Loyola Chicago: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Loyola University Chicago · Chicago, Illinois · Private nonprofit · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 43,954
- Applicants
- 33,009
- Admitted75%
- 2,605
- Enrolled
- 8%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access75% admittedRanked #121 (tie) in National Universities; Business Programs #83 (tie), Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #44 (tie), Computer Science #217 (tie), Nursing #19 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Loyola University Chicago (see the source), read on 2026-06-13.
Is Loyola Chicago a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Loyola Chicago against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Loyola Chicago is a private nonprofit university in Chicago, Illinois that admits about 75% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $36,079 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Biology, General and Psychology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 74% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Loyola Chicago is a private institution located in Chicago, Illinois. For the most recent reporting cycle, Loyola Chicago admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 75%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1297 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $36,079 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Loyola Chicago?
62% of enrolled students at Loyola Chicago had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.74, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does Loyola Chicago weight in admissions?
Loyola Chicago reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Considered
6- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Talent/ability
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered
4- Interview
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Loyola Chicago typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 570–670, with an EBRW midpoint near 640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–32. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1220 |
| 50th percentile | 1297 |
| 75th percentile | 1390 |
| % submitting SAT | 39% |
| 25th percentile | 26 |
| 50th percentile | 30 |
| 75th percentile | 31 |
| % submitting ACT | 15% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional; Loyola superscores; admitted students who submitted scores send official scores by May 1.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Loyola Chicago's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 37.3% |
| Top 25% of class | 69.3% |
| Top 50% of class | 91.6% |
| % submitting class rank | 19.2% |
How much does Loyola Chicago actually cost?
Published tuition is $53,710 for in-state students and $53,710 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,010 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $36,079 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 24% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $56,930 |
| Room and board | $17,980 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $36,079 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 84% |
| Average need-based grant | $35,854 |
| Average merit award, no financial need842 first-year students received one | $27,362 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 58% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $42,570 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | — |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Loyola Chicago
| Notification date | Rolling basis beginning 10/15 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 or within 2 weeks of notification |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Loyola Chicago?
These predict outcomes at Loyola Chicago better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Loyola Chicago
The most popular undergraduate programs at Loyola Chicago, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Biology, General and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Loyola Chicago confers roughly 1,725 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $86,020 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 415 | $86,020 |
| Biology, General | 305 | $67,114 |
| Psychology, General | 269 | $59,090 |
| Marketing | 170 | $85,371 |
| Political Science and Government | 160 | $68,766 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 146 | $102,491 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 139 | $67,395 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 121 | $72,266 |
Is Loyola Chicago safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Loyola Chicago disclosed 39 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 5 violent offenses and 17 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Loyola Chicago?
About 42% of undergraduates at Loyola Chicago live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 5% of men join a fraternity and 9% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Illinois parents ask about
Next steps for Loyola Chicago
Common questions parents ask about Loyola Chicago
What GPA do I need for Loyola Chicago?
62% of enrolled students at Loyola Chicago had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.74, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Loyola Chicago typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 570–670, with an EBRW midpoint near 640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–32.
How much does Loyola Chicago actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Loyola Chicago after grants and scholarships is $36,079 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $53,710. Budget against the net figure.
Is Loyola Chicago realistic for my child?
Loyola Chicago admits 75% of applicants, so 570–670 SAT Math is target range and below 570 is a reach. Then check the $36,079 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Loyola Chicago?
Loyola Chicago accepts about 75% of applicants out of roughly 43,954 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Loyola Chicago test-optional?
Yes. Loyola Chicago is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Loyola Chicago?
About 74% of students at Loyola Chicago graduate within six years. 85% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Loyola Chicago look for in applicants?
Loyola Chicago rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Loyola Chicago a public or private school, and where is it located?
Loyola Chicago is a private nonprofit institution located in Chicago, Illinois.
What are the most popular majors at Loyola Chicago?
The largest undergraduate majors at Loyola Chicago by annual graduates are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Biology, General and Psychology, General. The school awards about 1,725 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Loyola Chicago safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Loyola Chicago reported 39 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Loyola Chicago?
At Loyola Chicago, 42% of undergraduates live on campus, 5% of men are in fraternities, 9% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Loyola University Chicago, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers