UNIVERSITY · CDS 2023-2024
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL 7,473 undergrad Updated 2026-04-22
Top 10Intellectual Rigor
Accept
4.8%
Yield
87.9%
Test
Optional
Academic Profile · CDS C9 / C11
The numbers a parent will ask about first.
SAT Total (mid 50%, computed)
1510–1570
SAT EBRW (mid 50%)
740–770
SAT Math (mid 50%)
770–800
ACT Composite (mid 50%)
34–35
GPA (avg, admitted)
4.32
GPA NOTEAverage GPA of 4.32; 97% in top tenth of high school graduating class.
METHODTotal SAT range is computed by summing the reported EBRW and Math mid-50% ranges from the school’s CDS (Section C9). Use as an approximation — a student’s actual total places them within, not at, the summed endpoints.
Decision Plans · CDS C1 / C21
When and how the school reads applicants.
| Plan | Deadline | Accept rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA | Nov 3 | — | Early Action: Nov 3 |
| ED | Nov 3 | — | Early Decision I: Nov 3 |
| ED | Jan 5 | — | Early Decision II: Jan 5 |
| RD | Jan 5 | — | Regular Decision: Jan 5 |
Cost & Aid · CDS H Series
What it costs and what families actually pay.
Tuition
$71,325
Total COA
$98,301
Avg need-based aid
$67,505
Avg merit award
$36,924
Net price after avg need aid
$30,796
UChicago meets 100% of demonstrated need on average.
AP Impact Calculator
What the student's APs are actually worth here.
UChicago's AP Policy
Students may earn credit from AP exams with a score of 4 or 5. A maximum of 400 units of credit from AP exams can be applied toward the 4200 units required for graduation. AP credit cannot be used to fulfill Core requirements.
Min score
4
Credit cap
12 credits
Mode
Credit + placement
Per-score grid
Exam-level
Add the student's APs
No APs selected. Click Add AP exam to start, or use the sample profile to see what a strong student might recover.
What They Value · CDS C7
Every CDS factor, weighted exactly as the admissions office files it.
- Rigor of secondary school recordVery Important
- Class rankImportant
- Academic GPAVery Important
- Standardized test scoresImportant
- Application EssayVery Important
- Recommendation(s)Very Important
Mission & Narrative
What this school says it is — in their own words.
The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to rigorous inquiry and intellectual freedom draws pathbreaking scholars to our global campuses, where field-defining ideas are born that challenge and change the world. This has led to new schools of thought and a transformative education for students and has laid the groundwork for interdisciplinary breakthroughs across the sciences, medicine, economics, law, business, history, culture, the arts, and humanistic inquiry.
Distilled Themes
Rigorous inquiryIntellectual freedomInterdisciplinary breakthroughsTransformative education
The Coach's Read
What 'what they value' actually means at the table.
- 01UChicago values students who demonstrate a genuine love of learning for its own sake, not just for achieving high grades.
- 02They are looking for applicants who are intellectually curious and have a track record of pursuing their interests in depth.
- 03Strong applications will showcase a student's unique personality and passions, and how they will contribute to the university's vibrant intellectual community.
Application Targets
What a strong application here should signal.
- 01Demonstrate intellectual vitality through a record of challenging coursework and independent projects.
- 02Write essays that are authentic, creative, and reveal a quirky or unconventional side.
- 03Show a commitment to extracurricular activities that reflects a deep and genuine interest, rather than a scattered attempt to appear well-rounded.
Quiet Disqualifiers
Things that hurt applicants here, even when they look fine on paper.
- Generic essays that could be submitted to any top university
- A focus on grades and test scores without a demonstrated passion for learning
- A lack of intellectual curiosity or a fear of challenging conventional wisdom
Signature Programs
Where this school is genuinely best-in-class.
EconomicsComputer ScienceMathematicsBiological SciencesPolitical SciencePublic Policy
BS/MD Detail
Accelerated medical track specifics.
The University of Chicago does not offer a specific BS/MD program, but it does have a Professional Option: Medicine program. This allows students to apply to the Pritzker School of Medicine in their third year of college. Admitted students must maintain a GPA of 3.7 and achieve MCAT scores in the 90th percentile.
Application calendar
Every date the family needs to know.
Deadlines & Decision Dates · 2025-2026
Family deadline matrix
Plan
Deadline
Decision release
Early Decision I
Binding
Nov 3, 2025
→ Dec 15, 2025
Early Decision II
Binding
Jan 5, 2026
→ Feb 15, 2026
Early Action
Non-binding
Nov 3, 2025
→ Dec 15, 2025
Regular Decision
Non-binding
Jan 5, 2026
→ Mar 31, 2026
Restrictive Early Action
Not offered
—
Rolling Admission
Not offered
—
See every school side-by-side on the Deadline Tracker →
CDS C7 · Level of applicant's interest
Does effort toward this school move the needle?
Demonstrated Interest·CDS C7 (2023-2024)
Not trackedWeight: Not Considered
The University of Chicago does not track demonstrated interest; official policy states all applicants are evaluated identically regardless of contact.
Save the energy
Do not spend effort on interest signals—focus on essays and academics instead.
Provenance