University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, renowned for its rigorous Core curriculum, its 'life of the mind' intellectual culture, and an economics tradition that has produced dozens of Nobel laureates. Admission is extraordinarily competitive — roughly 4.5% of more than 45,000 applicants were admitted to the most recent class, and enrolled first-years post middle-50% SAT scores of 1500–1560 and ACT scores of 34–35. The social sciences are by far the most popular field at about a third of all degrees, reflecting the university's strength in economics and political science. UChicago is test-optional and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.
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UChicago admissions statistics
Acceptance rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early decision
UChicago offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Standardized tests
UChicago is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
UChicago supplemental essays — 2026-2027 cycle
How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.
Food for thought: How do thoughts eat?
Inspired by Ernest Leong, Class of 2026
The James Webb Space Telescope, launched in 2021, utilized origami-inspired techniques to compactly store and deploy its sunshield in space. Choose an artistic practice and use its principles to propose an elegant solution to a problem.
Inspired by Akhil Korra, Class of 2028
Sometimes metaphors get mixed up. For one reason or another, one could say, "we'll burn that bridge when we get there" or "the world is your china shop". Make up your own mixed metaphor. Explain how it could make sense, be understood, or even applied.
Inspired by Julia Nieberg, Class of 2029
The Olympics have long celebrated the pinnacle of human athletic achievement. But what if they expanded to honor the mundane? Imagine a new Olympic event built around an everyday activity like speed dishwashing or competitive grocery bagging. How is it scored, officiated, and judged? Why is it a worthy addition?
Inspired by Ewan Smith, Class of 2028
AI: Allen Iverson. NASA, or the North American Saxophone Alliance. Share a potentially confounding, comedic, or captivating example of MIA (Mistaken Identity of Acronym) and tell us its backstory.
Inspired by Jeeho Byun, Class of 2030
And, as always… the classic choose your own adventure option! In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). Be original, creative, thought provoking. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun!
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Class rank
Where UChicago's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 32% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. UChicago does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions factors
How UChicago weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from UChicago's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Frequently asked questions about UChicago admissions
There is no minimum GPA, but UChicago admits are near the top of their class: enrolled first-years who reported a GPA averaged about 4.54 on a weighted scale, and among the roughly 32% who submitted a class rank, 97% were in the top tenth of their graduating class. The rigor of your secondary school record is weighed as a very important admission factor, while GPA itself is listed as considered.
The University of Chicago admitted about 4.5% of applicants in the most recent cycle, offering admission to roughly 2,039 of more than 45,000 applicants and enrolling about 1,786 first-year students. That makes it one of the most selective universities in the country.
No. UChicago is test-optional, so scores are considered if you submit them but are not required, and test scores are listed as only considered in admissions. Among enrolled students who did submit, the middle 50% scored between 1500 and 1560 on the SAT and 34 to 35 on the ACT.
A 1500 sits right at the bottom edge of UChicago's test-score range for enrolled students. The middle 50% scored 1500 to 1560 on the SAT (34 to 35 ACT), and nearly 97% of enrolled students who tested scored 1400 or above. Because UChicago is test-optional and rates the SAT/ACT as only considered, a strong application can still compete without a top score, but a submitted 1500 sits at the low end of the enrolled profile.
Both. UChicago offers binding Early Decision rounds alongside a non-binding, non-restrictive Early Action option. Early Decision commits you to enroll if admitted, while Early Action lets you keep your options open. The plan you choose does not change what is reviewed: rigor of record, essays, recommendations, extracurriculars, talent, and character are all weighed as very important factors.
Tuition and required fees run about $77,955 per year, with on-campus housing and food adding roughly $21,414 before books, transportation, and personal expenses. UChicago meets 100% of demonstrated financial need; about 33% of students receive aid, and the average aid package is roughly $83,276.
Very. UChicago rates the application essay as a very important factor, on the same tier as rigor of your record, recommendations, extracurriculars, talent, and character. With an admit rate near 4.5%, the essays are one of the few places a strong applicant can stand out, and interviews and demonstrated interest are not considered at all.
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The social sciences are by far the most popular area at about 37% of bachelor's degrees, reflecting UChicago's strength in economics and political science. The humanities follow at about 16%, then the sciences at 14%, mathematics and statistics at 9%, and computer science at 7%.
Popular majors
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student-faculty ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by gender
Student diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Source: University of Chicago Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-08-20. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with UChicago. Banner photo by Ndshankar, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Cite this page as: Esslo College Explorer, “University of Chicago admissions statistics, transcribed from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set,” https://www.esslo.org/colleges/uchicago (retrieved 2026-08-20).