UChicago vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of Chicago and Ohio State University Main Campus? 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 State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UChicago Chicago, IL
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • UChicago Large City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UChicago 18,566
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • UChicago Private 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UChicago #6
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UChicago -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • UChicago Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UChicago
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • UChicago $20,109
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • UChicago $28,060
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UChicago $62,300
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UChicago 47%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UChicago 43,612
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • UChicago 1,955
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UChicago 4.5%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UChicago 88.3%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UChicago 1550
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • UChicago 34
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UChicago 3.95
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UChicago A
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UChicago Elite
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UChicago Extreme
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UChicago 34/35
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UChicago 1510/1580
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UChicago Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UChicago
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UChicago 5:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UChicago
    • Social Sciences (38%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Mathematics (7%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UChicago 92%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UChicago $98,500
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UChicago 86%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UChicago $14,500
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UChicago $149
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UChicago 54%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • UChicago 46%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UChicago High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UChicago No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • UChicago 45%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • UChicago 17%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • UChicago 5%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UChicago 8%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • UChicago 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UChicago 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UChicago 3%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • UChicago 11%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UChicago 10%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UChicago 8%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UChicago 68%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than UChicago based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 18,566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Chicago 5:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

UChicago vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UChicago or Ohio State? 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 State University Main Campus than UChicago ($19,783 vs. $28,060).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 26.7% lower than at University of Chicago ($14,738 vs. $20,109).
  • University of Chicago is 433.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $57,418 more per year; $70,662.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 76.6% higher at UChicago than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $30,640 more per year; $70,662.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of Chicago (70% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Chicago students is 373.7% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($62,300 vs. $13,151).

UChicago vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Chicago (1550) is 150 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming UChicago students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Chicago 1510/1580; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Chicago 34/35; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UChicago - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UChicago students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UChicago (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 88.3% at UChicago vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

UChicago vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UChicago and Ohio State? 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 State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of Chicago earn a median of about $47,900 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,500 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Chicago graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($14,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UChicago graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($149 vs. $222).
  • More UChicago graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 63%)

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.