Illinois vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Illinois Champaign, IL
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Illinois Small City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Illinois 59,238
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Illinois Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Illinois #117
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Illinois -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Illinois Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Illinois
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Illinois $16,004
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Illinois $35,124
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Illinois $14,522
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Illinois $13,973
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Illinois $19,299
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Illinois 52%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Illinois 73,742
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Illinois 31,247
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Illinois 42.4%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Illinois 28.8%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Illinois 1420
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Illinois 32
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Illinois 3.79
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Illinois A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Illinois Exceptional
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Illinois Low
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Illinois 30/34
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Illinois 1310/1520
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Illinois Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Illinois Jan 5, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Illinois 20:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Illinois
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Illinois 82%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Illinois $66,500
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Illinois 78%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Illinois $20,500
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Illinois $211
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Illinois 54%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Illinois 46%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Illinois High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Illinois No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Illinois 48%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Illinois 17%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Illinois 6%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Illinois 10%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Illinois 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Illinois 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Illinois 3%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Illinois 16%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Illinois 1%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Illinois 71%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Illinois 14%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Champaign, 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 Illinois based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 59,238 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Illinois vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois 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 University of Illinois Urbana Champaign than Ohio State ($13,973 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign are 1.5% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($14,522 vs. $14,738).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is 20.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $2,760 more per year; $16,004.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.9% higher at Ohio State than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (about $4,898 more per year; $40,022.00 vs. $35,124.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (70% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students is 46.7% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($19,299 vs. $13,151).

Illinois vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois 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 Illinois.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (1420) is 20 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Illinois students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Illinois students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Illinois (42.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Illinois vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Illinois vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $15,900 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,500 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($20,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Illinois graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($211 vs. $222).
  • More Illinois graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.