UChicago vs. Oberlin

Should I go to University of Chicago or Oberlin College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UChicago or Oberlin is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Chicago vs. Oberlin College comparison
University of Chicago Oberlin College College 3 College 4
University of Chicago Oberlin College
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Overview

UChicago Oberlin
Location Chicago, IL Oberlin, OH
Setting Large City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 18,339 2,992
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #7 #148
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uchicago.edu oberlin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UChicago Oberlin
Tuition (In State) $61,179 $61,106
Tuition (Out of State) $61,179 $61,106
Room & Board $18,396 $18,390
Avg Net Price $36,991 $46,462
Avg Grant Aid $48,422 $35,040
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 98%

Admission

UChicago Oberlin
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 37,522 11,066
Admitted 2,039 3,859
Acceptance Rate 5.4% 34.9%
Enrolled % 84.8% 22.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.95 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme High
ACT Range 34/35 30/33
SAT Range 1500/1580 1360/1530
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

UChicago Oberlin
Student to Faculty Ratio 5:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (38%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Mathematics (7%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)

Outcomes

UChicago Oberlin
Graduation Rate 92% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $98,500 $43,900
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,500 $26,579
Median Loan Payment $149 $274

Diversity

UChicago Oberlin
% Men 54% 41%
% Women 46% 59%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 45% 68%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 8% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 6%
% International 11% 8%
% Unknown Race 10% 1%

Students

UChicago Oberlin
% In-State 12% 6%
% Out-of-State 69% 84%

Campus

UChicago Oberlin
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Chicago is larger than than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (18,339 students vs. 2,992 students)

UChicago vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UChicago or Oberlin?

  • University of Chicago is 0.1% more expensive to attend than Oberlin for in-state tuition ($61,179.00 vs. $61,106.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.1% higher at UChicago than Oberlin College ($61,179.00 vs. $61,106.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Chicago than Oberlin ($36,991 vs. $46,462)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oberlin College are 0% lower than costs at University of Chicago ($18,390 vs. $18,396)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Oberlin College than University of Chicago (98% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Chicago students is 38.2% larger than aid received Oberlin College ($48,422 vs. $35,040)

UChicago vs. Oberlin Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UChicago or Oberlin? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Oberlin or UChicago .

  • The average SAT score at University of Chicago (1506) is 149 points higher than at Oberlin (1357)
  • Incoming UChicago students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Oberlin (31)
  • Accepted freshman UChicago students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Oberlin (3.67)
  • Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.9%) than UChicago (5.4%)

UChicago vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UChicago or Oberlin? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Oberlin and UChicago.

  • The graduation rate at UChicago is higher than Oberlin College (92% vs. 88%)
  • Graduates from University of Chicago earn on average $54,600 more per year than Oberlin graduates after ten years. ($98,500 vs. $43,900)
  • University of Chicago students graduate with a $12,079 lower median federal student loan debt than Oberlin graduates. ($14,500 vs. $26,579)
  • UChicago graduates are paying $125 less per month on federal student loans than Oberlin graduates. ($149 vs. $274)
  • More UChicago graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/