The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to free and open inquiry draws inspired scholars to our global campuses, where ideas are born that challenge and change the world.
History
By 1910, the University had developed a variety of traditions, including a coat of arms bearing a phoenix emerging from the flames and a Latin motto, Crescat scientia; vita excolatur (“Let knowledge grow from more to more; and so be human life enriched”). In 1894, maroon had become the University’s official color and “the Maroons” its nickname.
Education
UChicago is home to some of the most venerated academic programs in the world, having established the fields of ecology and sociology, the first graduate international affairs program in the United States, and the first executive MBA program. Explore our current degree and academic programs across the undergraduate College, five graduate divisions, six professional schools, and the Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies.
Research
With a commitment to free and open inquiry, our scholars take an interdisciplinary approach to research that spans arts to engineering, medicine to education. Their work transforms the way we understand the world, advancing fields of study, and often creating new ones.
Generating new knowledge for the benefit of present and future generations, UChicago research has had an impact around the globe, leading to such breakthroughs as discovering the link between cancer and genetics, establishing revolutionary theories of economics, and developing tools to produce reliably excellent urban schooling.
University of ChicagoKey Statistics & Highlights
#9Ranking
2,442Academic Staff
18,504Students
4,915Students (int'l)
6,852Students (female)
University of ChicagoOverview
University of ChicagoRankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Top 0.6%United States
Top 0.2%Worldwide
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
Academic Ranking of World Universities
9
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Climbed 1 places compared to 2025
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities
2024
2025
2026
10
10
9
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
QS World University Rankings
24
By TopUniversities
Dropped 11 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
2025
2026
2027
21
13
24
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
25
By U.S. News & World Report
Climbed 1 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
2025
2026
2027
25
26
25
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
World University Rankings
No 2027 Ranking
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
2025
2026
2027
14
15
-
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
The University of Chicago has a robust set of systems and practices that support and care for our students and members of the University community. Our intention is to create an environment where all can learn and contribute to the creation of knowledge, and the University seeks to engage and support students while respecting each student’s independence.
Housing services
Eleven unique residence halls offer students a variety of living options. Each Hall has its own culture while maintaining a sense of community.
Most residence halls are divided (often by floor) into House communities. Each House averages 70 students (Houses range from 40 to 104 students) sharing a cluster of residential rooms and common areas within the residence halls.
Library services
The Library's mission is to provide comprehensive resources and services in support of the research, teaching, and learning needs of the University community.
ICT services
File Storage and Sharing
Networking
Email and Calendaring
IT Security
Medical services
The University of Chicago medical campus includes Comer Children’s Hospital, Bernard A. Mitchell Hospital for adult inpatient care, Chicago Lying-in Hospital, and the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine, as well as outpatient locations throughout the Chicago area.
Campus life
At our campus in Hyde Park, students and scholars from around the world enhance each other's academic pursuits and share a passion for ideas with impact. Each year, the University enrolls more than 3,100 international students from over 100 countries.
Sports facilities
University of Chicago students, faculty and community members have access to an impressive array of fitness facilities, programs and services through Physical Education & Athletics. On average, more than 4,565 students work out in our facilities each month. You can access one of our fitness facilities, enjoy one of our 28 fitness classes each quarter, or make an appointment with a personal trainer.
Accreditation
The University of Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
The University of Chicago surprised me with how strong its tech resources and opportunities are. While it�s famous for economics and social sciences, the school is also investing heavily in technology, data science, and innovation. The courses are challenging but very hands-on, and there are plenty of resources and research opportunities for students interested in applying tech to real-world problems. What I like most is how interdisciplinary it feels; you can study computer science while also connecting it to fields like business, policy, or even the sciences. For anyone looking at tech with a broader impact, UChicago is a great place to be.
Posted byAnonymous
Studied fromUnknown
Posted onAug 2026
4/5
Fast‑paced quarter system
I quite enjoy attending the university. It is certainly not for everyone as the environment can be quite intense and academically focused at times. In addition the quarter system means that classes move very quickly. For people who are up for the fast pace, and enjoy learning, the school is a great choice.
Posted byAnonymous
Studied fromUnknown
Posted onJul 2025
4/5
Fast paced learning
As a quarter-system school, everything is quite fast paced. There are a lot of class-related and course-related resources available, so make good use of them. You are required take a total of 42 classes (if you don't have any credits you can carry over from high school), which means you would need to space out your requirements well. Generally, you need to have 6 quarters with 4 classes and 6 quarters with 3 classes (if you are not planning on taking any summer classes). The school does offer a few "September courses" which are 3.5-week study abroad courses in September, before the start of the Fall Quarter, so applying for those will be both useful and fun. Also, I would suggest trying to fulfilling the core requirements during your earlier years, so that you can have mixture of only major requirements and elective requirements to fulfill later on. You will most likely have less workload this way.
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