University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is a private research university located in the Hyde Park area of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It has both undergraduate and graduate programs, with four main graduate divisions focusing on arts and humanities, biological sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences. The university also includes professional schools for business, social work, theology, public policy, law, medicine, molecular engineering, and continuing studies.

The University of Chicago has helped shape many academic fields, such as economics, law, and physics. One of its big achievements was creating the first self-sustaining nuclear reaction in Chicago Pile-1 under Stagg Field. The university also runs important research centers like the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the Argonne National Laboratory.

As of 2025, people connected with the university—including students, teachers, and staff—have won many top awards. This includes 101 Nobel Prizes, 10 Fields Medals, and 6 Olympic medals, showing just how much the university has contributed to the world of learning and discovery.

History

Main article: History of the University of Chicago

Old University of Chicago

Further information: Old University of Chicago

The first University of Chicago started with a group of Baptist educators. It was created in 1857 thanks to land given by Senator Stephen A. Douglas and money raised by its first leader, John C. Burroughs. The school closed in 1886 because it ran out of money, especially after problems like the Great Chicago Fire and a big economic crash called the Panic of 1873. In 1890, the old school's leaders decided to call it the "Old University of Chicago" so a new school could use the city's name. A year later, the new school agreed to treat graduates of the old school as their own.

Early years

In 1890, a group called the American Baptist Education Society started a new University of Chicago. It was designed to include both men and women students. They used money given to them and a large donation from John D. Rockefeller, a co-founder of Standard Oil, plus land from Marshall Field. Rich people in Chicago also helped pay for it, like Silas B. Cobb, who gave the money for the first building.

William Rainey Harper became the school's leader in 1891, and classes began in 1892. He paid top teachers good salaries. He split the students into two groups: the first two years were for getting ready for harder studies, and the last two years were more advanced. The school used a special calendar with four parts instead of semesters. Harper also brought a religious school to join the university, which became the Divinity School in 1891.

Rockefeller kept giving money even after the school started. Harper’s plans to grow the school and pay for research caused money problems, which Rockefeller helped cover. After Harper died in 1906, Harry Pratt Judson took over. He made the school save money, which made Rockefeller give even more money.

1906–1929

Judson led the school until 1923, when Ernest D. Burton became leader. Burton started a big fundraising effort and tried to improve student housing. Unfortunately, he died suddenly in 1925. Max Mason took over and focused fundraising on local business people instead of citywide efforts.

1929–1950

In 1929, Robert Maynard Hutchins, a young dean from Yale, became leader. He reorganized the school’s departments and created a new set of basic courses for all students. The hard times of the Great Depression caused money problems, but Hutchins tried to keep teacher salaries stable. The school had to stop its football team in 1939 because of these money issues.

During World War II, the school helped with important science work, including research that led to developing energy from atoms. After the war, the school faced questions about whether some teachers had unsafe ideas, and leaders had to talk to government officials about it.

1951–1977

In 1951, Lawrence Kimpton became the new leader. He had to cut costs to balance the budget, which he managed to do by 1954. Later, he shorten the basic courses from four years to two to attract more students. The school also worked with the city to improve safety in the neighborhood.

In 1961, George Beadle took over. He used money from a big grant to hire more teachers and build new buildings. Students sometimes protested, like in 1962 when a student led a sit-in to protest unfair housing rules.

In 1967, Edward Levi became leader. During his time, students protested many times, including over unfair housing, military rules, and hiring decisions. In 1967, teachers made a set of rules to protect free speech and academic freedom, which many other schools later used.

1978–present

In 1978, Hanna Holborn Gray became the first woman to lead a major research university in the United States. She improved the school’s money systems and added new courses for all students. She also brought back school sports and improved student life.

In 1992, Hugo F. Sonnenschein took over during tough money times. A big fundraising effort helped. In 1996, he suggested letting in more students and changing the basic courses, which happened after much discussion.

In 2006, Robert J. Zimmer became leader. He borrowed money to build new buildings like the Mansueto Library and the Logan Center for the Arts. The school also opened centers in other countries.

In 2021, Paul Alivisatos became leader. In 2024, students set up a special area to show support for a cause, which was later removed by campus safety officers.

Campus

The main campus of the University of Chicago is located in the Hyde Park and Woodlawn neighborhoods of Chicago, about eight miles south of downtown. It covers 217 acres and features beautiful buildings designed in Gothic styles, inspired by universities in Oxford, England. The campus includes six main quadrangles surrounded by historic buildings.

Over time, the campus has expanded with modern buildings, including a large library, a sports center, and new residence halls. Notable landmarks on campus include a sculpture marking the site where an important scientific discovery was made, and a house designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Nearby, the future home of the Obama Presidential Center is being built in Jackson Park.

The campus is easy to reach using public transportation, including bus and train lines, and the university offers shuttle services to help students get around. The university also has smaller campuses and centers in cities around the world, such as Hong Kong, London, and Paris, offering students chances to study abroad.

Academics

The University of Chicago has a college for undergraduate students and four divisions for graduate research. It also has seven professional schools in areas like business, law, and medicine, plus a school for continuing studies.

The university uses a quarter system with four terms each year: Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring. Students usually take three to four classes each term. The main college offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in many subjects. It includes five divisions: Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and a New Collegiate Division that brings subjects together. The university is known for its special programs, like studying great books together and learning a foreign language.

The graduate divisions are Arts & Humanities, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. In 2022, over 10,000 graduate students were enrolled. The university spends a lot on research and has many research centers and labs. It has been important for big discoveries, like the first controlled nuclear reaction and developing ways to date very old objects. The university also has seven professional schools, including schools for business, law, and medicine, each offering advanced degrees. There are also many other programs and institutions connected to the university, like schools for younger students and special libraries. The university's arts programs include studying music, art, and theater, with many students taking part in creative classes each year. The university is very well known around the world for how good it is at research and teaching.

Administration and finance

See also: List of presidents of the University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is led by a group called the board of trustees. This group helps plan the university's future and raise money. It has 55 members, including the university president. Under the president are important leaders like the provost, vice presidents, and deans. As of May 2022, the chair of the board is David Rubenstein. The provost is Katherine Baicker, appointed in March 2023. The current president is chemist Paul Alivisatos, who began in September 2021.

The university had about $10.1 billion in savings in 2024, ranking 21st among American schools. In 2023, it employed 3,418 teachers and 23,217 support staff. In 2024, the university's total budget was $5.2 billion, with additional expenses of $2.6 billion. Despite efforts to manage money, the university faced a budget shortfall of $288 million in 2024. To address this, the university plans to make changes over the next few years, including cutting more than $100 million from projects and hiring due to financial challenges.

Student body and admissions

In fall 2025, the university had 7,496 undergraduate students, 11,195 graduate students, and 408 students not working toward a degree. The class of 2025 is 53% male and 47% female. Twenty-seven percent of students identify as Asian, 19% as Hispanic, and 10% as Black. Eighteen percent of the class comes from outside the country. The university treats all domestic applicants the same, no matter their financial situation.

Getting into the University of Chicago is now very hard. Over the past twenty years, the number of students who get in has dropped a lot. In 1996, 71 out of every 100 students were accepted. By 2023, only about 5 out of every 100 were accepted. This change happened because the way students apply, how popular the school is, and its marketing have all changed. In 2018, the University of Chicago made news by deciding not to require SAT or ACT test scores from students applying to college.

Athletics

Main article: Chicago Maroons

The University of Chicago has 19 sports teams, called the Maroons, with about 500 students taking part. These teams compete in the NCAA Division III and belong to the University Athletic Association. Their mascot is named Phil the Phoenix.

The university used to be part of the Big Ten Conference and had teams in bigger competitions. In 1935, a football player from the school, Jay Berwanger, was the first to win a famous award called the Heisman Trophy. Later, the university decided to focus less on big sports teams and stopped playing football in 1946. But in 1969, football returned as a smaller team.

The school also has a rugby team that plays in competitions, and a sailing club that has won many prizes. There is also an ultimate frisbee team called UChicago Fission.

Student life

Student organizations

Students at the University of Chicago run over 400 clubs and groups called Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs). These include cultural and religious groups, academic clubs and teams, and groups with shared interests. Some well-known groups are the nation's oldest continuously running student film society Doc Films, the team that organizes the University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt, and the student newspaper The Chicago Maroon.

Student government

All recognized student organizations get their money from the University of Chicago Undergraduate Student Government. This group is made up of undergraduate students who are elected to represent their fellow students. It has a president and several vice presidents who help lead it. As of 2026^[update], the Undergraduate Student Government spends over $2.5 million each year.

There is also a separate group called the Graduate Council that looks after the needs of graduate students.

Fraternities and sororities

As of 2019^[update], there were more than 20 Greek organizations on campus. In 2016, about 19.6% of undergraduate students were members of these groups.

Student housing

Main article: Housing at the University of Chicago

Undergraduate students at the University of Chicago live in one of seven residence hall buildings. Each student is also part of a smaller group within their building called a "house," and there are 48 houses in total. Students must live in university housing for the first six quarters of their studies. In the 2024–2025 school year, about 58% of undergraduate students lived on campus.

The university also has housing for graduate students near campus.

Traditions

Every May since 1987, the university holds the University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt, where student teams try to find unusual items from a list. In January, there is a week-long winter festival called Kuviasungnerk/Kangeiko (Kuvia) with early morning exercises and fitness workshops. The university also holds a carnival and concert named Summer Breeze with outside musicians. Ida Noyes Hall is where Doc Films shows movies every night. Since 1946, the university has held the Latke-Hamantash Debate, a fun discussion about latkes and hamantashen. Since 2002, the Ida Noyes Pub has hosted Trivia Nights for students and staff every Tuesday.

People

For a more comprehensive list, see List of University of Chicago people.

Since the university started in 1890, 101 Nobel laureates have been connected to the University of Chicago. At the time they won, 21 of these awards were given to people who were working or studying at the university. These awards cover many areas, including Physics, Chemistry, Physiology/Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economics. The university also has many other achievements, such as ten Fields Medalists, seventeen National Medal of Science recipients, four Turing Award winners, and many more honored individuals.

Some well-known graduates include famous people like Milton Friedman, Bernie Sanders, and Carl Sagan. Alumni have become leaders in many fields, such as heads of big companies like Microsoft and Goldman Sachs, leaders of countries on five continents, and important government officials. The university has also had notable teachers, including former U.S. president Barack Obama and famous writers.

In pop culture

The University of Chicago is where some famous fictional characters went to school, like Harry Burns and Sally Albright from When Harry Met Sally, Indiana Jones, and Mark Watney from The Martian. The university was also used as a real-life location for filming parts of Divergent, The Fugitive, and Sense8.

A book character named Abe Ravelstein, from the novel Ravelstein, was inspired by a real teacher who worked at the University of Chicago.