The University of Chicago is one of the most well-respected and well-resourced research universities in the world. They have produced more than 90 Nobel Prize winners, and are famous for pushing fields forward in both the sciences and the humanities. The university, which we (and many, many others) call UChicago, is ranked #12 by U.S. News & World Report Best College ranking, and it is rarely cited alongside the Ivy League.
UChicago has 7,650ish undergraduate students, so it offers a relatively intimate undergraduate experience despite being a massive university with enormous resources. The biggest thing about UChicago, though, is that they are only interested in big thinkers. They want students and community members who push boundaries, who bend boxes, and who are always looking for ways over, under, and through problems. They actually seek out students with conflicting ideas, opinions, and perspectives, because they are excited to put students with diverse backgrounds into a classroom, a residence hall, or around a library study group table. It’s what UChicago thrives on.
The University of Chicago doesn’t jump to release their most recent admissions statistics, but sources at an admissions event for accepted students reported a 4.1% overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028. If this is correct, the rate of admission held steady with that of the previous year for the Class of 2027 when 38,800 students submitted applications and 1,849 were accepted.
But you’re not here for the acceptance rate; you’re curious about the best majors the University of Chicago has to offer. In this post, we’ll share the top 5 majors at UChicago based on a set of criteria we’ll also explain below — because how does one pick only five top majors from the impressive spread UChicago has to offer?
If you’re looking at schools with miniscule acceptance rates, get in touch. We help top students get into exceptional colleges.
What do we mean by best major?
Ok, so what does it mean to be a ‘best’ major? Please note that we didn’t say ‘most popular major,’ and this post isn’t titled ‘The Buzziest Majors…” It’s best, and for us that requires four things.
First, the major has to have depth. There must be a strong teaching faculty with a diversity of experiences in academia and in the field. They must teach a wide variety of courses that pull from difference areas and set subjects in relationship to each other. And the mission of the program must be to continue digging and exploring.
Next, we look at focus. While the major should have depth, it shouldn’t be scattered. There should be a clear focus to the department with core overarching themes and areas of particular expertise.
Alongside focus, we assess at what resources are available to you as an undergraduate. A great-looking program where everything really cool is only available to graduate students isn’t actually all that great. Examples of resources are research and mentorship opportunities, and study abroad.
Finally, we look at what post-graduation resources are available to you. We like to see a strong alumni network and great job placement or higher-level education acceptances.
So, with all of that in mind, here are the five standout majors that make this cut.
Mathematics, BA, BS, BA/MS, BS/MS
Students at UChicago can pursue a BA, a BS, or a combined bachelors and master’s degree in mathematics, with the option of a specialization in economics. When we talk about prioritizing programs that have a lot of depth, this is that. The mathematics program at the University of Chicago is seriously impressive in the diversity of what is offered to undergraduate students. That said, the names of the math courses don’t sound all that exciting, to be honest. But if math is your thing, you will probably find them thrilling. You also may be able to start off in higher level courses based on your AP scores and the UChicago Online Mathematics Placement Test. Since 2000, the Department of Mathematics has developed what they estimate to be one of the world’s largest research programs for undergraduates, which was long supported by the National Science Foundation. Students in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program writes papers on topics they choose through mentorship with faculty and graduate advisors. They also have an impressive study-abroad program in Paris that is specifically for mathematics majors.
Classical Studies, BA
The major in Classical Studies may sound a bit stuffy, but the program is really groundbreaking and provides students — especially those interested in a future in the law — with an outstanding foundation. All students in the major gain expertise in Greek, Latin, or both languages, alongside studies in “Greek or Roman art, history, philosophy, religion, science, material culture, and literature.” Students gain skills in critical thinking, text and visual analysis, and interpretation, and pursue one of three variants: Greek and Roman Cultures, Language Intensive, or Language and Literature. The courses, too, are really exciting (and we’re super serious about this), ranging from “Archaeology for Ancient Historians” to “The Birth of the Gods: A Close Reading of Hesiod’s Theogony.” Study abroad options are ample, including spending a full quarter living and studying in Athens or Rome. Beyond the law, students go on to careers in teaching, research, publishing, and education.
History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine (HIPS), BA
This major is amazingly, wonderfully, almost absurdly specific. It shows just the type of obsessive focus that we love about the University of Chicago. The History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine, or HIPS, major is geared towards students who want to study “science in terms of its historical development, conceptual structure, and social role,” and students in the major are expected to be pursuing at least one physical science concurrent to the major. At its heart, though, this major is all about providing context for the systems in science and medicine that drive our society, and many students are drawn to the major because they want to go into medicine, law, science journalism, or even government and public policy. Students can concentrate in anthropology, ethics, history, philosophy, or sociology of science and medicine, and something that makes the program really unique are the tutorials that are required of all students in the major. Tutorials are small classes for three to ten students that are heavily focused on discussion and writing, as well on presentation of your learning. The classes are thrilling, too. “Nature and Technology in the Capitalist Mode of Production?” Yes, please.
Philosophy, BA
We know, we know, we know, a philosophy major, like Classics, may sound (does sound, tbh) old school — but hear us out. The University of Chicago excels in the places where tradition and innovation meet. The Philosophy major offers exactly that. And the major isn’t stuck in the past. The program “covers a wide range of historical periods and field. You’ll become acquainted with the classic texts, of course, but then you’ll get to expand beyond that or dig deeper via the Intensive Track, which prioritizes small group discussions. The Intensive Track is one of three options for how to pursue the major. The Standard major is a more traditional philosophy program, while the “Philosophy and Allied Fields” program is a specialist option that empowers students to pair their philosophy studies with another subject, like mathematics, biology, or economics. The size of the program is intimate, which we like for Philosophy, with 150-200 majors at any point in time. And, as you’re pursuing the major, you can also contribute to the University of Chicago Undergraduate Philosophy Review, an annual print publication.
Statistics, BA, BS, BA/MS, BS/MS
The Statistics program at the University of Chicago is deeply impressive. It was founded in 1949, and from the very beginning it’s been known for attracting the best-of-the-best. If you look at the texts that are most influential in statistics, many of them have been authored by UChicago faculty and researchers. This has attracted top-tier educators, and undergraduate students benefit from the caliber of professors. The course options are deep and broad, and there is so much room for exploration and discovery. There are courses in probability, machine learning, optimization, and more, and all majors are required to take at least two introductory computer science courses. This communicates one of the foci of the major, which is to be at the cutting edge and to prepare graduates to take the professional world by storm. This is proven in the outcomes. The statistics degree leads to super strong career opportunities in finance, tech, and those secretively under-the-radar super well-paying jobs that don’t require a masters. Sound mythical? They aren’t if you have a statistics degree.
The University of Chicago is an outstanding university, so every program is strong. Some, though, stand out from the pack. We hope these five majors will spark your imagination and initiate exploration.
If you’re a top student looking for a spot at a top school, let us know.