Loyola vs. JCU

Deciding between Loyola University Chicago and John Carroll University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Loyola University Chicago
John Carroll University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Loyola Chicago, IL
  • JCU University Heights, OH
  • Setting
  • Loyola Large City
  • JCU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Loyola 17,384
  • JCU 2,864
  • Type
  • Loyola Private 4 Year
  • JCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Loyola #210
  • JCU #222
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Loyola Roman Catholic
  • JCU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Loyola Non-profit
  • JCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Loyola
  • JCU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Loyola $53,710
  • JCU $50,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Loyola $53,710
  • JCU $50,500
  • Room & Board
  • Loyola $17,010
  • JCU $14,520
  • Average Net Price
  • Loyola $39,147
  • JCU $30,030
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Loyola $28,816
  • JCU $35,785
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Loyola 98%
  • JCU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Loyola 39,315
  • JCU 4,623
  • Admitted
  • Loyola 32,081
  • JCU 3,740
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Loyola 81.6%
  • JCU 80.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Loyola 8.6%
  • JCU 15.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Loyola 1270
  • JCU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Loyola 29
  • JCU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Loyola 3.71
  • JCU 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Loyola A-
  • JCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Loyola Very High
  • JCU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Loyola
  • JCU
  • ACT Range
  • Loyola 27/32
  • JCU 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • Loyola 1170/1360
  • JCU 1180/1330
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Loyola Test optional
  • JCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Loyola
  • JCU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Loyola 13:1
  • JCU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Loyola
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • JCU
    • Business (34%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Loyola 70%
  • JCU 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Loyola $59,800
  • JCU $57,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Loyola 76%
  • JCU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Loyola $25,000
  • JCU $26,939
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Loyola $258
  • JCU $278
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Loyola 31%
  • JCU 51%
  • % Women
  • Loyola 69%
  • JCU 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Loyola High
  • JCU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Loyola No
  • JCU No
  • % White
  • Loyola 58%
  • JCU 86%
  • % Asian
  • Loyola 12%
  • JCU 2%
  • % Black
  • Loyola 4%
  • JCU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Loyola 14%
  • JCU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Loyola 0%
  • JCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Loyola 0%
  • JCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Loyola 5%
  • JCU 2%
  • % International
  • Loyola 5%
  • JCU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Loyola 1%
  • JCU 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Loyola 56%
  • JCU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Loyola 42%
  • JCU 31%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Loyola Yes
  • JCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Loyola No
  • JCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Loyola Yes
  • JCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Loyola No
  • JCU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Loyola No
  • JCU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Loyola University Chicago in Chicago, IL with John Carroll University in University Heights, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Loyola University Chicago is larger than JCU based on total student enrollment (17,384 students vs. 2,864 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Loyola University Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); John Carroll University is in University Heights, OH (Large Suburban setting).
  • Loyola University Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. John Carroll University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Loyola University Chicago 13:1; John Carroll University 13:1.

Loyola vs. JCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Loyola or JCU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at John Carroll University than Loyola ($30,030 vs. $39,147).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at John Carroll University are 14.6% lower than at Loyola University Chicago ($14,520 vs. $17,010).
  • Loyola University Chicago is 6.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than JCU (about $3,210 more per year; $53,710.00 vs. $50,500.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at Loyola than at John Carroll University (about $3,210 more per year; $53,710.00 vs. $50,500.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at John Carroll University than at Loyola University Chicago (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by John Carroll University students is 24.2% larger than aid received by Loyola University Chicago students ($35,785 vs. $28,816).

Loyola vs. JCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Loyola or JCU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between JCU and Loyola.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Loyola University Chicago (1270) is 10 points higher than at JCU (1260).
  • Incoming Loyola students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at JCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Loyola University Chicago 1170/1360; John Carroll University 1180/1330.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Loyola University Chicago 27/32; John Carroll University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Loyola - Test optional; JCU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Loyola students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at JCU (3.66).
  • Loyola has a higher acceptance rate (81.6%) than JCU (80.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.6% at Loyola vs. 15.9% at JCU.

Loyola vs. JCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Loyola and JCU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • John Carroll University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Loyola University Chicago's (70%).
  • Graduates from Loyola University Chicago earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than JCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,800 vs. $57,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Loyola University Chicago graduates have a $1,939 lower median loan debt than JCU graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,939).
  • Among borrowers, Loyola graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JCU graduates ($258 vs. $278).
  • More Loyola graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JCU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.