College Spotlight: University of Chicago
University of Chicago, founded in 1890, is a private institution located in an urban setting – near the heart of Chicago proper. It ranks among the top three National Universities, according to U.S. News. Situated in the Hyde Park community, the campus boasts of its rich student life within a vibrant big-city setting. The university is proud of its affiliation with a wide range of awards and recognitions: 89 Nobel Prize recipients, 32 MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellows, 260 Guggenheim Fellows, and 24 Pulitzer Prize winners. In supporting its ambitious thinkers, on its 217-acre campus, there are six libraries, over 150 research centers and institutes, world-class facilities dedicated to art, and three of the nation’s leading professional programs in medicine, business, and law.
Location
- University of Chicago is located in the Hyde Park community of Chicago, Illinois.
Stats
- Private, coed
- Urban setting
- No religious affiliation
- Quarter-based academic calendar
- Total enrollment: 12,962
- Endowment of $6,553,570,933
- 5:1 Student-faculty ratio
- The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 99%
- 4-year graduation rate: 86%
- 53% male, 47% female
Estimated Tuition
- Tuition and fees: $52,491 (one school year)
- Room and board: $15,093 (one school year)
- 44% of full-time undergraduate students receive some form of need-based financial aid
- $42,467 is the average need-based grant award or scholarship issued
Housing
- Freshmen are required to live on campus with more than 50% of students choosing to remain living on campus after their first year
- 52% of students live in residence housing that is affiliated, owned, or operated by the university
- 48% of students live off campus
- Types of campus housing that are available to students include, but are not limited to, coed dorms and apartments for unmarried students
Athletics
- University of Chicago competes in NCAA Division III
- There are more than 15 NCAA Division III teams which compete in the University Athletic Association
- The athletics department has competitive wrestling and basketball programs
Fun Facts:
- Within dorms, students who live on-campus are placed into “houses,” which are smaller, more close-knit communities that provide students with both academic and social support.
- There are over 400 student organizations that exist on campus.
- Since 1987, the school hosts a four-day long university tradition known as “University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt.”
- Famous alumni include U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, renowned author Kurt Vonnegut Jr., and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.
- The mascot is Phil the Phoenix and the team colors are maroon and gray.
Application Information
- Deadline: January 1
- Early decision deadline: November 1
- $75 application fee
- Common Application accepted
- Acceptance rate fall 2015: 8%
With a 5:1 student to faculty ratio and 77.6% of classes consisting of fewer than 20 students, the University of Chicago offers its students opportunities to work closely with faculty and staff in small, discussion-based seminars. The most popular majors include Public Policy Analysis, Economics, Mathematics and Statistics, and Biological and Biomedical Sciences.
When asked about their overall opinion of the school, one student describes in detail, “I believe the University of Chicago is a wonderful institution. I have found the reputation of rigorous academics to be right on par but I can say that the university does a great job of supporting its students through it. Each student is assigned an academic adviser, career adviser, and a major adviser all of which are available and knowledgeable. The housing system also creates a welcoming environment through assigning each student to a house (yes, like in Harry Potter) comprised of students from all majors and grade levels. This gives students, first years especially, a chance to interact with people of all interests and form a strong house bond built on years of tradition. Overall, I’ve found that the university does a great job of fostering a supportive community and the students buy into it, which has made my experience a positive one.”
For students who are interested in living in a global and international city, who hope to become involved with study abroad programs in over 20 countries, who want to interact and engag with a large metropolis, the University of Chicago offers these opportunities to its students.