Loyola University of Chicago

Statistics

School Says - General Information
Consistently ranked a "Best National University" and a "Great School, Great Price" by U.S. News &World Report, Loyola University Chicago continues to advance the 450-year-old Jesuit tradition of rigorous academic study firmly grounded in the liberal arts. While many of Loyola's programs are noteworthy, BusinessWeek recently rated Loyola No. 1 in the nation for Undergraduate Business Specialties in Ethics.

Loyola is the largest Jesuit Catholic university in the United States, enrolling 15,879 students from 50 states and 82 countries. Loyola offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and more than 140 graduate, professional, and graduate-level certificate programs as well as three professional programs in law, medicine, and nursing.

Loyola helps students prepare for meaningful careers with top academic programs in business, the sciences, and numerous other disciplines, along with opportunities for internships throughout the city of Chicago and beyond. Loyola's well-rounded, transformative education will help you develop as a whole person - intellectually, socially, physically, and spiritually.

School Says - Student Body
Loyola offers students the chance to develop leadership and social skills by participating in any of its more than 185 academic, athletic, cultural, hobby, media, political, social, and spiritual student-run organizations.

School Says - Academics
The Core Curriculum is the foundation of Loyola's liberal arts education. Core courses are aimed at increasing students' understanding of themselves and the world while they explore diverse subjects and cultivate new interests. Courses provide a strong base of knowledge, skills, and values that will help students achieve academic, professional, and personal success throughout their lives.

Exceptionally well-qualified students may apply to the Interdisciplinary Honors Program.

Other special academic opportunities include pre-professional programs for law and health professions; 18 five-year (bachelor's/master's) degree programs; more than 20 interdisciplinary programs; a six-year, early admission to Loyola's School of Law; early assurance to Loyola's Stritch School of Medicine; and the Loyola/Midwestern University Dual-Acceptance Pharmacy Program.

School Says - Admissions
Students seeking admission to Loyola are evaluated on their overall academic record, including ACT or SAT scores. The freshman class entering in Fall 2009 had middle 50% ACT score ranges between 24 and 29, middle 50% range on the SAT Verbal between 540 and 650, middle 50% range on the SAT Math between 530 and 650, and an average GPA of 3.70. Most Loyola students rank in the upper quarter of their graduating class, but consideration is given to students in the upper half.

Transfer students with 20 credit hours or more are evaluated on the basis of their college work only. The minimum acceptable GPA varies from 2.0 to 2.5, depending upon academic interest. Candidates must also be in good standing at the last college attended.

Loyola notifies applicants four to six weeks after the application, supporting credentials, and secondary school counselor or teacher recommendation are received. The application is only available online and there is no application fee at LUC.edu/applyluc.

Prospective students are encouraged to visit campus by arranging individual appointments and campus tours up to two weeks in advance. Arrange a visit at LUC.edu/visit.

To obtain an application, get more information, or arrange a visit, contact:

Undergraduate Admission Office
Loyola University Chicago
820 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: 312.915.6500 or 800.262.2373 (toll-free)
E-mail: admission@luc.edu
Web site: LUC.edu/undergrad

School Says - Campus Life
Loyola gives students the best of campus and city life with diverse living and learning opportunities in the world-class city of Chicago. Located off North Michigan Avenue, Chicago's Magnificent Mile, Loyola's dynamic Water Tower Campus is home to the Schools of Business Administration, Communication, Continuing and Professional Studies, Education, Law, and Social Work and connects students to myriad internship, job, and service opportunities. Loyola's Lake Shore Campus, home to the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School, and the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, is located on the picturesque shore of Lake Michigan and offers students the comforts of a traditional residential campus. The Stritch School of Medicine is housed at the Medical Sciences Campus in west suburban Maywood, Illinois.

Exposure to Loyola's three Chicago campuses gives students three diverse experiences: a vibrant urban environment, the comfort of a more traditional collegiate setting, and the bustle of a professional medical environment. At each campus, students have access to computers, study areas, and dining halls, as well as a network of student groups and activities. A free intercampus shuttle is available between the Lake Shore and Water Tower Campuses, and an intracampus shuttle is available at the Medical Sciences Campus campus.

Students may also study abroad at Loyola's fourth campus, the John Felice Rome Center in Italy; or they may attend The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies or choose from one of 100 other study abroad programs in 55 countries.

School Says - Cost Aid
Tuition for 2009-2010 entering students (per year): $29,850
Room and board (per year): Room and board cost is dependent on students' selection of residence hall and meal plan (average is $10,885).
Tuition part-time (per credit hour): $605At Loyola, we're committed to making a high-quality education affordable. Our office of Student Financial Assistance works with students and families to address each student's specific situation and needs. Our expert staff evaluates financial aid eligibility for resources such as grants, scholarships, and loans to help make a Loyola education a possibility for students.

Approximately 95% of Loyola freshmen receive some form of financial aid. Students are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15 in order to meet Loyola's March 1 priority processing date.

In addition to the many scholarships awarded with admission, students may also explore more than 75 types of additional scholarships. For more information, visit LUC.edu/finaid/scholarships.

Students Say - Academics
Standing tall alongside the shore of Lake Michigan eight miles north of Chicago, Loyola University benefits from an optimal location (so long as you don't mind cold winters). "The location, Chicago, is key in providing a unique educational experience," one student explains. "The neighborhoods, restaurants, parks, and museums of Chicago provide just as much information as a classroom setting would." A "strong Jesuit tradition" "encourages creative thinking and allows students to explore the complexities of the world in and out of the classroom," which, of course, includes its closest city. Students also appreciate the school's "really strong emphasis on preparing the individual to leave college and start a career. There are plenty of internship opportunities," and the school makes "it relatively easy to get in touch with employers. We have many career fairs." Professors are "amazing overall." Students say they are "very approachable and really care about their students in terms of their academic performance as well as their mental and physical health. They treat students with respect and are passionate about their subjects." "Small class sizes" further help students "feel comfortable asking questions," and professors' "expertise" and "passion" make it "much easier to learn." Students brag of the nursing program's "great reputation" and add that "the history and philosophy departments are really good." Many, however, express disappointment with the administration citing "red tape" and "layers of bureaucracy," which make many offices "a bit inaccessible."

Students Say - Campus Life
Loyola "has the aspects of a 'normal' campus," but "it has a different twist because it is located in Chicago. Students frequently use the city's attractions as opposed to college activities" for extracurricular diversion. Living in Chicago, "students tend to have plenty of options in terms of what to do for fun." There's an active "local bar scene," as well as "concerts, museums, plays, and almost anything else one can think of doing." Getting around town is really easy: "There is a [CTA] station dedicated to the campus, which makes it extremely easy to travel anywhere within the city. Each student is also given a U-pass, which provides unlimited rides on any Chicago public transportation." Getting from campus to campus is another matter; students complain that "the school needs better transportation from the two campuses. They have one shuttle run every 15 to 20 minutes, but time is of the essence, and if you miss one, it is hard to get from one to the other quickly. This affects classes, meetings, and jobs." Students who prefer to stay on campus for fun will find "plenty of other activities" to capture their attention, including "intramural sports, clubs, and Division I basketball games." "If you're not a drinker, there is still plenty to do" on cam- pus "such as concerts, comedians, or even smaller venues like drag shows or improv." Serious sports fans should be warned, however, as "Sports teams do not rule this school," even though the city itself is pretty well known for its enthusiasm for athletics.

Students Say - Student Body
When first coming to a Jesuit school, I feared a conservative rule that would be in order, writes one student. "To my surprise, quite the opposite was here in Chicago. The school is very liberal, and the body is incredibly diverse." Indeed, while many undergrads here are "white and from the Chicago suburbs," many others are "of all different races, ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations." "There is a very high gay population on campus, and very little discrimination," one undergrad observes. The university supports diversity through its on-campus "ethnic and cultural groups" so that students "rarely feel alone or ostracized." As one student explains, Loyola is a "good place to be surrounded by such a diverse student body" as "there's definitely room for different people." Many here "have a service-oriented mindset and tend to be aware of current events and global issues that need to be dealt with."

Other Schools To Consider Top Programs