UIC vs. OWU

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago and Ohio Wesleyan 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 Illinois Chicago
Ohio Wesleyan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • OWU Delaware, OH
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • OWU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • OWU 1,525
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • OWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • OWU #386
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • OWU United Methodist
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • OWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • OWU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • OWU $53,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • OWU $53,888
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • OWU $14,684
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • OWU $23,006
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • OWU $45,481
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • OWU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • OWU 6,144
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • OWU 3,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • OWU 55.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • OWU 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • OWU 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • OWU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • OWU 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • OWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • OWU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • OWU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • OWU 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • OWU 1105/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • OWU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • OWU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • OWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • OWU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • OWU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • OWU $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • OWU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • OWU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • OWU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • OWU 44%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • OWU 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • OWU Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • OWU No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • OWU 70%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • OWU 3%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • OWU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • OWU 5%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • OWU 5%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • OWU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • OWU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • OWU 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • OWU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than OWU based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 1,525 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Ohio Wesleyan University is in Delaware, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Ohio Wesleyan University 12:1.

UIC vs. OWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC or OWU? 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 OWU ($10,852 vs. $23,006).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Wesleyan University are 11% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($14,684 vs. $16,500).
  • Ohio Wesleyan University is 275.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $39,550 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 80.3% higher at OWU than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $24,004 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Wesleyan University than at University of Illinois Chicago (100% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 171.4% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($45,481 vs. $16,755).

UIC vs. OWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC or OWU? 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 OWU and UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 10 points higher than at OWU (1230).
  • Incoming UIC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at OWU (28).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Ohio Wesleyan University 1105/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Ohio Wesleyan University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; OWU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; OWU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman OWU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than OWU (55.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 12.6% at OWU.

UIC vs. OWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC and OWU? 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).

  • Ohio Wesleyan University's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $12,300 more per year than OWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $8,250 lower median loan debt than OWU graduates ($18,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $86 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OWU graduates ($193 vs. $279).
  • More OWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.