Errett did not find High School at all challenging and when he was sixteen, wanting to progress with his education in a way that was not happening at school, he applied and was accepted for a special scholarship program at the University of Chicago. Starting his university studies in 1944, Bishop graduated with a B.S. from Chicago in 1947 and continued to study for his Master's degree which was awarded in 1947. Bishop was joined in Chicago by his younger sister Mary who, as he had been, was accepted for the special scholarship program at the University of Chicago. Bishop had been taught by Paul Halmos when he was studying for his B.S. and it was Halmos who supervised his doctoral studies. However Bishop spent 1950-52 in the U.S. army.
Errett hindi mahanap Mataas na Paaralan sa lahat ng mahirap at kapag siya ay labing-anim, wala sa progreso sa kanyang pang-edukasyon sa isang paraan na hindi nangyayari sa paaralan, siya ay na-apply na at tinanggap para sa isang espesyal na karunungan na programa sa University of Chicago. Simula sa kanyang pag-aaral sa unibersidad 1944, Bishop nagtapos sa isang BS mula sa Chicago sa 1947 at patuloy na pag-aaral para sa kanyang Master's degree na kung saan ay iginawad sa 1947. Bishop ay sumali sa Chicago sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga kapatid na mas bata na Maria, bilang niya ay, ay tinanggap para sa espesyal na karunungan na programa sa University of Chicago. Bishop had been tinuturuan sa pamamagitan ng Paul Halmos kapag siya ay pag-aaral para sa kanyang BS at ito ay Halmos na supervised kanyang pag-aaral ng doktor. Subalit Bishop nagastos 1950-52 sa US hukbo.