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Colleges / University of Chicago

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate5%

UChicago Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at UChicago was $63,801 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 4.29%–from $61,179 the previous year. On average, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

Remember, the "sticker price" of tuition does not give you all the info you need to know how much you will actually have to pay for college. Many students owe way less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. Plus, student loans can make theprice of collegefeel more doable until you're done with college.

University of Chicago meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend University of Chicago full-time are awarded $68,901 a year in financial aid, on average.

Students in the class of 2023 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $28,068 of debt.

Does University of Chicago Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

University of Chicago is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for students from Illinois as it does for students who live in other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state tuition can cut the cost of college tuition. Take the time to confirm your state's guidelines for how to qualify for in-state tuition. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school. There may be additional requirements too, depending on where you live.

Explore other Illinois colleges

Is University of Chicago's Tuition Different for International Students?

Tuition at University of Chicago is the same for every student.

Students from outside of the U.S. are not eligible for federal financial aid, but may be eligible for private or University of Chicago-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students with need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at University of Chicago:

•On-campus jobs •Loans from outsideUniversity of Chicago •University of Chicago-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.


University of Chicago Room, Board, Fees, and More


In addition to tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at University of Chicago.

House and Food Costs at University of Chicago

Housing and campus dining at University of Chicago is $19,221 a year. This number covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that enables you to eat in the University of Chicago's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities.

Board costs can depend on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at University of Chicago

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The actual cost of books depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Annual Fees

Most schools also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have resources for students with financial need to get help covering these fees.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at University of Chicago

The total cost of transportation in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or are you planning to use public transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are not allowed to park a car on campus.

Where are a college is located can also have a big effect on the amount you'll have to spend just to get around. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in a city may be expensive, but there may be more trains, busses or low-cost flight options to actually get to school. University of Chicagois in a city in Illinois, near Chicago.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, don’t forget to factor in the cost of things like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.


Financial Breakdown for University of Chicago


Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better estimate of the actual cost of attending University of Chicago.

How Much Does University of Chicago Cost?

What will the cost of attending University of Chicago be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $63,801
Room and Board $19,221
Other expenses $2,400

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $89,040
Off-Campus $67,419

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


University of Chicago Financial Aid


In 2023, 2,530 of the 7,500 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. University of Chicago meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $68,901 a year. Around 14% of University of Chicago undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. University of Chicago graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $28,068 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $14,971
Private Loans $55,045
Most Common Loans for University of Chicago Students
Federal Loans 12%
Private loans 4%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on University of Chicago financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at University of Chicago

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, University of Chicago awarded 2,522 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $155.4 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $33.4 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

University of Chicago Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for University of Chicago students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at University of Chicago was $68,901 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of University of Chicago seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $20,139
Off-Campus $-1,482

Note: a negative number can indicate that a refund will be given to use toward other expenses such as housing, fees, and books. In such cases, be sure to reach out to the school directly for any clarification or questions.

What will attending University of Chicago really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the University of Chicago's net cost calculator on their website.

University of Chicago Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

UChicago Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

University of Chicago's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of University of Chicago's endowment was $9.9 billion. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. The school spends $81,430 for each full-time student enrolled.


Learn More About University of Chicago


Choose one of the options below to find out more about about University of Chicago:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

See what others are saying about University of Chicago in the College Confidential forums

UChicago Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$86,640

In State

$86,640

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$63,801
$63,801
Fees
$1,818
$1,818
Housing
$19,221
$19,221
Books
$1,800
$1,800

UChicago Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

34%

Average Financial Aid Package

$65,590

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

15,946

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

5%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$65,619

Out-of-State

$65,619

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Unknown
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