Loyola vs. Oberlin

Deciding between Loyola University Chicago and Oberlin College? 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
Oberlin College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Loyola Chicago, IL
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • Loyola Large City
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Loyola 17,384
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • Loyola Private 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Loyola #210
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Loyola Roman Catholic
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • Loyola Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Loyola
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Loyola $53,710
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Loyola $53,710
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • Loyola $17,010
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • Loyola $39,147
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Loyola $28,816
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Loyola 98%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Loyola 39,315
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • Loyola 32,081
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Loyola 81.6%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Loyola 8.6%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Loyola 1270
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Loyola 29
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Loyola 3.71
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Loyola A-
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Loyola Very High
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Loyola
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • Loyola 27/32
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Loyola 1170/1360
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Loyola Test optional
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Loyola
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Loyola 13:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Loyola
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Loyola 70%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Loyola $59,800
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Loyola 76%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Loyola $25,000
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Loyola $258
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Loyola 31%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • Loyola 69%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Loyola High
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • Loyola No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • Loyola 58%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • Loyola 12%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • Loyola 4%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Loyola 14%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • Loyola 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Loyola 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Loyola 5%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • Loyola 5%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Loyola 1%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Loyola 56%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Loyola 42%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Loyola University Chicago is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (17,384 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Loyola University Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Loyola University Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Loyola University Chicago 13:1; Oberlin College 9:1.

Loyola vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Loyola or Oberlin? 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 Loyola University Chicago than Oberlin ($39,147 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Loyola University Chicago are 12.8% lower than at Oberlin College ($17,010 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 25.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Loyola (about $13,656 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $53,710.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.4% higher at Oberlin than at Loyola University Chicago (about $13,656 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $53,710.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Loyola University Chicago (99% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 24.2% larger than aid received by Loyola University Chicago students ($35,780 vs. $28,816).

Loyola vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Loyola or Oberlin? 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 Oberlin and Loyola.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 170 points higher than at Loyola (1270).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Loyola).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Loyola University Chicago 1170/1360; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Loyola University Chicago 27/32; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Loyola - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Loyola students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Loyola has a higher acceptance rate (81.6%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.6% at Loyola vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Loyola vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Loyola and Oberlin? 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).

  • Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Loyola University Chicago's (70%).
  • Graduates from Loyola University Chicago earn a median of about $15,900 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,800 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Loyola University Chicago graduates have a $1,579 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, Loyola graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($258 vs. $274).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Loyola students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 76%)

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.