Studying in Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US Midwest, with elite universities, a diverse economy spanning finance, tech, and the arts, and a celebrated architecture, food, and music scene, all at living costs well below New York or the West Coast. The lakefront shapes the whole city, and student life tends to orbit around it, whether that means studying by the water in summer or bracing against it during the winter months.

Universities and major institutes

• University of Chicago
• Northwestern University (Evanston)
• University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• DePaul and Loyola University Chicago

Cost of living

Chicago is meaningfully more affordable than the coastal cities. Expect $800 to $1,500 a month for a room in a shared apartment, with Hyde Park generally cheaper than Lincoln Park or the neighbourhoods closer to downtown. Groceries and everyday spending typically run $300 to $550 a month, and winter heating costs are worth budgeting for given how cold and how long Chicago winters run. Health insurance is generally compulsory through the university or an equivalent private policy. The trade-off for the lower cost of living is a bigger, more spread-out city than Boston’s compact core, so transport time should factor into any comparison with the coasts.

Getting around

The ‘L’ (elevated train) network, along with an extensive bus system, covers the city well, and the Red Line in particular connects Hyde Park, downtown, and the northern neighbourhoods near DePaul and Loyola. Fares are paid with the Ventra card, and several Chicago-area universities coordinate discounted transit passes for full-time students, though details vary by school. Chicago is flat and reasonably bike-friendly in the warmer months, though winter riding is a minority pursuit. Most students manage without a car, though Northwestern’s Evanston campus and UIC’s more spread-out layout mean a bit more reliance on the L for longer trips.

Weather and lifestyle

Chicago’s winters are genuinely cold, routinely below freezing from December through February, with a wind off Lake Michigan that has earned the city its nickname. Summers, by contrast, are warm and often humid, and the lakefront parks and beaches fill up as soon as the weather turns. Spring and autumn are shorter than in milder climates but are generally considered the most pleasant stretches of the year. New arrivals from warmer countries consistently underestimate how much winter gear they’ll need: a proper coat, boots, and gloves are not optional here.

Working while you study

On-campus work under F-1 status is capped at 20 hours a week during term, moving to full-time during official breaks. The University of Chicago, Northwestern, and UIC all run sizeable student employment offices, with common roles in libraries, dining halls, research labs, and academic departments. Some university-affiliated research centres and policy institutes offer work that blends into internship-style experience later in a degree, though anything beyond standard on-campus employment typically needs separate authorisation through your school’s international office.

Neighbourhoods for students

• Hyde Park: University of Chicago’s lakeside home, quieter and fairly self-contained.
• Evanston: Northwestern’s suburb just north of the city, leafy and a short train ride from downtown.
• Lincoln Park: central, near DePaul, with a lively bar and restaurant scene.
• Pilsen / University Village: near UIC, diverse, affordable, strong food scene.

Explore more: universities in United States, cost of living, and student visas.