Admissions Factors
What University of Chicago Looks For
University of Chicago rates 6 factors as very important: rigor of high school courses, application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent or ability and character and personal qualities.
How University of Chicago rates each factor
Each college sorts 18 factors into four levels on its Common Data Set.
Very important
Considered
Not considered
The numbers behind the class
Overall admit rate
4.5%
2,039 of 45,533 applicants
Early decision admit rate
Not reported
Admitted from the waitlist
Not reported
Enrolled first-years had an average high school GPA of 4.54. 97% of those who reported a class rank were in the top tenth of their class.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of Chicago look for in applicants?
University of Chicago rates 6 factors as very important: rigor of high school courses, application essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent or ability and character and personal qualities.
Does University of Chicago consider legacy status?
University of Chicago rates alumni relation as "considered" in its 2025-26 Common Data Set.
Does University of Chicago track demonstrated interest?
University of Chicago rates the level of an applicant's interest as "not considered".
Source: University of Chicago’s own Common Data Set 2025-26, Section C. Last checked 2026-10-08. The ratings are the college’s own description of its process. Counts are for one entering class.
