UIC vs. Oberlin

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Oberlin College? 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 Illinois Chicago
Oberlin College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL with Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 2,909 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Oberlin College 9:1.

UIC vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or Oberlin? 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 Illinois Chicago than Oberlin ($10,852 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Chicago are 15.4% lower than at Oberlin College ($16,500 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 369.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $53,028 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 125.4% higher at Oberlin than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $37,482 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at University of Illinois Chicago (99% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 113.5% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($35,780 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC or Oberlin? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Oberlin and UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 200 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (32 vs. 28 at UIC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Oberlin students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

UIC vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and Oberlin? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $18,000 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $7,829 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($18,750 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($193 vs. $274).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 68%)

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.