The University of Chicago

The University of Chicago (UChicago) is a private, nondenominational, culturally rich and ethnically diverse coeducational research university located in Hyde Park. Established in 1890 by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller and the American Baptist Education Society, the university has grown into one of the preeminent research institutions in the U.S., with leading graduate programs in economics, business, law and medicine. Ranked at No. 20 on this year's list, the university is affiliated with 87 Nobel laureates, 48 Rhodes Scholars and nine Fields Medalists. 

Its setting is urban, and the campus size is 217 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. University of Chicago's ranking in the 2016 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 4. Its tuition and fees are $50,193 (2015-16). 

One of the world's premier academic and research institutions, the University of Chicago has driven new ways of thinking since our 1890 founding. Today, UChicago is an intellectual destination that draws inspired scholars to  Hyde Park and international campuses, keeping UChicago at the nexus of ideas that challenge and change the world.

Its education empowers individuals to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas. Students in the undergraduate College broaden their perspectives on world issues in the rigorous Core curriculum. Graduate programs through our five divisions, six professional schools, and the Graham School of Continuing Liberal Arts and Professional Studies transform scholars into leaders and grant access to professors often lauded as some of the world's greatest thinkers.

The student-faculty ratio at University of Chicago is 6:1, and the school has 77.1 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Chicago include: Economics; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Mathematics and Statistics; Political Science and Government; and English Language and Literature/Letters. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 99 percent. 

University of Chicago has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,681, with a gender distribution of 52.7 percent male students and 47.3 percent female students. At this school, 54 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 46 percent of students live off campus. University of Chicago is part of the NCAA III athletic conference. 

About 5,300 students are enrolled in the College, renowned for its Core curriculum and small, discussion-style classes.And more than 100 programs across our graduate divisions and professional schools, students discover firsthand the power of ideas to make a difference in the world.One of the first U.S. universities with continuing education, UChicago offers non-degree programs spanning business, public policy, and a wide range of professional and liberal arts.

Located in one of the world's greatest cities, UChicago is enriched by and invested in the community we call home. It is  the second-largest private employer in Chicago. Its talented faculty, physicians, and staff compose a dedicated team committed to the mission of the University.

UChicago partner with its South Side neighbors on innovative initiatives with local benefits and replicable outcomes for urban universities everywhere. Meanwhile, its research and ideas have broad impact, crossing borders to drive international conversations. The same is true of our diverse and creative students and alumni, who found businesses, create masterpieces, and win Nobel Prizes.

With a commitment to free and open inquiry, its scholars take an interdisciplinary approach to research that spans arts to engineering, medicine to education. Their work transforms the way we understand the world, advancing—and creating—fields of study. Its scholars lead the country in scientific and technological innovations, often in partnership with our affiliated laboratories: Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Generating new knowledge for the benefit of present and future generations, UChicago research has had an impact around the globe, leading to such breakthroughs as discovering the link between cancer and genetics, establishing revolutionary theories of economics, and developing tools to produce reliably excellent urban schooling.

The University of Chicago is universally recognized for its devotion to open and rigorous inquiry. The strength of our intellectual traditions, intense critical analysis, and free and lively debate draws from our engaged scholars who continually seek creative solutions to complex problems. Its college graduates have made discoveries in every field of academic study; they are ambitious thinkers who are unafraid to take on the most pressing questions of our time. 

University of Chicago offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, health service, and health insurance. University of Chicago also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of Chicago. 

Since its inception in 1890, UChicago has remained committed to educating extraordinary people regardless of race, gender, religion, or financial ability. More than $100 million in financial assistance and scholarships are awarded annually, and we are one of the few highly selective institutions to award both need-based and merit-based aid. At University of Chicago, 45.7 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $39,784.Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating.