UChicago vs. ONU

Deciding between University of Chicago and Ohio Northern 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.

University of Chicago
Ohio Northern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UChicago Chicago, IL
  • ONU Ada, OH
  • Setting
  • UChicago Large City
  • ONU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UChicago 18,566
  • ONU 3,140
  • Type
  • UChicago Private 4 Year
  • ONU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UChicago #6
  • ONU #228
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UChicago -
  • ONU United Methodist
  • Status
  • UChicago Non-profit
  • ONU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UChicago
  • ONU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • ONU $39,800
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • ONU $39,800
  • Room & Board
  • UChicago $20,109
  • ONU $14,604
  • Average Net Price
  • UChicago $28,060
  • ONU $25,941
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UChicago $62,300
  • ONU $27,696
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UChicago 47%
  • ONU 97%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UChicago 43,612
  • ONU 4,640
  • Admitted
  • UChicago 1,955
  • ONU 3,452
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UChicago 4.5%
  • ONU 74.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UChicago 88.3%
  • ONU 19.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UChicago 1550
  • ONU 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • UChicago 34
  • ONU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UChicago 3.95
  • ONU 3.78
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UChicago A
  • ONU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UChicago Elite
  • ONU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UChicago Extreme
  • ONU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UChicago 34/35
  • ONU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UChicago 1510/1580
  • ONU 1175/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UChicago Test optional
  • ONU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UChicago
  • ONU Aug 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UChicago 5:1
  • ONU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UChicago
    • Social Sciences (38%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Mathematics (7%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • ONU
    • Business (19%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UChicago 92%
  • ONU 65%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UChicago $98,500
  • ONU $71,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UChicago 86%
  • ONU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UChicago $14,500
  • ONU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UChicago $149
  • ONU $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UChicago 54%
  • ONU 53%
  • % Women
  • UChicago 46%
  • ONU 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UChicago High
  • ONU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • UChicago No
  • ONU No
  • % White
  • UChicago 45%
  • ONU 84%
  • % Asian
  • UChicago 17%
  • ONU 1%
  • % Black
  • UChicago 5%
  • ONU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UChicago 8%
  • ONU 1%
  • % Native American
  • UChicago 0%
  • ONU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UChicago 0%
  • ONU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UChicago 3%
  • ONU 4%
  • % International
  • UChicago 11%
  • ONU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UChicago 10%
  • ONU 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UChicago 8%
  • ONU 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UChicago 68%
  • ONU 13%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Chicago in Chicago, IL with Ohio Northern University in Ada, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Chicago is larger than ONU based on total student enrollment (18,566 students vs. 3,140 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Ohio Northern University is in Ada, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio Northern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Chicago 5:1; Ohio Northern University 13:1.

UChicago vs. ONU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UChicago or ONU? 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 Ohio Northern University than UChicago ($25,941 vs. $28,060).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Northern University are 27.4% lower than at University of Chicago ($14,604 vs. $20,109).
  • University of Chicago is 77.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than ONU (about $30,862 more per year; $70,662.00 vs. $39,800.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 77.5% higher at UChicago than at Ohio Northern University (about $30,862 more per year; $70,662.00 vs. $39,800.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Northern University than at University of Chicago (97% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Chicago students is 124.9% larger than aid received by Ohio Northern University students ($62,300 vs. $27,696).

UChicago vs. ONU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UChicago or ONU? 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 ONU and UChicago.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Chicago (1550) is 260 points higher than at ONU (1290).
  • Incoming UChicago students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 26 at ONU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Chicago 1510/1580; Ohio Northern University 1175/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Chicago 34/35; Ohio Northern University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UChicago - Test optional; ONU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ONU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UChicago students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at ONU (3.78).
  • ONU has a higher acceptance rate (74.4%) than UChicago (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 88.3% at UChicago vs. 19.9% at ONU.

UChicago vs. ONU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UChicago and ONU? 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 Chicago's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Ohio Northern University's (65%).
  • Graduates from University of Chicago earn a median of about $27,300 more per year than ONU graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,500 vs. $71,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Chicago graduates have a $12,500 lower median loan debt than ONU graduates ($14,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UChicago graduates have an estimated $130 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ONU graduates ($149 vs. $279).
  • More UChicago graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ONU 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.