University of Chicago is a private institution in Chicago, Illinois in the Chicago metropolitan area. It is a mid-sized school with 6,801 undergraduate students. Admissions are extremely competitive, with the University of Chicago acceptance rate at around 5%. Some of its majors are Economics, Political Science, Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Biological Sciences. Six-year graduation rate is 95%, and University of Chicago alumni have a median starting salary of about INR 1,04,76,000 (ten years after graduation, in median earnings, converted from $126,500).
Harvard University is a highly selective private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the Boston metropolitan area. It is large in size with an enrollment of 30,386 students at the undergraduate level. Harvard is very competitive in admissions, as its acceptance rate is about 3%. Popular majors include Social Sciences, Biology, Liberal Arts & Humanities, History, and Mathematics. The six-year graduation rate stands at 97%, and Harvard alumni still boast a median starting salary of around INR 1,13,21,000 (translated from $136,700 median earnings a decade after graduation).
| University of Chicago | Harvard University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 8.4 Out of 10 | 10 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 13 QS World University 2026 # 15 Times Higher Education 2026 # 10 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 5 Times Higher Education 2026 # 5 QS World University 2026 # 1 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 132 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 28 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 34 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 1 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 6 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 1 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -36 PG Programs -31 Doctorate Programs -9 | UG Programs -40 PG Programs -53 Doctorate Programs -9 |
| Acceptance Rate | 0.0 % | 3.0 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT-570 IELTS-7 SAT-1080 TOEFL-80 | GMAT-620 GRE-300 IELTS-7 SAT-1470 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 56034 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 72000 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 29000 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 68266 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 71030 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 32724 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | University of Chicago is one of the top private universities in Chicago, United States. It is ranked #10 in QS World University Rankings 2023. Top recruiters include McKinsey & Company Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Google LLC, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Accenture, Deloitte Consulting LLP etc
| Harvard University is one of the top private universities in Cambridge, United States. It is ranked #5 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and ranked #1 in US UNI.
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| application requirements | Transcripts, English proficiency scores, Supplemental essays, teacher evaluation, GMAT/ GRE scores, Supplemental material (art work, research papers, etc.) | Teacher Evaluation forms (as additional LORs); Sample of academic work, potfolio, music recordings, art work, etc (supplementary documents); IELTS/TOEFL; Standardized test scores |
| Campuses and B-Schools | University of Chicago Booth School of Business | Harvard Law School Harvard Extension School Harvard Kennedy School Harvard Business School |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.6/10 Read 5 reviews | 7.1/10 Read 5 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 9 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 17 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 1 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 6 for Business by US News 2025 # 7 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 135/160IELTS - 7/9PTE - 70/90TOEFL - 104/120 | Duolingo - 145/160GMAT - 740/800GRE - 326/340IELTS - 7.5/9PTE - 75/90TOEFL - 109/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -127803 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Sep 16, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Dec 4, 2025 (Round 1 Decision Date For 2026 Intake) Jan 6, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Mar 26, 2026 (Round 2 Decision Date For 2026 Intake) Apr 2, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Apr 2, 2026 (Round 3 Decision Date For 2026 Intake) | Sep 3, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake) Dec 10, 2025 (Round 1 Decision Date for Fall 2026 Intake) Jan 5, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake) Mar 25, 2026 (Round 2 Decision Date for Fall 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Chicago | Harvard University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1890 | 1636 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 5.9:1 | 7:1 |
| Male:Female | 53% Male, 0% Female | 52% Male, 48% Female |
| Location Facts | A 217 acres campus located in Chicago's Hyde Park and Woodlawn neighborhood eight miles of downtown Chicago. | Harvard Yard: Campus’s historic hub, Harvard Square: Campus’s personal hagout destination with restaurants, cafe, bookstores, theater, shops. Well connected to the local neighborhood of Boston by public transport, the campus traverses the Charles River to near by Allston. |
| Library | UChicago Library System is the 10th largest academic library in North America comprising 6 libraries. Contains a total of 11.9 million volumes, 65,330 ft. of archives and manuscripts and 245 TB of digital archives. | Largest academic library in the world. 20.4 million volumes, 400 million manuscript items, 180,000 serial titles. The library offers various grants and fellowships for both students and faculty. |
| Campus Life | Famous campus attractions include UChicago's Metallurgical Laboratory, University of Chicago Press (largest university press in USA), Cobb Lecture Hall, Rockefeller Chapel, Gerald Ratner Athletics Center. UChicago also has over 400 Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs). | Students from over 50 states and 80 countries are offered assistance by over 400 official student organization. The campus has its own museum, radio station, magazine and newspaper. Along with student clubs for Aikikai, archery, dance, theatre/drama, music, etc, campus also offers cultural & racial initiatives, asian student centric-projects, etc. Varsity sports, crimson pride and various atheletic teams. |
| Hostel | #Housing and Food(4 Quarters) - $29000 | #Medium Single - $10719 #Large Single - $13644 #Standard Single - $8361 |
| Famous Alumni | University boasts of about 182,000 alumni. 100 Nobel laureates, 4 Turning Award winners, 54 Rhodes Scholars, 26 Marshall Scholars, 9 Field Medalists, 52 MacArthur Fellows, 25 Pulitzer Prize winners, 20 National Humanities Medalists, 16 Billionaire graduates. Edwin Hubble (American astronomer), Bernie Sanders (US Senator), Milton Friedman (American economist), Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft), Larry Ellison (Founder of Oracle Corporation) | Eight US Presidents, 62 living billionaires, 242 Marshall Scholars, 359 Rhodes scholars. Barak Obama (ex-president of USA), Michelle Obama (Former First Lady of USA), Mark Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman (Actress), Bill Gates, Conan O’ Brien (comedian writer), Al Gore (Winner-Peace Prize), Matt Damon (Actor), Helen Keller, Subramaniam Swami (Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha) |
| City Life | Chicago is the 3rd most populous city, 3rd largest gross metropolitan product and 2nd largest central business district in USA. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Home to several Fortune 500 companies (such as Boeing, McDonald's, Walgreens, Kraft Heinz, etc.). Famous landmarks include Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, Navy Pier, etc. | Cambridge- city in Massachusetts; home to a huge student community; city offers a great nightlife with gastropubs, live music, and cocktail bars. Boston’s cosmopolitan excitement is bus-ride away. Average salaries offered within the state are up to 97,5000 USD; Famous tourist attractions: Charles River, Harvard Square, Mount Auburn Cemetery, MIT Museum, CambrdgeSide, John Harvard Statue, Sanders Theatre; Unemployment rate- 3.2% |
| Weather |
University of Chicago and Harvard University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both Harvard University and the University of Chicago are two of the world's top institutions. Harvard ranks #5 in QS and 3rd in Times Higher Education, whereas Chicago ranks #13 in QS and 14th in Times Higher Education.By discipline, Harvard predominates in a broad spectrum of subjects—Arts & Humanities, Natural Sciences, Life Sciences & Medicine, and Social Sciences & Management. Highly esteemed programs exist at Chicago as well, notably in Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Law, and Mathematics, but Harvard tends to dominate in medical and professional schools, business, and international research influence.
General Information
Harvard, established in 1636, is the oldest university in the United States, with a huge enrollment of around 23,000 students in undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. Its various campuses offer rich resources, libraries, and professional opportunities.University of Chicago was established in 1890 and has approximately 17,000 students. It has a presence in Chicago's Hyde Park. The university focuses on rigorous undergrad teaching, selective grad programs, and research-oriented education, especially in the fields of social sciences, economics, and law.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Both institutions have highly competitive admissions, with average acceptance rates of 3–5%. Harvard boasts a wide range of graduate and professional programs in law, business, medicine, public health, and data science, whereas Chicago is particularly renowned in economics, social sciences, law, and business, as well as having a solid liberal arts grounding for undergraduates.
Research Impact & Facilities
Harvard has vast research facilities, such as several professional schools, research laboratories, and the Widener Library system, to support disciplinary strengths in sciences, medicine, and humanities.Chicago is also well-equipped for research, with areas of excellence in economics, social sciences, law, and mathematics, and facilities such as the Regenstein Library, Chicago Booth School of Business, and specialized research centers. Although not as large as Harvard, Chicago offers a very intense research environment.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both are private and costly. Harvard tends to be a bit more expensive, but both offer generous need-based grants to domestic and international students. Chicago's smaller enrollment enables a more close-knit campus experience, whereas Harvard's size offers access to greater professional and academic networks.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Harvard alumni have world-class global alumni networks and excellent employability in business, law, medicine, policy, and academia. Chicago alumni also accomplish outstanding success, especially in economics, law, social sciences, business, and academia, with a highly influential alumni community. Although Harvard is wider known in professional sectors, Chicago is particularly renowned for analytical discipline and social science impact.
