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Chicago, IL · Evanston, IL
| University of Chicago | Northwestern University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $14,860/yr | $29,167/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | -$1,264/yr | $1,764/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $914/yr | $6,099/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $226/yr | $7,898/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $12,602/yr | $18,282/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $48,524/yr | $48,777/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $159/mo | $159/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $20,109/yr | $21,126/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | No data reported | $21,126/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,800/yr | $1,794/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,400/yr | $3,636/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $90,360/yr | $91,250/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $70,662/yr | $68,322/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $70,662/yr | $68,322/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 15% | 19% |
| Students taking federal loans | 4.7% | 17% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 4.5% | 7.7% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1510–1580 | 1510–1570 |
| SAT average | 1554 | 1533 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 34–35 | 33–35 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 34–36 · Math 33–35 | English 35–36 · Math 32–35 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 38,631 | 51,769 |
| Students accepted | 1,849 | 3,703 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,626 | 2,111 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 88% | 57% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 46% | 50% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 30% | 29% |
| High-school GPA | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 96% | 95% |
| Freshmen who come back | 99% | 98% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $91,885/yr | $89,363/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $60,576–$158,433 | $61,037–$139,122 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 96% | 97% |
| White students graduating | 97% | 96% |
| Black students graduating | 96% | 92% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 93% | 90% |
| Asian students graduating | 97% | 97% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $80,870/yr | $76,844/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 86% | 87% |
| Graduate on time | 87% | 83% |
| Pell students who graduate | 92% | 94% |
| First-gen students who finish | 89% | 83% |
| Low-income students who finish | No data reported | 87% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $87,164/yr | $83,487/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Social Sciences 40% · Mathematics & Statistics 9% · Computer & Information Sciences 8% | Social Sciences 16% · Communication & Journalism 14% · Engineering 14% |
| Most popular program | Social Sciences — 40% of degrees | Social Sciences — 16% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Mathematics & Statistics — 9% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 14% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 8% of degrees | Engineering — 14% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 8% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Physical Sciences — 7% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Law — $199,603/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $224,402/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 34% | 38% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 7,569 | 9,201 |
| Students per professor | 5 : 1 | 6 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 10,968 | 14,457 |
| Average professor pay | $19,806/mo | $20,322/mo |
| Full-time professors | 85% | 83% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $47,140 | $58,836 |
| Setting | City (large) | City (small) |
| Location | Chicago, IL | Evanston, IL |
| Region | Great Lakes | Great Lakes |
| Founded | 1890 | 1851 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 18% | 12% |
| Men | 54% | 46% |
| Women | 46% | 54% |
| White students | 30% | 31% |
| Black students | 6.9% | 8.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 17% | 16% |
| Asian students | 19% | 21% |
| Two or more races | 7% | 7.9% |
| Other / not reported | 2.8% | 4.7% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 20% | 15% |
| Part-time students | 0.1% | 2.8% |
| Students age 25+ | 1.1% | 3% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $96,069/yr | $48,932/yr |
| Endowment | $9.1B | $11.0B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 4,568 | 4,488 |
| Required to live on campus | Yes — for first-year students | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $12,219/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $8,115/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Quarter | Quarter |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Navy |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | No | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | No | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | No |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 16 | 19 |
| Student athletes | 578 | 518 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $27.9M |
| Athletics budget | $8.4M | $131.8M |
| Athletics revenue | $8.4M | $131.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $87,735 | $2.5M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.