Stanford vs UChicago
Stanford University and the University of Chicago, two prestigious institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Stanford, nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, boasts a lower acceptance rate (4.7%) compared to Chicago's (7.3%), indicating its highly selective admissions process. While both universities excel in various academic disciplines, Stanford is renowned for its strength in engineering and computer science, while Chicago is known for its rigorous social sciences and humanities programs. Stanford's student body is more diverse, with a higher percentage of international students and a more balanced gender ratio. In contrast, Chicago has a slightly higher graduation rate (89%) than Stanford (86%), suggesting a strong commitment to student success. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into the unique characteristics of each university and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Stanford University |
![]() University of Chicago |
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Overview |
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Location | Stanford, California | Chicago, Illinois |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Quarter | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 99.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 3.9% | 6.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$90
Graduate:
$125
|
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$90
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SAT range | 1470 - 1570 | 1510 - 1580 |
ACT range | 34 - 35 | 33 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 15.0% | 49.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | 35.0% |
Total number of applicants | 55,471 | 37,974 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,190 | 2,460 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,757 | 2,053 |
Yield rate | 80.2% | 83.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $78,898 | $84,126 |
Average net price | $14,402 | $33,727 |
Tuition | $55,473 | $59,256 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$11,166
Meal plan:
$6,694
|
$17,685 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
61.0%
Average amount $56,211 |
52.0%
Average amount $48,412 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
5.0%
Average amount $5,151 |
6.0%
Average amount $5,265 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $17,186 |
2.0%
Average amount $37,860 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,645
Men 49.4% Women 50.6% |
7,636
Men 52.2% Women 47.8% |
Graduate students |
10,035
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
11,196
Men 55.1% Women 44.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 58.5% | N/A |
International students | 24.4% | 28.5% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 14,621 | 4,584 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas Washington New York Illinois | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 5:1 | 5:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 95.5% | 95.9% |
Dropout rate | 1.7% | 1.7% |
Transferred out | 0.6% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Law (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Statistics (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
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