University of Chicago
Chicago, IL, USA

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Affordability and Cost

Average Net Price Average net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. Other sources of grant aid are excluded. Aid awarded anytime during the full aid year is included.

Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.
$36,584
Calculate your net cost
Average Net Price By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$3,178
$30k - $48k
$6,325
$48k - $75k
$7,933
$75k - $110k
$18,782
$110k+
$40,853
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$62,940
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$62,940
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$18,396
Books and Supplies
$1,800
Tuition Payment Plan
Yes
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]

Aid & Grants

0
100
100%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
11%
Average Aid Per Year
$44,947
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
11%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$7,256
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$42,948
Students receiving state aid
3%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$5,304
Students receiving federal aid
13%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$7,256
Average Grant & Scholarship By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$79,031
$30k - $48k
$76,754
$48k - $75k
$73,156
$75k - $110k
$61,636
$110k+
$35,264
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$155,436,768
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$33,403,561

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
7%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$9,954
Students receiving federal loans
6%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$5,139
Average Other Loans Per Year
$23,024
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$15,000
Loan Default Rate
1%
US National: 7%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$156

What Students Are Saying

Though the price may be high, the University provides great services and academics that warrant it. The housing is great, along with security, and transportation services. Also, the University has great career and connection services around the city and the country. There are many tutoring and aid services to help you through classes. Finally, the academics itself is world-class, providing very in-depth information and teaching students how to think in each class, rather than memorize facts.
Faisal from Los Angeles, CA
The University's tuition rivals that of more well-known intellectual institutions (i.e. Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, etc.) While the University will teach you a lot, it probably won't lead to the sort of connections you would establish at a better known private institution.
Student from Aurora, IL
With 3 classes costing the same as 4, given a class with three 50 minute lectures per week, it comes to between $125 and $175 per class. Honestly, I wonder about the bang for the buck sometimes. Overall, I believe it will be worth it in the end. The unique education, the quality of student life, and the experiences afforded by that arguably exorbitant tuition make it, in my opinion, worth it—but it's open to debate.
Michael from Washington
The dorms were horrible, ripped furniture, germy carpet in need of new everything. They are getting much better though, built two new dorms so newcomers will never know the of the infested old ones.
Margaret from Oak Park, MI
UChicago will bang your buck better than any ivy. After all, it's a school of skilled economists - who but them to seek an efficient allocation of your family's resources?
Anastasia from Naperville, IL
While the University of Chicago is expensive, the payoff and help from the school is wonderful. The school has worked with my family to provide a financial aid package which is affordable and I know that my education here will provide me with fantastic opportunities. This summer, I received a paid internship with the Illinois Governor's office after only my second year on campus. The resources at the career advancement office at the school helped me land the job- they are a team which offers resume and cover letter review along with guidance in employment-seeking. I feel confident my education at Chicago will result in a fantastic job or an acceptance letter to a top law school; the University of Chicago is definitely worth the investment.
Alana from Benton Harbor, MI
Their financial aid is pretty much unsurpassable -- they're rivaled by the famously generous Ivies, but otherwise they're quite good. The Odyssey Scholarship ensures that most students whose family incomes are below $90,000 will not have to pay any loans. They also are one of few prestigious schools that offer merit scholarships, and they give National Merit Finalists $2,000 a year, or $1,000 a year for students not on financial aid.
The University's Office of Financial Aid gives generous need-based aid, using both its own and federal resources. The Odyssey Scholarship, a program launched a few years ago, will replace all or half of a student's loan expectation given he or she is at or below a certain income level. The sticker price can scare some students away, but once you dig a little deeper (using Cappex and other scholarship finders), there is plenty of aid available. UChicago uses every dollar for the good of its students, providing security and police personnel, health and wellness resources, and subsidized activities both on and off campus.
Xavier from Fort Wayne, IN
UChicago is definitely a financial commitment that may be the deciding factor in choosing whether or not to attend the college but the monetary commitment functions as an investment into each student's future success. With all graduating seniors that I have known, they have secured jobs in competitive career fields. Also, the professors staffed at the University are among the best in the nation. The University of Chicago has an extensive number of Nobel Prize winners who teach at the school. While you pay a pretty penny for the University, you are also learning for the best and the brightest.
Gabrielle from Chicago, IL
For whatever interest you have, UChicago has something to offer that complements it. No desire to learn has gone unattended here, everything is thought about, and if you are so innovative to not have your idea available, you can request to make your own class or RSO that addresses the issue. So, your future is easily cultivated on our campus if you get involved, and the classes are second to none. You know you're getting an Ivy League quality education here.
Cosette from Chicago, IL