University of Chicago: Ranking, Courses, Admission, Fees, Scholarship & Placements

The University of Chicago Highlights

Established as a private research university in 1890, the University of Chicago is one of the top-ranking universities in the world. Based in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, its primary campus is in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

While the University of Chicago is one of the top universities in America, it also scores very high in all international rankings. At any given point in time, the university provides education to close to 16,000 students. The male-female student ratio of the university is 56:44. Out of all the students studying at the University of Chicago, 21% are international students.

The University of Chicago assures students of a high-quality education and allows them to grow differently. The university has over 400 clubs and societies for students. These clubs and societies promote art and culture and encourage students to participate in sports.

The University of Chicago Domestic Rankings

• U.S. News & World Report: Regularly ranks the University of Chicago among the top 6 universities nationally, highlighting its strong undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Forbes America's Top Colleges: Includes the University of Chicago in its list, emphasizing the university's commitment to academic excellence and student outcomes.
• Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education: Recognizes the University of Chicago as an institution with "Very High Research Activity," underscoring its significant impact on academic research.

The University of Chicago - International rankings

• Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings: Also ranks the University of Chicago highly for its global research influence and educational offering in the 10th position.
• Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU): Frequently lists the University of Chicago among the best globally, particularly strong in economics, political sciences, and more.

Here are the consolidated details of the global rankings of the University of Chicago.

The University of Chicago QS ranking

The University of Chicago is currently ranked in the #11th position in the QS world university rankings. This high ranking of the University of Chicago in the QS depends on academic quality, employer reputation, a favorable faculty/student ratio, and a diverse international community. QS rankings serve as a valuable tool for Indian and international students to assess the quality and global standing of institutions, helping in informed decision-making.

To know more about other universities in the USA, click here.

University of Chicago Acceptance Rate

The University of Chicago is a prestigious institution that attracts a diverse student body, including a significant number of Indian students. As of the 2025 admissions cycle, the University of Chicago's acceptance rate stands at approximately 5%, reflecting its competitive selection process. Over the past 5 years, the University of Chicago has experienced a significant decline in its acceptance rate, underscoring its increasing selectivity:

Class of 2025 Profile

For the Class of 2025, the University of Chicago received 37,986 applications and admitted approximately 2,460 students, resulting in an acceptance rate of 6.5% The factors influencing acceptance rates include academic excellence, holistic reviews, and number of applications. Indian or International students should be aware of the competitive nature of the admissions process and consider how their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and personal essays align with the university's values and expectations to improve the chances of admission.

The University of Chicago cost

.As of the 2024-2025 academic year, the university's tuition fees are approximately $69,324, reflecting its status as a leading institution in higher education.

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of undergraduate programs across various disciplines. Here are some of the courses in Chicago with their estimated annual tuition fee.

The University of Chicago also offers a range of postgraduate programs. Here are some of the top postgraduate courses along with their estimated tuition fee.

University of Chicago requirements

At the University of Chicago, three early admission rounds and one regular admission round are conducted. The admission process is competitive and known to have multiple layers. Every year, around 5-6% of applicants get university admission.

If an international student plans to study in the USA and graduate from the University of Chicago, they can choose from more than 100 courses or programs. At the same time, when applying for a course or program offered by the University of Chicago, an international student has first to submit a document confirming that they have appeared for an English language proficiency test.

Since courses at the University of Chicago are taught in English, an international student is required to be proficient in English. A student could appear for an IELTS or TOEFL iBT examination. If a student has opted for the latter, they must score between 90 and 104. A student is expected to score between 7 and 7.5 in an IELTS score. The better they score, the higher their chances of getting admission to the university.

If a student wishes to pursue an MBA program at the University of Chicago, they should apply to the Chicago Booth School of Business. To secure a seat in this business school, a student must have a minimum GPA of 3.6 or an aggregate score of 88%.

Undergraduate students who wish to get admission to the university could apply without submitting their ACT and SAT scores, as they are optional. However, if students have scored well in these exams, they can submit their scores. In SAT, the student should have scored between 1510 and 1560. An ACT score ranging between 34 and 35 is considered to be good by the university.

Somebody who wishes to apply for a course or program at the University of Chicago must know about the admission deadlines. The deadlines vary and depend on the application type. It is a good idea for international students to apply in the early decision cycle. By doing this, the student will get sufficient time to arrange their student visa.

The admission deadline for early action applicants is November 1. The deadline is the same for an early decision on applicants. The deadline for early decision 2 and regular decision applicants is January 2.

Graduate Admission at The University of Chicago

International students who wish to apply for a graduate program at the University of Chicago can visit its official application portal. The application fee is 75 USD, which translates to 6,221 INR.

Those applying for a graduate program should have an undergraduate degree. No minimum GPA has been specified by the University for the Admission Process. Producing an English language proficiency test score or document is mandatory. While a score of 7-7.5 is expected on the IELTS test, students should have scores ranging between 90-104 on the TOEFL IBT test.

Having a letter of recommendation proves to be very helpful for an international student while trying to secure admission to the University of Chicago. An international student is also expected to put a statement of purpose along with their CV or resume. While preparing their resume, they should be honest and project themselves well.

Undergraduate Admission at The University of Chicago

International students can choose from 40 varied disciplines while applying to the undergraduate school at the University of Chicago. A few of the most sought-after courses at the undergraduate school are business administration, finance, media studies, and psychology. International students can apply for these programs through the university's Common Application Portal or Coalition Application Portal.

To apply for a bachelor's program at the University of Chicago, a student has to pay 75 USD or 6,221 INR. Along with their high school transcripts, the student has to submit their English language proficiency scores. They must score a minimum of 7 in IELTS and 104 in TOEFL IBT to be eligible for admission at the University of Chicago. While a 34-35 ACT score is good enough, scoring 1510-1560 in SAT would be ideal.

The University of Chicago Intakes

The University of Chicago primarily has one intake for undergraduate programs in September. Graduate programs may have multiple intakes, typically in the Fall (September) and occasionally in the Winter (January).

University of Chicago Accommodation

While international students can rent out an apartment or hunt for PG accommodation on their own, the University of Chicago provides them with multiple accommodation options. Multiple residence halls are allotted to both local and international students.

While the Burton Judson Courts has 6 houses divided into two room types (singles and doubles), the International House has 5 houses and two room types (singles and doubles). There are 8 houses and three room types (singles, doubles, and apartments) in the Campus North Residential Commons.

The Max Palevsky Residential Commons has 8 houses and double and single suites. On the other hand, the Snell-Hitchcock Hall has 2 houses and single and double rooms. While the Renee Granville-Grossman Residential Commons has 8 houses, the Woodlawn Residential Commons is equipped with 11 houses.

University of Chicago Scholarships

When an international student is interested in pursuing a course or program offered by the University of Chicago, they can apply for various merit-based scholarships. Apart from academic results, these scholarships are given to students based on extracurricular achievement, leadership qualities, and doing work that benefits their communities.
One of the scholarships international students can apply for is the University Scholarship. It is a four-year scholarship that waives off a part of a student's tuition fee. Students who receive a First Phoenix Scholarship are rewarded $20,000, which they can use while pursuing their education. The Evans Scholarship covers the entire tuition fees of students and is given to them on merit.

To know about the USA study visa requirements, click here.

University of Chicago Placements

The University of Chicago is known to be one of the best for providing students with placement opportunities in the Chicago region. The university also prepares students to do well in campus interviews and get lucrative jobs.

The average salary earned by a University of Chicago student is 82,000 USD or 68 13,000 INR. An International student should create their expectations around their salary based on the course they have studied. While the average salary (per annum) a data scientist can earn is 103,350 USD or 85 89 000 INR, a management consultant can expect a yearly income of 86,900 USD or 72 22 000 after getting their first job.

FAQs About the University of Chicago

1. What is the average SAT score required for admission to the University of Chicago?
The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1500-1560.

2. Does the University of Chicago offer financial aid to international students?
Yes, the University of Chicago provides need-based financial aid to international students.

3. What are the popular majors at the University of Chicago?
Popular majors include Economics, Biological Sciences, Political Science, and Mathematics.

4. Can students apply to the University of Chicago without SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, the University of Chicago has a test-optional policy, meaning students can choose whether or not to submit SAT/ACT scores.

5. Does the University of Chicago offer housing for all four years?
Yes, on-campus housing is available and guaranteed for all undergraduate students for four years.