%
5,527
25%
75%
2,963
69%
31%

Tuition fee and scholarships

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:
opportunities

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

how_to

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

list

A list of available scholarships around the world

checklist

A scholarship application checklist

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download_icon Download Scholarship Guide

Rankings & ratings

University of Chicago is one of the top private universities in Chicago, United States. It is ranked #21 in QS World University Rankings 2025.

QS World University Rankings

  • 2012
    #8
  • 2014
    #9
  • 2015
    #11
  • 2016
    #10
  • 2017
    #10
  • 2018
    #9
  • 2019
    #9
  • 2020
    #10
  • 2021
    #9
  • 2022
    #10
  • 2023
    #10
  • 2024
    #11
  • 2025
    #21

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University of Chicago basic Private Very High 6 yes 5527 L 120