UC vs. JCU

Should I go to University of Cincinnati Main Campus or John Carroll University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UC or JCU 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 Cincinnati Main Campus vs. John Carroll University comparison
University of Cincinnati Main Campus John Carroll University College 3 College 4
University of Cincinnati Main Campus John Carroll University
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Overview

 UC JCU
Location Cincinnati, OH University Heights, OH
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 43,338 2,773
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #431 #247
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uc.edu jcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UC JCU
Tuition (In State) $11,892 $47,300
Tuition (Out of State) $28,904 $47,300
Room & Board $13,048 $14,160
Avg Net Price $21,511 $30,790
Avg Grant Aid $8,195 $32,359
% Receiving Grant Aid 68% 100%

Admission

 UC JCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 33,165 4,238
Admitted 29,077 3,437
Acceptance Rate 87.7% 81.1%
Enrolled % 23.8% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.66
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/29 25/30
SAT Range 1150/1360 1190/1350
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 Mar 1, 2026

Academics

 UC JCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Education (9%)

Outcomes

 UC JCU
Graduation Rate 59% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,600 $57,600
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $26,939
Median Loan Payment $237 $278

Diversity

 UC JCU
% Men 11% 6%
% Women 17% 12%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 86%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 UC JCU
% In-State 77% 69%
% Out-of-State 20% 30%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than than JCU based on total student enrollment (43,338 students vs. 2,773 students)

UC vs. JCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC or JCU?

  • John Carroll University is 297.7% more expensive to attend than UC for in-state tuition ($47,300.00 vs. $11,892.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 63.6% higher at JCU than University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($47,300.00 vs. $28,904.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Cincinnati Main Campus than JCU ($21,511 vs. $30,790)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus are 8.5% lower than costs at John Carroll University ($13,048 vs. $14,160)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at John Carroll University than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (100% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by John Carroll University students is 294.9% larger than aid received University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($32,359 vs. $8,195)

UC vs. JCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (1165) is 38 points higher than at JCU (1127)
  • Incoming UC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at JCU (25)
  • Accepted freshman UC students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at JCU (3.66)
  • UC has a higher acceptance rate (87.7%) than JCU (81.1%)

UC vs. JCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UC or JCU? 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 JCU and UC.

  • The graduation rate at JCU is higher than University of Cincinnati Main Campus (71% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from John Carroll University earn on average $12,000 more per year than UC graduates after ten years. ($57,600 vs. $45,600)
  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus students graduate with a $3,939 lower median federal student loan debt than JCU graduates. ($23,000 vs. $26,939)
  • UC graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than JCU graduates. ($237 vs. $278)
  • More JCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 57%)

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