Can you get into University of Chicago?
Chicago, IL · Private · 7,569 students Here is the class that got in, and where your numbers land inside it.
Add your GPA, or a test score, and the read appears here. Nothing you type leaves this page.
The admitted class · 2024
What it took to get in
Acceptance rate
4.5%
SAT middle 50%
1510–1580
median 1545
ACT middle 50%
34–35
median 34
Admitted GPA
~4.97
weighted, as the college reports it
Top 10% of class
96%
of admitted students
Testing
optional
52% submitted an SAT
Graduation rate
95%
within six years
Reported by the college
What University of Chicago actually reads
Colleges publish which parts of an application they weigh. It is the most useful thing they say about admissions and almost nobody reads it, because knowing that an essay is very important here and class rank is not considered changes where the work should go.
Very important
The parts of an application this school weighs most heavily.
- Course rigor
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
Considered
Looked at, but not decisive on its own.
- Grades
- Class rank
- Test scores
- First-generation status
- Legacy
- State residency
- Where you live
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Religious affiliation
Not considered
Reported as playing no part in the decision.
- Interview
- Demonstrated interest
From University of Chicago’s Common Data Set, 2024, section C7, where colleges report how heavily they weigh each part of an application.
Admitted GPA · 2024
What GPA you need for University of Chicago
Admitted students average around a 4.97 (weighted, as the college reports it). A single average hides how compressed the top of an admitted class is, so here is the whole distribution:
- 3.75 and above89%
- 3.50 to 3.747%
- 3.25 to 3.492%
- 3.00 to 3.243%
- 2.50 to 2.99<1%
- 2.00 to 2.490%
- Below 2.000%
Share of admitted students in each band, from University of Chicago’s Common Data Set. Colleges read GPA alongside course rigor, so a slightly lower GPA in harder courses can read stronger than the number suggests.
Real cost · 2024 data
What families actually pay
The sticker price is $90,360, but almost nobody pays it. Average net price at University of Chicago by family income, after grants and scholarships:
- Under $30k$-1,264
- $30k–$48k$914
- $48k–$75k$226
- $75k–$110k$12,602
- Over $110k$48,524
U.S. Department of Education data: average net price per year for aided first-time students. Your number depends on your family’s finances.
Keep going
More on University of Chicago
About as selective
Common questions
University of Chicago admissions, answered
What is University of Chicago's acceptance rate?
University of Chicago admits 4.5% of applicants (latest reported cycle: 2024).
What SAT score do you need for University of Chicago?
The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1510 and 1580. A score above 1580 clears the 75th percentile; below 1510, the rest of the application has to carry more weight.
What GPA do you need for University of Chicago?
Admitted students average around a 4.97 GPA (weighted, as the college reports it), and 96% ranked in the top 10% of their high school class. Colleges read GPA alongside course rigor, so a slightly lower GPA in harder courses can read stronger.
Is University of Chicago test-optional?
Yes, University of Chicago is currently test-optional. Submit a score if it falls inside or above the admitted middle 50%.
What does University of Chicago look for in an application?
University of Chicago reports that it weighs course rigor, essay, recommendations, extracurriculars, talent or ability most heavily, in its Common Data Set. Anything it lists as not considered is worth knowing too, because effort spent there does not count here.
How much does University of Chicago actually cost?
Sticker price is $90,360, but the average family pays $14,860 after aid. Families earning under $30k pay about $-1,264 per year on average.
What Spike does with this
Use the University of Chicago read in your plan.
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