Loyola vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between Loyola University Chicago and University of Wisconsin Madison? 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
University of Wisconsin Madison

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Loyola Chicago, IL
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Loyola Large City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Loyola 17,384
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Loyola Private 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Loyola #210
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Loyola Roman Catholic
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Loyola Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Loyola
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Loyola $53,710
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Loyola $53,710
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Loyola $17,010
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Loyola $39,147
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Loyola $28,816
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Loyola 98%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Loyola 39,315
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Loyola 32,081
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Loyola 81.6%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Loyola 8.6%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Loyola 1270
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Loyola 29
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Loyola 3.71
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Loyola A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Loyola Very High
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Loyola
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Loyola 27/32
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Loyola 1170/1360
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Loyola Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Loyola
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Loyola 13:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Loyola
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Loyola 70%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Loyola $59,800
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Loyola 76%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Loyola $25,000
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Loyola $258
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Loyola 31%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • Loyola 69%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Loyola High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Loyola No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Loyola 58%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Loyola 12%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Loyola 4%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Loyola 14%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Loyola 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Loyola 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Loyola 5%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Loyola 5%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Loyola 1%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Loyola 56%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Loyola 42%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Loyola University Chicago in Chicago, IL with University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than Loyola based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 17,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Loyola University Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • Loyola University Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Loyola University Chicago 13:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

Loyola vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Loyola or Wisconsin? 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 University of Wisconsin Madison than Loyola ($14,235 vs. $39,147).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 17% lower than at Loyola University Chicago ($14,124 vs. $17,010).
  • Loyola University Chicago is 362.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $42,107 more per year; $53,710.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.6% higher at Loyola than at University of Wisconsin Madison (about $11,607 more per year; $53,710.00 vs. $42,103.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Loyola University Chicago than at University of Wisconsin Madison (98% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Loyola University Chicago students is 62.4% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students ($28,816 vs. $17,741).

Loyola vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 180 points higher than at Loyola (1270).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Loyola).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Loyola University Chicago 1170/1360; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Loyola University Chicago 27/32; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Loyola - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Loyola (3.71).
  • Loyola has a higher acceptance rate (81.6%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.6% at Loyola vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Loyola vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Loyola and Wisconsin? 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).

  • University of Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Loyola University Chicago's (70%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Loyola graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $59,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Madison graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Loyola graduates ($22,250 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wisconsin graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Loyola graduates ($230 vs. $258).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Loyola students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.