University of Chicago

“Where fearless intellectual inquiry meets a world-class research university in the heart of Chicago.”

The University of Chicago is one of the world's most distinguished research universities, renowned for its commitment to rigorous intellectual inquiry and the free exchange of ideas. Founded in 1890 with a grant from John D. Rockefeller, UChicago has produced more than 100 Nobel laureates affiliated with the university — more than any other institution — and remains a global leader in economics, law, medicine, and the social sciences. Its Hyde Park campus, designed in a striking neo-Gothic style, sits five miles south of downtown Chicago along the Lake Michigan shoreline, blending architectural grandeur with an intensely academic atmosphere. At the heart of the undergraduate experience is the Core Curriculum — a rigorous, interdisciplinary set of courses in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics that every student completes regardless of major. This shared intellectual foundation cultivates critical thinking, analytical writing, and a genuine love of ideas that distinguishes UChicago graduates. Students choose from 68 majors and 57 minors spread across five collegiate divisions. The most popular majors include Economics, Computer Science, Biology, Mathematics, and Political Science. Small class sizes and close access to world-class faculty — including numerous Nobel Prize winners who teach undergraduates — make for an unparalleled academic environment. Campus life at UChicago is defined by intellectual passion and a quirky, self-aware culture captured in the school's unofficial motto: 'Where fun comes to die' — a tongue-in-cheek nod to the demanding academic culture that students wear as a badge of pride. In reality, the university supports a rich extracurricular ecosystem with more than 400 student organizations, 20 varsity sports teams competing in NCAA Division III, and beloved traditions like the annual 72-hour Scavenger Hunt and the Latke-Hamantash Debate. The residential House System — 38 houses of up to 105 students — creates tight-knit communities within a large research university, and the vibrant Hyde Park neighborhood and the broader city of Chicago offer world-class cultural, culinary, and professional resources right at students' doorsteps.