College Profiles/ University of Chicago
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
University of Chicago Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Chicago, IL · 7,453 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to University of Chicago for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
University of Chicago admitted 4.5% of 45,533 first-year applicants in the 2025-2026 Common Data Set.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1500 to 1560.[1] The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $104,541.[1] First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $78,651.[1] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Decision I Nov 2, Early Decision II Jan 4, Early Action Nov 2, Regular Decision Jan 4.[2]
4.5%
Overall admit rate[1]
1500 to 1560
Middle 50% SAT[1]
$104,541
Cost of attendance, 2026-2027[1]
$78,651
Average need-based grant[1]
$10.9B
Endowment, FY2025[3]
95.0%
Six-year graduation rate[1]
University of Chicago at a Glance
- Location
- Chicago, IL
- Type
- Private nonprofit
- Student to faculty ratio
- 7:1[1]
- Endowment
- $10.9 billion (FY2025)[3]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional (no harm policy)[2]
- Application
- Common App, Coalition (Scoir)[2]
- First-year retention
- 99.0%[1]
The ConnectPrep Take on University of Chicago
The ConnectPrep take
UChicago hands applicants more control than most schools. Its admissions office says the application does not define you, you define the application, and it backs that up with optional testing, an optional two-minute video, and non-standard supplements. The numbers are still demanding: a 4.5% admit rate on 45,533 applicants, an average GPA of 4.54, and 97% of enrolled students in the top tenth of their class. UChicago offers Early Action, ED I, and ED II, and its Common Data Set confirms an ED plan without reporting counts, so the case for ED rests on fit. Testing is optional under a no harm policy; with a middle 50% SAT of 1500 to 1560, we say submit at 1530 or higher. The mistake we see is a safe, generic answer to an unusual prompt.
What to do this fall
- Confirm the Nov 2 deadline for EA and ED I on the UChicago admissions site before submitting.
- Send an SAT of 1530 or higher. Below that, the no harm policy makes applying test optional a reasonable choice.
- Consider the optional two-minute video if your student communicates well on camera.
- Use the non-standard supplements to show how your student thinks, not to restate the activities list.
Applying to University of Chicago? Get a free strategy session. We map your student’s round, testing plan, essays and every scholarship deadline for this school.
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University of Chicago Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
45,533 |
2,039 |
4.5% |
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 87.6%.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing[1] |
740 to 770 |
| SAT Math[1] |
760 to 790 |
| SAT composite[1] |
1500 to 1560 |
| ACT composite[1] |
34 to 35 |
| Enrolled students who submitted the SAT[1] |
57% |
| Enrolled students who submitted the ACT[1] |
25% |
| Average high school GPA[1] |
4.54 |
| Ranked in top 10% of high school class[1] |
97% |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1560 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 35 on the ACT. When testing is optional, we generally advise submitting scores at or above about 1530, the middle of the range. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What University of Chicago looks for
In its own words: UChicago's admissions office frames the application as something the student shapes ('the application does not define you, you define the application'), inviting applicants to present their most authentic selves through materials they choose, including optional testing and video.[4]
University of Chicago Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Decision I |
Nov 2 |
mid-Dec |
| Early Decision II |
Jan 4 |
|
| Early Action |
Nov 2 |
mid-Dec |
| Regular Decision |
Jan 4 |
late Mar |
See how University of Chicago compares with other colleges in the Midwest deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
University of Chicago Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance (2026-2027)[1] |
$104,541 |
| Tuition[1] |
$75,960 |
| First-years awarded need-based aid[1] |
36.5% |
| Average need-based scholarship or grant[1] |
$78,651 |
| Average total financial aid package[1] |
$84,555 |
| Average share of need met[1] |
100.0% |
| Merit (non-need) awards to first-years[1] |
57 students, average $16,333 |
Computed from Common Data Set 2025-2026 section G: tuition $75,960 + required first-year fees $2,715 + on-campus food and housing $21,414 + books $1,800 + transportation $702 + other $1,950.[1]
- For a family that qualifies for need-based aid, the average grant would bring the $104,541 cost of attendance down to roughly $25,890 before loans and work-study. This is a ConnectPrep calculation for illustration; your student’s number depends on your family’s finances, so run the school’s net price calculator.
- University of Chicago states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.[5]
- Aid packages are loan-free.[5]
- Beginning Autumn Quarter 2027, free tuition for families with income under $250,000 (typical assets); tuition, housing, meals, and fees covered under $125,000.[5]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[6]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$0 (aid exceeded cost) |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$914 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$226 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$12,602 |
| Over $110,000 |
$48,524 |
| All aided students |
$14,860 |
Academics and Majors at University of Chicago
Most popular fields by share of bachelor’s degrees awarded[1]
- Social sciences37%
- Mathematics and statistics9%
- Computer and information sciences7%
- Biological/life sciences6%
- Physical sciences6%
Signature programs
The Core curriculum
Every College student completes a challenging common program across arts, humanities, civilizations, social, biological, physical, and mathematical sciences.[7]
Free tuition under $250,000 (from Autumn 2027)
The Class of 2031 is the first class covered by the expanded loan-free aid that makes tuition free below $250,000 and covers full costs below $125,000.[5]
Optional video introduction and non-standard supplements
Applicants may add a two-minute video introduction and other materials in place of interviews, reflecting a 'you define the application' philosophy.[4]
Special admission paths
- Early Decision (binding; Common Data Set confirms an ED plan, counts not reported).
- QuestBridge partner (QuestBridge page listed on admissions site).
- Optional two-minute video introduction.
University of Chicago Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[1] |
99.0% |
| Graduated within four years[1] |
85.2% |
| Graduated within six years[1] |
95.0% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[6] |
$91,885 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[6] |
$15,000 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[6] |
15% |
Make University of Chicago a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
Compare Similar Colleges
University of Chicago FAQs
What is the University of Chicago acceptance rate?
University of Chicago admitted 4.5% of first-year applicants (2,039 of 45,533), according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
When are the University of Chicago application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Decision I Nov 2; Early Decision II Jan 4; Early Action Nov 2; Regular Decision Jan 4.
How much does University of Chicago cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $104,541. First-year students who received need-based aid got an average grant of $78,651. The school states it meets 100% of demonstrated need.
What SAT score do you need for University of Chicago?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1500 to 1560 on the SAT and 34 to 35 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1560, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Optional (no harm policy).
Is UChicago test optional?
Yes. UChicago is test optional under a no harm policy, and it frames testing as one of the materials applicants choose to share. The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 1500 to 1560 on the SAT and 34 to 35 on the ACT. We advise submitting a score at or above the midpoint, about 1530 on the SAT.
Is UChicago tuition free for some families?
Beginning Autumn Quarter 2027, UChicago offers free tuition to families with income under $250,000 and typical assets. For families under $125,000, tuition, housing, meals, and fees are covered. UChicago meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans, and it also awards some merit aid, with an average non-need award of $16,333.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of Chicago. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
