For the Second Straight Year, There Is a Record Number of Black Freshmen at the University of Chicago

The University of Chicago has a rich history of providing graduate educational opportunities for African Americans. Also, in 1947 the university was the first predominantly white major research institution to grant tenure to a black scholar. But for much of its history, the undergraduate program at the University of Chicago severely lagged its peer institutions in enrolling black students.

Now, for the second year in a row, the University of Chicago has a record number of black freshmen. There are 91 black students in this year’s freshman class. They make up 7 percent of all entering students. A year ago there were 81 black freshmen at the University of Chicago who were 6.4 percent of all entering students.

Prior to last year, the largest number of black freshmen at the university was 60.

Dean of students Susan Art states, “Our richly diverse student body plays a crucial role in the transformative education we offer. Students learn enormous amounts from their classmates’ differing perspectives and experiences.”