Hello! I'm a high school junior in Illinois, and I'm really interested in the University of Chicago. How much is the tuition for in-state students? Are there any scholarships or financial aid options available specifically for in-state attendees?
The University of Chicago is a private institution, which means that tuition is the same for all students, regardless of residency. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the estimated cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, room, and board, is around $93,633 for students living on campus.
The good news is that the University of Chicago is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for all students, including those from Illinois, and is need-blind for all domestic applicants. So, you don't have to worry about your financial circumstances impacting your odds of acceptance, or your ability to attend UChicago if you are accepted.
In terms of aid, UChicago offers need-based financial aid packages with a combination of grants, work-study, and possibly student loans. To be considered for need-based financial aid, you should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile.
In addition to need-based aid, there are merit scholarships available. Although these merit scholarships are generally not specifically for in-state students, Illinois residents are eligible to apply for them, and there are some specifically for students from the Chicago area, which could be a possibility for you depending on where in the state you're from.
I recommend visiting the university's financial aid website for more information about financial aid opportunities and resources at the University of Chicago. You can also always reach out to their financial aid office directly with any questions you have about cost of attendance or your eligibility for aid.
As always, you should also explore other external scholarships as well; these can be found through platforms like Cappex, Fastweb, or Scholly. And be sure to check with your high school counselor about any local or in-state scholarship opportunities that you might qualify for. These scholarships often have fewer applicants and can add up, to be a great way to help fund your college education.
On one last, separate note, if you want tips on how to tackle UChicago's school-specific supplemental essays, which are known to be exceptionally quirky, remember that CollegeVine's blog releases a post every year breaking down the current prompts. While this year's post won't come out until after the prompts are released on August 1st, you can check out last year's post to get a sense for both the prompts and the exceptional guidance you'll receive from CollegeVine: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-uchicago-essays-2023-2024
Good luck!
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