UIC vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago 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 Chicago
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, 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 UIC based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 33,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago 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 Chicago 17:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

UIC vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC 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 Chicago than Ohio State ($10,852 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 10.7% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($14,738 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 8.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $1,094 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.9% higher at Ohio State than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $10,138 more per year; $40,022.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Chicago than at Ohio State University Main Campus (74% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 27.4% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($16,755 vs. $13,151).

UIC vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC 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 UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 160 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at UIC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Ohio State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

UIC vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC 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).

  • Ohio State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($18,750 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($193 vs. $222).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.