Loyola University Chicago

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FAQs

Academics

Admission

Campus, Community and Student Life

When and How Can I Apply?


Academics

How does Loyola's rank compare with other universities?
U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks Loyola University Chicago among the top 10% of American universities based on academic reputation, student selectivity, faculty, financial resources, graduation rate and alumni satisfaction. In addition, Loyola is one of only 8% of all American colleges and universities to have a Phi Beta Kappa honor society chapter.

What undergraduate academic programs does Loyola offer?
Loyola currently offers more than 70 majors and related minors, along with several special interdisciplinary programs and dual-degree programs. These programs are offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the School of Education, the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the School of Social Work.

  • For more detailed information about each major and related minors, please review our undergraduate program brochures. These brochures also list contact information for additional information should you need it.
  • New Developments
    Check out new academic programs and facilities at Loyola.
  • Below is a list of majors, minors and special programs as of September 2006.
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What graduate and professional programs does Loyola offer?
Loyola also offers 77 master's degree programs, 36 doctoral programs and three professional degree programs. Here is a list of Loyola's graduate and professional programs:

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How good is Loyola's faculty?
Our faculty members demonstrate their commitment to excellence as both researchers and teachers. They are experts on the cutting edge of their academic disciplines who offer personal instruction to our students in the classroom. Of Loyola's more than 1,100 full-time faculty members, 97 percent hold the highest academic degree in their fields.

What's the average class size?
Loyola students consistently comment on how much personal attention their professors give them. We encourage faculty and student interaction by keeping classes small, an average of 25 students, while maintaining a low student-to-faculty ratio of 14-to-1.

Does Loyola offer an Honors Program?
Yes, our Interdisciplinary Honors Program offers a rigorous intellectual experience that culminates in the Honors Degree, Loyola's most distinguished undergraduate recognition. Academically superior freshman applicants are invited to apply to the program.

Does Loyola offer internships?
Yes, our Chicago location and network of successful alumni make Loyola an excellent choice for students interested in internships and other types of real-world experiences. Please visit our Career Development Center Website for details.

What study abroad opportunities are available?
Loyola offers diverse study abroad programs to meet the needs of nearly every student, including our world-famous John Felice Rome Center, which is one of the largest American campuses in Western Europe and the most popular study abroad destination for Loyola students, and The Beijing Center. You may choose from 70 programs in 32 countries.

What credit will I receive for my Advanced Placement courses?
Generally, you'll need a score of four or five on an Advanced Placement exam to recieve course credit. For more information, see the Credit by Exam Fact Sheet published by our Undergraduate Admission Office.

Does Loyola give credit for the International Baccalaureate program?
Yes. For details, see the Credit by Exam Fact Sheet.

Admission

When will I find out if I have been admitted?
Expect an answer about six weeks after you submit a complete application. Please note: applications are not read and reviewed until after October 1 for the following Fall Semester. Applications must include all required materials to be complete, and to be read and reviewed.

What's included in a complete application?
Review the list of required materials, and click on the list to learn more about how to submit each of the following items:

How do I report a change of address?
E-mail your full name, old address, and new address to undergraduate admission, or call us at: 800.262.2373.

What do I do if I have attended several high schools?
Send transcripts from all the high schools so that you can show us your full academic history. This information is also needed to complete your application.

If I have retaken my SAT or ACT, should I send you my new scores?
Loyola will take new composite scores if you have taken multiple standardized tests. However, we do not take subscores and won't reconfigure a new composite for you.

Campus, Community and Student Life

How many students attend Loyola?
15,194 total enrollment; 9,725 undergraduates; 2,134 new freshmen; 736 transfer students

What is the student body like at Loyola?
If one word describes our student body, it is diverse—geographically, ethnically and religiously—Loyola has a special mix of students. Over 40% of our freshman class is from outside Illinois; a total of almost 30% are Asian American, Latin American and African American; 27% speak another language at home; 59% are Catholic and 19% are from non-Christian traditions. You'll find Loyola students to be academically strong with 63% ranking in the upper quarter of their high-school graduating classes. Many students plan as early as freshman year to attend graduate or professional school after graduation to earn a master's, doctoral, medical or law degree.

Where is Loyola located?
Loyola has three campuses in the Chicagoland area and one in Rome, Italy. Freshman classes are offered at the Lake Shore and Water Tower Campuses.

  1. The Lake Shore Campus, Loyola's main residential campus is located on Chicago's North Side, minutes from downtown Chicago and the Water Tower Campus, and is set along the shore of Lake Michigan. It is home to the College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. The School of Education also offers academic courses, programs and student advising at the Lake Shore Campus. More than 3,200 students live in residence halls. The Lake Shore Campus also includes the main Cudahy Library, Madonna della Strada Chapel, Joseph J. Gentile Center, Halas Sports Center, the Quinlan Life Sciences Education and Research Center, and Winthrop Hall, a new residence hall.

  2. The Water Tower Campus Loyola's city campus is located along Pearson Street, just off North Michigan Avenue, Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Here, undergraduates can complete one of many degree programs, as well as take advantage of internships at many of Chicago's business and cultural institutions. The Water Tower Campus is home to the Schools of Business Administration, Communications, Education, Law and Social Work, and to the College of Arts and Sciences. This campus also houses the new Loyola Museum of Art, and Baumhart Hall and Terry Student Center.

  3. The Loyola Medical Center Campus, located in west suburban Maywood, is home to our internationally renowned hospital, the Stritch School of Medicine and graduate programs in the sciences.

  4. The John Felice Rome Center in Italy is one of the largest centers in western Europe for international education in the arts and sciences, business, education and law. Each semester, about 200 sophomores, juniors and seniors study here.

  5. View campus maps

Is transportation between campuses available?
University shuttle buses and an excellent public transportation system connect the Chicago-area campuses.  In addition, the campuses are located along train and bus lines operated by the CTA. 

What kind of housing is available?
Loyola provides traditional-style residence halls for first-year students. Traditional-style residence halls typically offer double-occupancy rooms with private, semi-private or community bathrooms. Some triple rooms with private baths and some single rooms are available. Traditional halls for first-year students provide special programs, services, staff, facilities, and resources, focused on building learning communities and assisting students with their transition to college. Loyola provides upper-class students housing in apartment-style residence halls, featuring smaller communities, private baths, cooking facilities, and an independent style of living. All rooms (traditional-style or apartment-style) are furnished with a bed, desk, desk chair and dresser for each student.

For more information about on-campus housing options, visit the Residence Life Website.

My parents are worried about my safety at Loyola. How safe is the Lake Shore Campus?
Loyola's district has one of the lowest crime rates in the city. Theft is, by far, the most frequently occurring crime on campus. To help our students feel safe in our urban environment, the Office of Campus Police and Security offers the following programs and services: crime prevention seminars, escort service to locations on and off campus, desk monitors and secure entrances in the residence halls, and security telephones placed in many campus locations.

What is there to do on campus?
From casual meetings with friends to more organized activities such as concerts, ethnic organizations and sports, you'll find a lot to do at Loyola. We have more than 175 registered student organizations on campus ranging from ethnic and political organizations to campus publications and community service. You'll find many opportunities to have fun, express your talents and develop your leadership skills.

What kind of sports programs and facilities are available?
Halas Sports Center offers you the facilities and equipment of a sophisticated private health club along with many club and intramural sports programs.

Loyola's intercollegiate athletics are NCAA Division I in the Midwestern Horizon League. Women's sports include basketball, softball, golf, soccer, volleyball and cross country/track (both indoor and outdoor). Men's sports include basketball, golf, soccer, volleyball and cross-country/track (both indoor and outdoor).

Are fraternities and sororities available?
You can choose from several fraternities and sororities, many of them national organizations. They offer a wide variety of social and community service activities to their members. However, our students don't feel that they have to join a Greek organization to get involved and have fun at Loyola.

Can freshmen have cars on campus?
We encourage freshmen to leave their cars at home. Loyola's free shuttle bus between campuses and Chicago's transportation systems make cars unnecessary for most students. On-campus parking spaces are allocated by lottery and cost $300 per year.

When and how can I apply?
Freshmen, transfer and international applications for the Fall and Spring semesters may be completed online, downloaded or obtained from and returned to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Please click here to get more information: How To Apply.