University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 4.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 98/100 · Exceptional Value
UChicago scores 98 (Exceptional Value) -- the second-highest score in this eight-school group, behind only MIT (99). The 3.5-year payback period, $72,100 median 6-year earnings, and 95.9% completion rate combine to a clean ROI profile. The most notable data point is net price: $14,860, the lowest average net price in this cohort. The low net price combined with low-income near-zero cost (net price of -$1,264 for the 0-30000 bracket) reflects an aid model that works aggressively across the income spectrum. Economics is by far the largest program at 622 graduates -- more than three times the economics enrollment at Harvard or Yale -- earning $92,075 year-one and $159,578 year-four with a 0.143 debt-to-earnings ratio and A grade. Mathematics (181 graduates) earns $100,421 year-one and $172,826 year-four. Computer Science (156 graduates) reaches $117,578 year-one and $178,068 year-four. UChicago's economics faculty has produced more Nobel laureates in economics than any other institution, and the brand effect on consulting and finance placement is specific and measurable. The earnings premium sub-score of 0.957 -- meaning graduates earn 96% above baseline -- is the second-highest in this cohort. The school is not easy, and the Core Curriculum demands are real; the ROI is real as well.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 3.5 years. The national average for 4-year schools is closer to 8-10 years.
University of Chicago
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $70,662/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $70,662/yr |
| Average net price | $14,860/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $59,440 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $91,885 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $72,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $159 |
| Estimated payback period | 3.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 95.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,569 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at University of Chicago is $70,662/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $14,860/year, or roughly $59,440 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of -$1,264/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $48,524/year. The school provides substantial aid to low-income students, making it significantly more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
The median graduate leaves with $15,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $159 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $91,885 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.21 - well within manageable territory.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | -$1,264 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $914 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $226 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,602 |
| $110,001+ | $48,524 |
Low-income students may receive more in grants than the cost of attendance, resulting in a negative net price.
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 have a net price of -$1,264 at UChicago -- a negative number meaning grants exceed total cost. The 30001-48000 bracket is $914 per year. These figures are among the best in this cohort for low-income access, comparable to MIT and Penn. UChicago's financial aid for low-income families is genuine and substantial, and the near-zero cost at the lowest income brackets means the school competes directly with public flagship affordability for admitted low-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket is $226 per year -- effectively free. The 75001-110000 bracket rises to $12,602. The step from $226 to $12,602 between these brackets is steep, but both figures represent good value relative to the $70,662 sticker price. Families in the $48,000-$75,000 range face the lowest net price of any school in this cohort for that bracket. The $12,602 figure for the 75-110k band is competitive but higher than Harvard's $9,941 for the same tier.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $48,524 per year at UChicago -- roughly $194,000 over four years, comparable to MIT's full-pay figure. Against a 3.5-year payback and $72,100 median 6-year earnings, the case for full-pay works for graduates in economics, mathematics, and CS -- the dominant majors. For biology graduates ($35,275 year-one) or research psychology ($31,986 year-one), the payback against $194,000 is substantially longer. UChicago's high-income families should run the numbers by major rather than relying on the aggregate.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Chicago with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $159,578 | A |
| Mathematics | $172,826 | A |
| Computer Science | $178,068 | - |
| Biology | $59,794 | B |
| International Relations | $87,869 | B+ |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $73,483 | C+ |
| Public Policy Analysis | $94,237 | B+ |
| History | $64,330 | - |
| Philosophy | $71,709 | B+ |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $37,246 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Economics
Economics is the dominant program at UChicago by volume: 622 graduates, $92,075 year-one and $159,578 year-four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.143 (ROI grade A) with median debt of $13,197. The UChicago economics curriculum is among the most mathematically rigorous in the country at the undergraduate level, and the placement into finance, consulting, and graduate economics programs reflects that. The $159k four-year figure competes with Harvard economics ($155k) and Duke economics ($161k), confirming that UChicago economics graduates arrive in the same cohort of employer targets. The 622-graduate volume means this pipeline is large and well-established.
Mathematics
Mathematics (181 graduates) earns $100,421 at year one and $172,826 at year four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.119 (ROI grade A) with median debt of $12,000. The year-one figure of $100k reflects the quantitative finance and technology pipeline that UChicago mathematics feeds directly -- the proximity to Chicago's financial markets (CME Group, trading firms, options desks) creates a specific local pipeline in addition to national recruiting. The year-four figure of $172k is competitive with MIT math ($174k). For a mathematics degree, these numbers are exceptional and reflect UChicago's specific labor market position.
Computer Science
Computer Science (156 graduates) earns $117,578 at year one and $178,068 at year four. Debt and ratio data are not available from the Scorecard. UChicago CS benefits from Chicago's growing technology sector and from the same employer recruiting networks that target top-tier CS programs nationally. The year-one figure of $117k is below MIT CS ($154k) or Cornell CS ($152k), reflecting UChicago's smaller CS brand relative to engineering-focused schools, but the four-year trajectory to $178k is competitive. CS at UChicago is growing in enrollment and employer attention.
Public Policy Analysis
Public Policy Analysis (90 graduates) earns $60,057 at year one and $94,237 at year four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.291 (ROI grade B+) with median debt of $17,492. UChicago's Harris School of Public Policy has a direct undergraduate pipeline that places students into government, consulting, and research organizations. The year-one figure of $60k reflects government and nonprofit starting salaries; the four-year jump to $94k shows the transition into consulting and policy-adjacent roles. For students targeting public-sector careers, UChicago's Harris connection provides a direct pathway to one of the most rigorous policy programs in the country.
International Relations
International Relations (111 graduates) earns $56,022 at year one and $87,869 at year four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.330 (ROI grade B+) with median debt of $18,500. International Relations at UChicago places into consulting, policy research, government, and international organizations at rates consistent with the overall UChicago brand. The year-one figure of $56k is lower than Dartmouth's international relations ($72k), reflecting UChicago's more academic than finance-oriented career culture in this major. The four-year figure of $87k reflects career development into higher-earning policy and consulting roles.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 86.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 89.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 88.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 4.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 770-800 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 740-780 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 34-35 |
| Enrollment | 7,569 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $19,806 |
UChicago admits 4.48% of applicants. SAT Math 770-800 and Reading 740-780 are the mid-ranges; ACT 34-35. The test profile matches Harvard and Yale. UChicago's application essays are genuinely atypical -- prompts like 'find x' and previous questions about alternate Nobel Prize categories are designed to evaluate intellectual playfulness and unconventional thinking. Students who write conventional essays about leadership or service typically perform worse than those who engage genuinely with the essay prompts. This is one school where the essays carry disproportionate weight in distinguishing applicants at the top of the academic distribution.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UChicago's Scorecard peers include Harvard (ROI 96), Stanford (ROI listed separately), Vanderbilt (ROI 93), Augustana College, and School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Among meaningful comparables, UChicago (98) scores above Harvard (96) and Vanderbilt (93). Harvard's payback of 3.2 years is faster than UChicago's 3.5, but UChicago's net price ($14,860) is the lowest in this cohort -- lower than Harvard ($19,066), MIT ($20,111), and Columbia ($21,590). Vanderbilt (93) scores five points below UChicago with lower median earnings and a slower payback. UChicago's 98 score reflects the combination of strong earnings, the best net price in the cohort, and very low borrowing at the low and middle income bands.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago (this school) | 98 | $14,860 | $91,885 |
| Stanford University | 99 | $13,807 | $124,080 |
| Vanderbilt University | 97 | $15,846 | $91,565 |
| Harvard University | 96 | $19,066 | $101,817 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
UChicago admits 4.48% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 770-800 Math and 740-780 Reading; ACT 34-35 composite. At 7,569 undergraduates, UChicago is mid-sized for this cohort. Pell rate of 15.3% is toward the lower end of the group. The student body is unusually self-selected for intellectual intensity -- UChicago's application asks non-standard essay questions that screen explicitly for students who want to engage with ideas for their own sake. Students who want a traditional college social experience or high-profile athletics may find UChicago's culture a mismatch. Students who want depth of engagement with economics, mathematics, philosophy, and the sciences in a demanding curriculum will find it fits well. The economics program is the dominant career pipeline by volume.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
University of Chicago is one of the strongest financial investments in higher education. With a total 4-year net cost of $59,440 and median graduate earnings of $91,885 ten years out, the math works decisively in graduates' favor. The estimated payback period of 3.5 years is well below average.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, a 95.9% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $15,000 is very manageable against $91,885 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.