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Rank: 65

University of Chicago

While the University of Chicago's official motto is "crescat scientia; vita excolatur," which translates to "let knowledge grow from more to more; and so be human life enriched," some students refer to the school as the place "where fun comes to die." That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it gets to the heart of UChicago's reputation for academic intensity. The independent student newspaper, The Chicago Maroon, recently reported that the acceptance rate for the class of 2024 was about 6%, nearly meeting their record low from the previous year. All 6,500 or so undergraduates must complete a rigorous liberal arts core curriculum, where A's are much harder to come by than at other schools. Even the academic calendar year, divided into quarters instead of semesters, tends to intensify the atmosphere on campus. The student body is intellectual and prides itself on being so: Many credit the school with teaching them to think critically. Partying happens, but students generally have to search it out. Downtown Chicago, a few miles to the north of the school's Hyde Park campus, is an important part of university life, providing job, internship, and volunteer opportunities to students, as well as athletic and cultural activities. The university's graduation rate of 94% is high, though it's slightly less than would be expected for students with similar test scores and economic backgrounds.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
FALL 2020 PLAN: The university is holding a mix of in-person and remote classes this semester. The fall quarter doesn't start until the end of September, and in-person instruction will end before Thanksgiving.
costs
Est. Full Price 2020-2021
$80,400
% of students who get any grants
61%
Est. price for students who receive aid
$34,500
Average price for low-income students
$3,300
admissions
Acceptance rate
7%
Median SAT/ACT Score
1520/34
SAT/ACT Required for Fall 2021?
no
Enrollment
6,600
Financial Aid
% of students with need who get grants
100%
% of need met
100%
% of students who get merit* grants
N/A
Average merit grant
N/A
student success
Graduation rate
94%
Average time to a degree
4.1 years
Average student debt
$17,000
Average salary within 5 years
$58,800
% earning more than $28,000
86%
key deadlines
Early decision application
Nov 2
Regular application
Jan 4

* Share of full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants.

* Full price of attendance includes on-campus room & board fees, which may not be applicable to all colleges' reopening plans this year.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, PayScale.com, Money/American Institutes for Research calculations, Opportunity Insights.

coronavirus update

FALL 2020 PLAN: The university is holding a mix of in-person and remote classes this semester. The fall quarter doesn't start until the end of September, and in-person instruction will end before Thanksgiving.

* Share of full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants.

* Full price of attendance includes on-campus room & board fees, which may not be applicable to all colleges' reopening plans this year.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, PayScale.com, Money/American Institutes for Research calculations, Opportunity Insights.

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