Facts for Journalists

William Rainey Harper, first president of the University of Chicago, who served from 1891–1906.

General Facts

Motto: Crescat scientia; vita excolatur
(Let knowledge grow from more to more; And so be human life enriched)
Year Incorporated: 1890
First Classes: 1892
Founder: John D. Rockefeller
President: Robert J. Zimmer
Color: Maroon
Nobel Laureates: 81 Nobel Prize winners have been faculty members, students, or researchers at the University

People

2,168 faculty and other academic personnel
4,901 undergraduates
9,820 graduate, professional, and other students
14,772 employees (including Medical Center)

Dr. Olufunmilayo Olopade, who researches molecular genetics of breast cancer among African and African-American women, won a MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" in 2005.

Faculty & Student Honors

15 recipients (current faculty) of the MacArthur Foundation "genius grants"
14 recipients (current and former faculty) of the National Medal of Science
3 recipients of the Mellon Distinguished Achievement Award
11 Rhodes Scholarships since 2000
Find more information in our Accolades section

Financials

Consolidated operating revenue: $2.6 billion (2006-07)
Endowment: $6.2 billion (June 30, 2007)
Research funding: $407.5 million (June 30, 2007)
Undergraduate tutition (2007-08): $35,169
Graduate tutition (2007-08): Varies by unit; see more

Academic Units

The undergraduate College, offering 49 majors and 22 minors
4 Graduate Divisions: Biological Sciences, Humanities, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences
6 Graduate Professional Schools: Divinity School, Graduate School of Business, Law School, Pritzker School of Medicine, Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies, School of Social Service Administration
Graham School of General Studies, offering degree, certificate, and open enrollment programs

The University of Chicago Medical Center was named to the prestigious Honor Roll of America's Best Hospitals by U.S. & World Report in 2007.

Other Units

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (K-12)
The University Library, with 6 locations and 7.6 million print volumes
The University of Chicago Medical Center
The University of Chicago Press

Campus, Architecture & Notable Buildings

211 acres, located just south of downtown Chicago
Original buildings are English Gothic style, grouped around quadrangles
Laird Bell Law Quadrangle (Eero Saarinen, 1959)
School of Social Service Administration (Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1965)
Joseph Regenstein Library (Walter Netsch, 1970)
Max Palevsky Residential Commons (Ricardo Legorreta, 2002)
Gerald Ratner Athletics Center (Cesar Pelli, 2003)
Graduate School of Business Charles M. Harper Center (Rafael Viñoly, 2004)
Gordon Center for Integrative Science (Ellenzweig Associates, 2005)
University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital (Stanley Beaman & Sears, 2005)

In 2000, scientists from Fermilab announced the discovery of a quasar at a distance of 27 billion light years, the most distant object ever observed.

National Laboratories

Argonne National Laboratory
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, managed in partnership with Universities Research Association, Inc.

Campus Museums & Arts Facilities

Doc Films, the oldest student-run film society in the nation
Midway Studios, a National Historic Landmark and former workplace of sculptor Lorado Taft
Oriental Institute Museum, one of the world’s major collections of Near Eastern antiquities
Regenstein Library Special Collections Research Center, featuring exhibits based on its holdings
The Renaissance Society, a leading exhibitor of contemporary art
Robie House (1908–10), the archetype of Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie-style architecture
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, a venue for religious services, concerts, and graduation ceremonies
Smart Museum of Art, a dynamic and innovative educational institution for the visual arts

Professional Arts Organizations on Campus

Contempo, a new music series
Court Theatre, a national center for classic theater
eighth blackbird, artists in residence and multiple-Grammy winners
Newberry Consort, artists in residence
Pacifica String Quartet, artists in residence
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, artists in residence
University of Chicago Presents, a classical music presenter

Artists in residence eighth blackbird won two Grammy awards in 2008 for its album "strange imaginary animals."

Athletics

Chicago Maroons
19 intercollegiate varsity teams, NCAA Division III
Charter member, University Athletic Association (UAA)

The University of Chicago