Illinois vs. Oberlin

Should I go to University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign or Oberlin College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Illinois or Oberlin 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 Illinois at Urbana Champaign vs. Oberlin College comparison
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Oberlin College College 3 College 4
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Oberlin College
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Overview

 Illinois Oberlin
Location Champaign, IL Oberlin, OH
Setting Small City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 56,563 2,976
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #120 #155
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinois.edu oberlin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Illinois Oberlin
Tuition (In State) $12,712 $63,700
Tuition (Out of State) $31,208 $63,700
Room & Board $13,938 $18,942
Avg Net Price $14,297 $50,484
Avg Grant Aid $17,524 $33,746
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 99%

Admission

 Illinois Oberlin
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 67,398 11,039
Admitted 29,446 3,641
Acceptance Rate 43.7% 33%
Enrolled % 28.3% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 29/34 30/33
SAT Range 1270/1510 1370/1510
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 Jan 5, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 Illinois Oberlin
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)

Outcomes

 Illinois Oberlin
Graduation Rate 82% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,500 $43,900
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $26,579
Median Loan Payment $211 $274

Diversity

 Illinois Oberlin
% Men 21% 0%
% Women 16% 0%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 48% 68%
% Black 6% 5%
% Hispanic 10% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 6%
% International 16% 8%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 Illinois Oberlin
% In-State 73% 6%
% Out-of-State 12% 84%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is larger than than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (56,563 students vs. 2,976 students)

Illinois vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois or Oberlin?

  • Oberlin College is 401.1% more expensive to attend than Illinois for in-state tuition ($63,700.00 vs. $12,712.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 104.1% higher at Oberlin than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($63,700.00 vs. $31,208.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign than Oberlin ($14,297 vs. $50,484)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign are 35.9% lower than costs at Oberlin College ($13,938 vs. $18,942)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Oberlin College than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (99% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 92.6% larger than aid received University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign ($33,746 vs. $17,524)

Illinois vs. Oberlin Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Oberlin College (1357) is 52 points higher than at Illinois (1305)
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Illinois (29)
  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Oberlin (3.67)
  • Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (43.7%) than Oberlin (33%)

Illinois vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Illinois or Oberlin? 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 Oberlin and Illinois.

  • The graduation rate at Oberlin is higher than University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (88% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign earn on average $22,600 more per year than Oberlin graduates after ten years. ($66,500 vs. $43,900)
  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign students graduate with a $6,079 lower median federal student loan debt than Oberlin graduates. ($20,500 vs. $26,579)
  • Illinois graduates are paying $63 less per month on federal student loans than Oberlin graduates. ($211 vs. $274)
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Illinois students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 78%)

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