Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
University of Chicago is a private national university located in Chicago, Illinois. University of Chicago is extremely selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at University of Chicago is in the top 10% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $76,730 10 years after enrolling, 4th in Illinois, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, University of Chicago bachelor students earn 33% more than the national average. University of Chicago is ranked 3rd in Illinois.
University of Chicago’s median net annual cost of $28,517 and average years to graduate of 4.1 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at University of Chicago sorted by number of graduates - Economics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Poli Sci/Government, Public Policy Analysis, History - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$28,517
Average years to graduate
4.1
Research&Experimental Psych
Rank: #2
Economic score: 1.7
Statistics
Rank: #24
Economic score: 2.52
Linguistic & language
Rank: #3
Economic score: 2.63
Sociology
Rank: #70
Economic score: 3.86
Physics
Rank: #56
Economic score: 5.12
English Language & Lit
Rank: #267
Economic score: 9.11
Philosophy
Rank: #50
Economic score: 9.61
Chemistry
Rank: #182
Economic score: 11.98
Clinical / Counseling Psych
Rank: #26
Economic score: 15.96
Anthropology
Rank: #96
Economic score: 16.45
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at University of Chicago - Public Policy Analysis, Statistics, Computer Science, Social Sciences, Social Work, Liberal Arts and Sciences - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Business Administration
Rank: #19
Economic score: 0.18
Criminal Justice
Rank: #9
Economic score: 0.32
Biomathematics, informatics, and Computational Biology
Rank: #5
Economic score: 0.63
International Relations
Rank: #16
Economic score: 0.8
Theological Studies
Rank: #39
Economic score: 1.36
Education
Rank: #338
Economic score: 1.39
Area Studies
Rank: #10
Economic score: 2.4
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.1 years. 95% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at University of Chicago is 30% higher than the state average, and 27% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At University of Chicago, Pell Grant recipients represent 12% of the measured graduating class, 23% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at University of Chicago graduates within 4.2 years.
University of Chicago is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
University of Chicago’s economic mobility score of 11.87 is calculated by adjusting the 0.16 economic score of lower-income students by the 12% pell grant recipients within the student body. University of Chicago’s EMS of 11.87 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at University of Chicago pays $28,517 a year, $53,014 less than the $81,531 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $28,517
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At University of Chicago, 52% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $28,517 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 7% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $13,636. This is 47% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,265
Pell grants
$4,937
State grants
$5,340
Institutional grants
$45,686
University of Chicago's extremely selective admissions are indicated by their 6% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 37,974 applicants, of which 2,460 were admitted and 2,053 enrolled. University of Chicago doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
52%
59%
First time
99%
59%
In-state
11%
68%
1st generation
20%
35%
White
36%
52%
Black
5%
14%
Hispanic
15%
15%
Asian
20%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
24%
12%