University of Chicago
#1 Highest-Yield Colleges (Most-Loved)- Graduation Rate
- 95% A+
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $91,885 A+
- Top 2% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $14,860 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 4% A+
- Rejects about 96 of every 100 applicants
Bottom line: A A- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 35.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $35.9 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Highest-Yield Colleges (Most-Loved).
Every $1 spent returns $35.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,073,734.
What The Data Says
-
An A- overall — top 13% of all U.S. colleges on measured outcomes.
-
Graduates earn 125% more than the national college median.
-
A 95% graduation rate — 67% above the national average.
-
Inventor rate in the top 23% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
-
A top feeder school for 5 major employers.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 1.1%
- Top 23%
- Patents
- 49
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #12
- Times Higher Education
- Employer Pipelines
- 5
- Top feeder programs
- Patent Citations
- 64
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 88/100
- Times Higher Education
Why University of Chicago Matters
University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, IL ranked #12 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity, a top-tier research enterprise, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 2% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 7,569
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, Computer Science & IT, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose University of Chicago
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Highly selective — admits about 4% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1510–1580. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,860 a year after grants and scholarships — 13% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $91,885 ten years after enrolling — 125% above the typical college, against $15,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 30% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.81 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
The University of Chicago has an acceptance rate of just 4%, making it one of the most selective institutions in the country. This means students face stiff competition to gain admission, but those who do become part of a community committed to academic excellence. With a graduation rate of 95%, students are likely to earn their degrees and move on to successful careers.
Graduates from the University of Chicago report impressive earnings. After ten years, their median income reaches $91,885. This level of financial success reflects the school’s strong academic programs, particularly in social sciences, biology, and computer science. While the Pell Grant rate is 15%, indicating that a portion of students come from low-income backgrounds, the institution does not provide specific data on economic mobility.
The cost of attendance is $14,860, and the median debt for graduates stands at $15,000. This relatively low debt compared to earnings suggests that students can manage their finances effectively after graduation. The University of Chicago is ideal for high-achieving students who thrive in a rigorous academic environment and are motivated to leverage their education for financial success.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Chicago is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Chicago? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chicago, Illinois, University of Chicago turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 4%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,554. The graduation rate is roughly 95%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Retention Rate
- 99%
- SAT Average
- 1554
- ACT Midpoint
- 34
- SAT Range
- 1510–1580
- ACT Range
- 34–35
- Full-Time Faculty
- 85%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $19,806
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 5:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.81
- First-Gen Students
- 20%
- Applicants
- 37,522
- Admitted
- 2,039
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Chicago is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 88% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school very few admitted students turn down.
- Yield Rate
- 88%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 49%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 27%
- of enrolled freshmen
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Chicago? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Chicago is $70,662, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,860. For the lowest-income families, those earning under $30,000, need-based grants can fully cover tuition, leaving little or nothing to pay out of pocket. The median graduate leaves with about $15,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $70,662
- Out-of-State
- $70,662
- Avg Net Price
- $14,860
- Median Debt
- $15,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 15%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 5%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $-1,264
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $914
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $226
- Family Income $110K+
- $48,524
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Chicago — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Chicago Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Chicago earn a median of $91,885, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $80,870
- 8 Years
- $87,164
- 10 Years
- $91,885
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.16x
- Earning > $25K
- 83%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,310)
- 91%
- 100% (1,310)
- 91%
- 100% (1,310)
- 91%
- 100% (1,310)
- 91%
Where Grads Go
University of Chicago is a top feeder for:
Rank among programs feeding each employer.
Top employers of University of Chicago’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Chicago Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Chicago delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,860/year ($59,440 total). Graduates earn $91,885 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,133,174 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,073,734 (35.9× your investment). The median debt is $15,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 95% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $59,440
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,133,174
- Net Return
- $2,073,734
- ROI Multiple
- 35.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,860
- Median Debt
- $15,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 95%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of Chicago Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Chicago is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.94%, well above the typical college. About 4.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 45.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $132,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.94%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 45.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $179,342
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is University of Chicago? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Chicago at #12 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 88/100, teaching at 79/100, and citation impact of 97/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #12
- Teaching
- 79.1
- Research
- 87.9
- Citations
- 96.9
- International
- 62.8
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
University of Chicago produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 23% nationally), with 49 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 88/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 1.09%
- Top 23% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 49
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 64
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 88/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 97/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.54%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-837,597,920
Top Programs
The fields University of Chicago awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 40% $101,753 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 9% $85,576 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 8% $108,376 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 8% $28,100 early-career
- Physical Sciences 7% $47,420 early-career
- Psychology 4% $53,621 early-career
- Engineering 2%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2% $45,495 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Chicago's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Chicago? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chicago, Illinois, University of Chicago turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 4%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,554. The graduation rate is roughly 95%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Chicago? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Chicago is $70,662, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,860. For the lowest-income families, those earning under $30,000, need-based grants can fully cover tuition, leaving little or nothing to pay out of pocket. The median graduate leaves with about $15,000 in federal student loans.
Is University of Chicago Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Chicago earn a median of $91,885, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does University of Chicago Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Chicago is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.94%, well above the typical college. About 4.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 45.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $132,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of Chicago? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Chicago. Its economic connectedness score is 1.81, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 16% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is University of Chicago? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Chicago at #12 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 88/100, teaching at 79/100, and citation impact of 97/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Is University of Chicago really test-optional?
University of Chicago reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 76% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (2024-25 Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Chicago?
About 88% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Chicago — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Chicago.
- Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN · Close peer93% grad $91,565 earn 6% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA · Close peer97% grad $101,817 earn 4% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD · Close peer94% grad $87,555 earn 6% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Brown UniversityProvidence, RI · Close peer96% grad $93,487 earn 5% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rice UniversityHouston, TX · Close peer95% grad $89,718 earn 8% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT · Close peer96% grad $100,533 earn 4% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Chicago? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Chicago. Its economic connectedness score is 1.81, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 16% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note