THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Living in Chicago
Is there a better city in the United States? We don’t think so. The architecture, the lake front, the restaurants, the art scene, the night life, the parks, the museums, and our sports teams are world class.
The city lives on a residential scale, with 77 diverse neighborhoods, each with distinct cultures, attractions, and points of interest.
Visit this tourism page and this guide to Chicago attractions for a sampling of what the city can offer. For an inside look, try the Chicago Tribune or Time Out Chicago.
As you’ll soon discover, this is a campus that takes “the life of the mind” seriously. The sheer variety of lectures, workshops, invited speakers, and other campus events is astounding. Even more impressive is the intellectual fire and commitment that all UChicago members bring to their work – from first-year undergraduates to our most senior faculty.
You can get a feel for campus life by strolling through a virtual display of campus architecture, checking out our neighborhood attractions, downloading a campus map and walking guide, and arranging for a campus tour.
Not in Chicago? Don’t worry, you’ll have the chance to visit campus, meet the MAPSS staff, attend graduate courses, and meet the Chairs of our Social Science departments during Campus Days for Admitted Students in April.
Hyde Park is a beautiful, leafy, residential neighborhood that houses nearly 60% of UChicago faculty. Walkable, diverse, and with an important history in U.S. politics, it features a wide array of restaurants, museums, excellent public and private schools, and historic architecture. 53rd Street is the vibrant center of the neighborhood, with hotels, shops and dining, and 57th Street remains a hub of campus activity.
For more on the neighborhood, check out the Hyde Park Historical Society. For updates on the latest shopping and dining, visit the 53rd Street Blog.
Hyde Park is normally a more economical choice than Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, the South Loop, Logan Square, and other neighborhoods that may be of interest. Not only are the rents lower, but you will save a considerable amount on commuting costs, not to mention the stress of traffic or finding parking spaces.
Graduate students typically rent apartments in Hyde Park through private rental companies. You can find more information about Hyde Park and housing resources through UChicagoGRAD. The University does not have on-campus housing for graduate students.