University of Chicago Department of Computer Science

What University of Chicago Department of Computer Science does

The University of Chicago Department of Computer Science is an academic unit within the University of Chicago that delivers undergraduate (BA/BS), professional master's (MPCS, MSCAPP), combined BA/MS and BS/MS, joint Math/CS, and PhD programs in computer science, and conducts interdisciplinary research across ten named areas: quantum computing, AI/machine learning, data science, security and privacy, human-computer interaction, scientific and high-performance computing, programming languages, systems/architecture/networking, theory, and visual computing. The department employs 55 tenure-track faculty supported by 74 total staff and serves a student body that includes 227 PhD students and approximately 230 BA/BS graduates per year, with undergraduate CS majors having grown tenfold over the past decade.

Its research portfolio is anchored by purpose-built facilities in the renovated John Crerar Library (occupied since August 2018), co-located with the Data Science Institute, the CS Instructional Laboratory (CSIL), and the Media Arts, Data and Design Center (MAAD). Technical assets include the EPiQC NSF Expedition in Computing collaboration, Chameleon Cloud research infrastructure, and Globus Labs for data management, alongside faculty-led labs (CHAI, 3DL, SAND, HRI, CANON, ChiDATA, Center for Translational Data Science) spanning generative AI, NLP, computer vision, autonomous agents, and quantum computing. The department has produced research outputs including the 2026 IBM/UChicago 'Quantum Advantage' demonstration, three IEEE Micro Top Picks papers in 2021, ACM SIGMOD and IEEE Internet Awards, and numerous best paper recognitions.

The department's economics are not commercial: revenue derives from centrally administered tuition, external research grants (NSF, DOE, industry sponsors including IBM and Intel), and donations. Faculty research expenditures are substantial, with Professor Fred Chong alone having led over $40 million in awarded research plus an additional $41 million as co-PI. The department has no equity investors or independent ownership and operates as part of the University of Chicago, a private research university. Distribution is handled through centralized admissions processes, with go-to-market driven by selective PhD admissions (December 11 deadline), undergraduate college admissions, joint-program applications through the Physical Sciences Division, and engagement activities including tech talks with Google, Facebook, Uber, and Chicago-based employers.

Name

University of Chicago Department of Computer Science

Legal name

University of Chicago

Website

https://cs.uchicago.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The University of Chicago Department of Computer Science is an academic unit offering undergraduate, master's, joint, and PhD programs and conducting interdisciplinary research across quantum computing, AI/ML, data science, security, and visual computing, serving students, federal research sponsors, and industry partners including IBM and Intel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Computer Science

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

Keywords

• Computer science education
• Graduate degree programs
• Computer science research
• Quantum computing research
• Data science education

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Degree programs including undergraduate BA/BS, combined BA/MS and BS/MS degrees, Master's Programs (MPCS, MSCAPP), and PhD programs generate revenue through tuition payments from students.
2. Research Grants and Funding: Faculty-led research funded by external grants including NSF, DOE, industry partners. Fred Chong alone has led over $40M in awarded research with additional $41M as co-PI.
3. Donations and Gifts: Donations to the Physical Sciences: Computer Science Discretionary Fund through online portal or by check, supporting department activities and expansion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The University of Chicago Department of Computer Science delivers undergraduate BA/BS degrees, combined BA/MS and BS/MS joint degrees, professional Master’s programs (MPCS and MSCAPP), and research-focused PhD programs (including a joint Math/CS PhD track) in computer science. The department supports these educational programs with extensive interdisciplinary research across ten research areas including quantum computing, AI/ML, data science, security, human-computer interaction, systems, theory, and visual computing, conducted through faculty-led labs and centers such as EPiQC, ChiDATA, Globus Labs, the Center for Translational Data Science, and the Data Science Institute.

Product overview

The University of Chicago Department of Computer Science offers a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs and research initiatives. At its core are graduate programs including the Masters Program in Computer Science (MPCS), a professionally-oriented degree for technology careers, and the Master's in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP), a joint program with Harris School combining CS, statistics, and public policy. The department also offers PhD programs and joint Bx/MS degrees. Supporting these educational offerings are numerous specialized research labs and centers including EPiQC (quantum computing), ChiDATA (data science), the Center for Translational Data Science, Chameleon Cloud (research infrastructure), Globus Labs (data management), the Human-Computer Integration Lab, HRI Lab, SAND Lab, CHAI Lab, and the Data Science Institute, collectively covering AI/ML, quantum computing, security, data science, human-computer interaction, and visual computing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master's Program in Computer Science (MPCS)
• Master's in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP)
• PhD Program in Computer Science
• Joint Bx/MS Programs
• Undergraduate CS Program (BA/BS)

Quantifiable outcome

• PhD student population tripled over last decade
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability12 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Media Arts, Data and Design Center (MAAD)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Located on first floor of John Crerar Library building, jointly operated by UChicago CS, Humanities Division, UChicago Arts, and UChicago Library to support design, GIS, gaming and media arts.
• EPiQC Collaboration (Duke, MIT, UCSB, Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018NSF Expedition in Computing collaboration launched with $10 million grant, led by Fred Chong. Multi-institutional effort spanning quantum algorithms, software, and physical machines to enable practical-scale quantum computing.
• Chicago Quantum ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-institutional quantum technology hub that UChicago CS is deeply connected to. The Quantum Exchange coordinates quantum research across communication, sensing, imaging, and computing, positioning Chicago as a global leader in quantum technology.
• Argonne National LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUChicago CS has deep connections with Argonne through the National Quantum Information Science Research Centers. Fred Chong leads quantum computing research with Argonne collaboration, and the department benefits from this partnership for exascale computing research including Aurora supercomputer development.
• FermilabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of National Quantum Information Science Research Centers collaborating with UChicago CS on quantum computing advancement.
• IBMmajorTechnology or IntegrationIBM collaborates with UChicago CS on quantum computing research. Faculty including Fred Chong work on quantum hardware and software development with IBM quantum systems.
• IntelmajorTechnology or IntegrationIntel partners with UChicago CS on quantum computing research, including hardware development and optimization for emerging computing technologies.
• Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago (TTIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivately-endowed academic institute located on UChicago campus. Expands and enriches the theory community and collaborates with CS on visual computing and other research areas.
• STAQ ProjectmajorTechnology or IntegrationSoftware-Tailored Architectures for Quantum Co-Design - multi-institutional project developing software frameworks for quantum computing optimization.
• Data Science InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in John Crerar Library building, jointly operated with UChicago CS and Department of Statistics to execute the University's vision of Data Science as a new discipline.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UC Berkeley EECS Department: UC Berkeley's combined Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department, hosting BS, MS, and PhD programs with deep research in AI, theory, and systems. A leading peer institution for CS research output and graduate placement.
• MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL): The largest and most prominent CS research department/lab at MIT, offering undergraduate, master's, and PhD programs spanning theory to AI. Directly comparable to UChicago CS as a top-tier private research university CS department with broad research depth.
• Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago (TTIC): TTIC is a privately-endowed PhD-granting computer science research institute located on UChicago's campus. Directly comparable in size, research breadth (theory, machine learning, computer vision), and tight operational relationship with the Department.
• Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science: CMU's flagship CS school, renowned for AI, robotics, and systems research. Directly comparable as a top private research university CS unit with similar degree program structure (BA/BS, MS, PhD) and research institute model.
• Georgia Tech College of Computing: Georgia Tech's College of Computing offers BS, MS, and PhD programs and is known for its online master's (OMSCS) scale. Directly comparable as a leading CS unit with strong industry connections and applied research orientation.
• University of Washington Computer Science & Engineering: UW CSE offers BS, MS, and PhD programs with leading research in systems, theory, and HCI. Directly comparable as a top public research university CS department competing for graduate students and industry partnerships.
• Princeton Computer Science Department: Princeton's CS department emphasizes theory and interdisciplinary research, comparable to UChicago CS's original theory focus. A direct peer in offering undergraduate and PhD programs at a private research university.
• Stanford Computer Science: Stanford's CS department offers BS, MS, and PhD programs with world-class research across AI, systems, theory, and HCI. Directly comparable as a leading private university CS department with strong industry ties in Silicon Valley.
• Caltech Computing and Mathematical Sciences: Caltech's CMS division is a smaller, elite STEM-focused research unit. Comparable to UChicago CS as a small, private, research-intensive CS group with strong industry and national lab partnerships.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Computer Science Department: UIUC's CS department is one of the largest and oldest in the US, with leading programs in systems, AI, and theory. Directly comparable to UChicago CS as a peer CS research and education department at a top US university.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UChicagoCS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmY5ykiIYGp1KXxEdFaRQCw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uchicagocs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Chicago Department of Computer Science