<p>A cousin of mine was a physics major there ten years ago. He loved the academics, and went to graduate school in math at a top-20 (but not tippy-top) program. He now has a math PhD and works for a financial firm, not on Wall St., and makes scads of money.</p>
<p>Chicago manages Argonne and Fermi; there are hoards of physicists loosely associated with the university, and who live in the Chicago area. Both of my children know a number of THEIR children who are studying physics at the university. So my impression is that there are more students there than at most places who are into physics, and more general buzz around the university about physics than you would find elsewhere. (Also, “physics”, but not necessarily astrophysics, is what they call it when someone really wants to study engineering at Chicago.)</p>
<p>My son has certainly enjoyed many of the open telescope nights and lectures. But it’s hard to take a rooftop telescope in the middle of a city as an indication of a vibrant astrophysics program. It’s not inconsistent with that, either – just not a big plus in and of itself. Someone who actually knows about it will have to guide you there.</p>