University of Chicago

University of Chicago is extremely difficult to get into. Around 5% of applicants get into University of Chicago each year. Out of 37,522 applications received in 2023, 2,039 students were offered admission.

If you are planning on applying to University of Chicago, the application fee is $75.

University of Chicago Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of University of Chicago's admissions stats.

University of Chicago 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	4.0
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	99%
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	52%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	32%
Waitlist	Yes

University of Chicago Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for University of Chicago.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Yes	November 1	–
Early Decision II	Yes	January 3	–
Early Action	No	November 1	–

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Want to Apply Early to University of Chicago?

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University of Chicago offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, which means you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1

🗓️ Early Decision II applications are due January 3.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1.

Some students apply to college early because they believe it will help their chances of being offering admission. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of admission, since it demonstrates your interest in a school.

➡️ Find a list of some selective colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on University of Chicago Admissions

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How To Get Into University of Chicago

Getting into UChicago is extremely difficult. UChicago evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny or waitlist.

In 2022, UChicago accepted 5% of all applicants, approximately 2,039 from 37,522 applicants.

Schools that are extremely difficult to get into, like UChicago, accept fewer than 30% of all applicants. At least 75% of admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on the SAT or over 29 on the ACT.

Transferring to University of Chicago

For more information on transferring to University of Chicago, contact the school directly.

For Students Waitlisted to University of Chicago

University of Chicago has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does University of Chicago Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are are most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that put the most emphasis on the areas where you shine.

Admissions Factors at University of Chicago

Wondering what factors are considered by University of Chicago during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Character/Personal Qualities	Very Important
Application Essay	Very Important
Extracurricular Activities	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Very Important
Talent/Ability	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Class Rank	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Religious Affiliation/Commitment	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest	Considered
Academic GPA	Considered
First Generation	Considered

Make sure to check with University of Chicago for more information on admission factors.

University of Chicago 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to University of Chicago, all applicants must submit the following items. Check in with University of Chicago's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Letter(s) of Recommendation	2	–	–	–
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into University of Chicago?

Students admitted to University of Chicago have an average unweighted GPA of 4.0.

Out of all students that were admitted, 51.71% submitted a class rank. At University of Chicago 99% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school and 100% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At University of Chicago, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	59.89%
3.75 and 3.99	25.94%
3.50 and 3.74	11.28%
3.25 and 3.49	2.31%
3.00 and 3.24	0.58%
2.50 and 2.9	–
2.00 and 2.49	–

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to University of Chicago directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

University of Chicago is test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 52% of University of Chicago's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 32% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for University of Chicago?

To be competitive with other University of Chicago applicants, you should strive to score between 1510 and 1560 (or higher!) on the SAT. At University of Chicago 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1560 and 25% of scored lower than 1510, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of University of Chicago students scored 800 or higher and 75% of students scored 740 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of University of Chicago students scored 780 or higher, and 75% scored a 740 or higher.

To be most competitive at University of Chicago, you should strive to earn between 34 and 35 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 35 means you fall in the 75th percentile for University of Chicago's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 35, and three out of four students scored lower than 35 on the ACT.

A 34 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for University of Chicago students. Only one out of every four students scored below 34.

More Information on Transferring to University of Chicago

Transfer students can enroll in University of Chicago during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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University of Chicago Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to University of Chicago?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to University of Chicago.

Does University of Chicago accept transfer credits?

✅ University of Chicago accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does University of Chicago accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ University of Chicago accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to University of Chicago?

❌ No, University of Chicago is test optional, so you can make the call whether or not to send your test scores. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you may want to send them. If your scores are average or below average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is University of Chicago's acceptance rate?

✅ University of Chicago has an acceptance rate of 5%.

Want To Learn More About University of Chicago?

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