Loyola University Chicago — College Profile

About

Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit institution best known for its deep commitment to social justice, service learning, and ethical leadership. The university boasts particular academic strength in nursing, pre-health pathways, environmental science, and business through its well-regarded Quinlan School of Business. Students enjoy a dynamic lifestyle split between the scenic Lake Shore Campus, situated directly along Lake Michigan, and the downtown Water Tower Campus located right off Chicago's Magnificent Mile. This seamless blend of a traditional beachfront college environment with direct access to urban professional opportunities—complemented by a dedicated study abroad campus in Rome—defines the distinctive Loyola student experience.

Wikipedia:Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1870 by the Society of Jesus, Loyola is the fourth largest Catholic university in terms of enrollment in the United States. Its namesake is Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Loyola's professional schools include programs in medicine, nursing, and health sciences anchored by the Loyola University Medical Center, and the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research spending and doctorate production".

Location

Chicago, IL, 60660 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

ORD · Chicago O'Hare

13 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

YoursEveryone

Tuition & fees$53,710

Housing & food (on campus)$17,010

Books & supplies$1,600

Cost of attendance$67,408

Average net price$36,079

Same price for all students

Tuition & fees$53,710

Housing & food (on campus)$17,010

Books & supplies$1,600

Cost of attendance$67,408

Average net price$36,079

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · 2023-24

$0–30k

$28,992

$30–48k

$28,663

$48–75k

$32,432

$75–110k

$36,853

$110k+

$42,346

Your family's actual price → Loyola University Chicago net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$27,362

Share of first-years who get one32%

Source: Loyola University Chicago's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

75%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

66%

Back for yr 2

82%

Transferred

18%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

72% graduated · 19% transferred · 9% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$58,411

10 yrs after entry$71,530

Debt

Median at graduation$24,157

Monthly payment$256

Middle 50% owe$8.5k–$27k

90th percentile$33,000

Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs, $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

82%

Test policy

Test optional

Checked Sep 2026

SAT average

1297

R 600–690 · M 570–670

ACT midpoint

Comp 27–32 · E 27–34 · M 24–29

SAT middle 50%: 1170–1360

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

How much essays count at Loyola University Chicago: Important (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)

Source: Loyola University Chicago's Common Data Set for 2024-25 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If Loyola University Chicago asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 31%Women 69%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

13 : 1

Pell grant

24%

First-gen

28%

Family income

$60,527

Independent

13%

Veterans

Age at entry

20.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

47%

Hispanic

23%

Black

Asian

13%

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I without football · EADA 2024-25

Basketball
Men's · Women's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Men's · Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$58,411

After 10 yrs

$71,530

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing424

Psychology, General280

Biology, General261

Finance and Financial Management Services149

Political Science and Government147

Marketing141

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication119

Business Administration, Management and Operations118

Neurobiology and Neurosciences106

Criminal Justice and Corrections93

Management Information Systems and Services90

Natural Resources Conservation and Research67

Accounting and Related Services67

Social Work56

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods51

History50

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$1.1B

Full-time faculty

52%

Faculty salary

$11,515/mo

Teaching spend

$14,058

per student

Federal loans

45%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R1 — very high research

$61M research spending · 156 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, more selective admissions