Estimated — SAI Projection
Award Letters Not Received
FAFSA Not Submitted
College Comparison Intelligence Report
Brian Johnson
GPA (4.0)
3.39
Class Rank
38/386
SAT / ACT
1240/21
Est. SAI
~$8,500
HH Income
Est. Mid
★
Executive Summary
Brian Johnson is a hard-working student from Maine North High School in Des Plaines — a Cook County suburb of Chicago — with a 3.39 GPA, top-10% class rank (38th of 386), a 1240 SAT and 21 ACT, and a profile that includes AP coursework, NHS, Beta Club, Junior Civitans leadership, peer tutoring, church service, and consistent part-time employment at McDonald's.
The two schools in this comparison sit at opposite ends of the selectivity and financial aid spectrum. UIUC is the clear financial value leader: lower COA, accessible merit awards, and a nationally ranked Gies College of Business Accountancy program. The University of Chicago is among the most academically elite institutions in the world — and at a 21 ACT vs. an average admitted ACT of 34–36, it is a significant Long Reach admission.
Consultant Bottom Line: The University of Illinois is the strategically sound choice at Brian's current profile. Apply to UIUC by the November 1 priority deadline to maximize merit consideration under the Gies College framework. If applying to UChicago, treat it as a long-shot admission with an unknown financial outcome. Do not plan financially around UChicago without a verified award letter.
1
Parent Decision Dashboard
① Univ. of Illinois — UIUC
② Univ. of Chicago
| Published COA — Year 1 | A$34,092 (in-state) | B$88,416 |
| Est. Institutional Aid | $3,000 – $8,000 (merit + need) | $25,000 – $50,000 (need-based only; CSS) |
| State Aid (MAP Grant) | $0 – $5,970 (marginal at SAI ~$8,500) | $0 – $5,970 (private school eligible) |
| Federal Loans Available | $5,500 | $5,500 |
| External Scholarships (Yr 1) | $3,000 – $6,000 | $3,000 – $6,000 |
| Est. Net Cost — Year 1 | $18,000 – $25,000 | $33,000 – $58,000 (wide range) |
| Est. 4-Year Net Cost | ~$76,000 – $104,000 | ~$136,000 – $235,000 |
| Merit Scholarships | Yes — multiple programs | No — need-based only |
| CSS Profile Required | No | Yes — required for all aid |
| Borrowing Risk | Moderate | High — without generous CSS award |
Recommended Choice: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. UIUC's Gies College of Business Accountancy program is ranked among the top five nationally and sends graduates directly to Big Four firms. The in-state COA and available merit aid produce a defensible net cost in the $18,000–$25,000 range.
4
Admissions Positioning
UIUC (A)
U of Chicago (B)
| Admission Classification | Possible — Competitive | Long Reach — Statistically Unlikely |
| Est. Admissions Percentile | Bottom 30% of admitted class | Bottom 5% of applicant pool |
| GPA vs. Avg Admitted | 3.39 vs. 3.7+ — Moderate gap | 3.39 vs. 4.0+ — Significant gap |
| SAT vs. Avg Admitted | 1240 vs. 1280–1510 — Below low end | 1240 vs. 1510–1580 — Well below range |
| ACT vs. Avg Admitted | 21 vs. 27–34 — Below range | 21 vs. 34–36 — Severely below range |
| Merit Aid Likelihood | Moderate — some auto awards accessible | N/A — no merit scholarships exist |
Honest Assessment — University of Chicago: Brian's 21 ACT places him approximately 13 points below UChicago's median admitted student. The middle 50% ACT range is 34–36. No amount of holistic review compensates for a gap of this magnitude at an institution admitting fewer than 6% of applicants. The family should plan financially around UIUC as the primary scenario.
6
Cost of Attendance & True Cost Waterfall
| Component | UIUC — In-State (A) | U of Chicago (B) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $17,572 | $65,130 |
| Room & Board | $12,484 | $19,899 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,200 | $2,100 |
| Transportation | $564 | $450 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,272 | $837 |
| Total COA — Year 1 | $34,092 | $88,416 |
① UIUC — Year 1 Cost Waterfall
Published COA$34,092
After Merit Aid~$29,092
After State Aid~$25,542
After External Scholarships~$21,042
After Federal Aid~$18,542
✓ Likely Year 1 Cost~$18,500
② U of Chicago — Year 1 Cost Waterfall
Published COA$88,416
After Inst. Need Aid~$52,416
After State Aid~$46,446
After External Scholarships~$41,946
After Federal Aid~$38,946
✓ Likely Year 1 Cost~$39,000
UChicago COA Note: The waterfall above reflects a mid-range institutional need-based award (~$36,000/yr) estimated from UChicago's institutional methodology. UChicago's actual aid award can vary substantially based on CSS Profile data, home equity, and parent asset treatment. The true net cost at UChicago is unknown until a CSS Profile is submitted and an award letter is received.
14
Financial Value Index — Weighted Score
77
/ 100
University of Illinois — UIUC
✓ Strong Value
42
/ 100
University of Chicago
⚠ High Risk
Sample Report Notice: This is an anonymized sample report produced for demonstration purposes. All student data, financial figures, and comparisons are representative examples based on a real engagement. Actual reports are personalized to each student's specific academic profile, financial circumstances, and target institutions. College Intel Advisors is an independent advisory firm not affiliated with any college, university, or government agency.