#201 in the world · QS 2027

The Ohio State University

A land-grant giant in the heart of Columbus with 61,000 students, 18 colleges and schools and $1.58 billion in yearly research.

Columbus, Ohio, United States Public land-grant research university Founded 1870 Official website

See my chances at Ohio State Admissions office

Photo: Jsjessee · CC BY-SA 2.0

Acceptance rate: 49%; First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set, Columbus campus)
Students: 61,326; 46,627 undergraduates
International: 10%; of students
Student–faculty: 13:1; ratio
Tuition: $47,374; 2026-27

About Ohio State

The Ohio State University was established in 1870 as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, a land-grant school; it opened to 24 students in 1873 and took its present name in 1878. Today its Columbus campus alone enrolls 61,326 students, including 46,627 undergraduates, which makes it one of the largest single campuses in the United States. It is organised into 18 colleges and schools, from Arts and Sciences and Engineering to the Fisher College of Business, the College of Nursing and a College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences that reflects its land-grant roots.

Ohio State is a research heavyweight: it spent $1.58 billion on research in FY2024, 12th in the nation, and ranks 6th for industry-sponsored research according to NSF data. The Wexner Medical Center sits on campus, and U.S. News places the undergraduate nursing program 4th nationally and supply chain management 5th.

Admission to the Columbus campus is selective but not extreme: about 49% of first-year applicants were admitted for fall 2025, and SAT or ACT scores are required. Most first-years live on campus for two years, and the university reports a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio despite its size. It suits students who want big-school energy, Big Ten athletics and a huge menu of majors, and who are ready to seek out honors programs, research and mentors rather than wait for them.

Disciplina in civitatem

“Education for Citizenship” — university motto

Why students choose Ohio State

Early action applicants by November 1 are automatically considered for merit awards, including the National Buckeye Scholarship worth up to $13,500 a year for out-of-state students.

Programs such as nursing (4th nationally for the BSN) and supply chain management (5th) rank among the best in the U.S. News 2027 undergraduate program rankings.

Second-year students living on campus can join STEP, the Second-year Transformational Experience Program, which pairs them with faculty to deepen their academic plans and build professional networks.

Ohio residents get a four-year Tuition Guarantee that freezes tuition, general fees and housing and food costs from the year they start.

Admissions

First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set, Columbus campus)

About 1 in 2 applicants is admitted

40,047 admitted from 81,392 applicants

SAT 1300–1440

1000120014001600

Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.

ACT 27–32

2024283236

Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.

Admit rates by residency for fall 2025: 45% for Ohio residents (11,395 of 25,273), 46% for out-of-state applicants (19,914 of 42,898) and 66% for international applicants (8,738 of 13,221). 8,248 first-years enrolled. 5,358 applicants were offered a waitlist place and 2,049 were eventually admitted from it.

Testing Required: SAT or ACT for first-year applicants to the Columbus campus (fall 2027), superscored. Applicants out of high school for two or more years are exempt.

Grades Ohio State sets no minimum GPA or class rank and does not report an average GPA in its CDS. Of enrolled fall 2025 first-years who submitted a class rank (27%), 73% were in the top tenth of their class. For admitted students the admissions site reports middle-50% scores of 1280-1470 (SAT) and 27-33 (ACT).

Typical entry requirements

College prep curriculum (minimum)	4 units English, 3 math (4 recommended), 3 natural science with lab work, 2 social science (3 recommended), 2 units of the same foreign language (3 recommended), 1 visual or performing arts, plus 1 extra unit; most admitted students exceed these minimums
International secondary school	Transcripts or official examination certificates for the final four years (grades 9-12), plus SAT or ACT scores
English language	IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 TOEFL iBT 79 for tests before January 21, 2026, or 4.0 on the new scale; IELTS or IELTS Indicator 6.5; Duolingo 120; ACT English 21; SAT EBRW 550. Waived after three full years at a U.S. accredited high school, or for citizens of listed English-speaking countries.

Deadlines

Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 25 days

November 1, 2026

Nonbinding. Required for merit scholarship consideration and strongly recommended for Engineering, Nursing direct admission and Honors and Scholars. Decisions December 11 for Ohio residents and Stamps Eminence applicants, January 22 for non-Ohio residents and international applicants.
Regular Decision Non-binding In ~3 months

January 15, 2027

Final deadline for autumn 2027; decisions March 5.

Complete applications, including test scores, must arrive by 11:59 p.m. ET on the deadline. Last test dates for early action are October 3 (SAT) and October 17 (ACT). The Stamps Eminence Scholarship application is due November 9, the priority date for the FAFSA and Scholarship Universe is February 1, and the acceptance fee is due May 1, 2027.

How to apply

Common Application with application fee or fee waiver, official high school transcript, and official SAT or ACT scores sent by the testing agency. Up to two recommendation letters are optional. Scholarship programs such as Stamps Eminence and Morrill require extra essays.

What admissions looks for

Rigor of your high school record, class rank, GPA and SAT or ACT scores, which the CDS rates as very important.
Your personal essay and recommendations, rated important.
Leadership and engaged involvement in activities, work, family responsibilities or community service.
Outstanding talent in a particular area and personal qualities of collaboration, determination and resilience.
Context: first-generation status and any physical, mental or learning environment factors that affected your grades.

Tips for applying to Ohio State

1 Apply by November 1: early action is the only way to be considered for university merit scholarships and is strongly advised for Engineering, Nursing and Honors.
2 Send every SAT or ACT sitting: Ohio State superscores both tests, and scores must come directly from the testing agency.
3 If you want Stamps Eminence, tick interest in Honors or Scholars on the Common App and submit the separate essay and video by November 9.
4 Your intended major matters: after you are judged admissible, you are considered for enrollment in the college of that major.

What are your chances?

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 · figures in USD

Ohio residents, Columbus campus (tuition and general fees, fixed for four years under the Ohio State Tuition Guarantee) Tuition $14,050

+ housing and food, most common first-year plan, columbus campus $15,738 ≈ $29,788 per year

International students (includes a $3,103 International Undergraduate Student Fee); U.S. non-Ohio residents pay $44,271 Tuition $47,374

+ housing and food, most common first-year plan, columbus campus $15,738 ≈ $63,112 per year

Tuition Housing and food, most common first-year plan, Columbus campus

Financial aid

U.S. citizens and permanent residents should file the FAFSA and Scholarship Universe applications by the February 1 priority date. Merit awards include the President's Ohio Scholarship and the Stamps Eminence Scholarship (both full cost of attendance), the Morrill Scholarship, the Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship for Pell-eligible Ohioans and the National Buckeye Scholarship for out-of-state students. International students are not eligible for these university merit scholarships.

16,821 of 42,888; on average 72% of need met
Full-time undergraduates with financial need (2025-26 CDS): $20,866 (all undergraduates); $20,792 (first-years)
Average need-based aid package: Up to $13,500 a year ($54,000 over four years)
National Buckeye Scholarship (non-Ohio residents): Listed items total $72,178 (tuition and fees $47,374, housing and food $15,630, books $1,020, health insurance $4,108, personal $4,046)
International student budget 2026-27

Academics

Academic calendar: Semesters

Nursing (BSN)

Ranked 4th nationally and 2nd among publics by U.S. News (2027); direct admission is considered for early action applicants.

Supply Chain Management (Fisher College of Business)

5th nationally in U.S. News 2027, with accounting 12th and Fisher's undergraduate business program 15th overall.

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Engineering

Both rank in the top 10 among public universities in U.S. News 2027 (mechanical 8th, materials 7th); Engineering applicants are advised to apply early action.

Biological and Agricultural Engineering

11th nationally in U.S. News 2027, drawing on Ohio State's land-grant agricultural research base.

Honors and Scholars Programs

Selective communities inside the big university; interest is flagged on the Common App and is a prerequisite for the Stamps Eminence Scholarship.

Research

Research expenditures of $1.58 billion in FY2024, 12th in the nation, and 6th for industry-sponsored research (NSF HERD).
The Wexner Medical Center on the Columbus campus combines hospitals, the College of Medicine and research institutes.
More than 200 academic centers and institutes, and over 600 students present at Ohio State's undergraduate research forums each year.

Schools & faculties

College of Arts and Sciences
Fisher College of Business
College of Engineering
Knowlton School of Architecture
College of Education and Human Ecology
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
College of Medicine
College of Nursing
College of Pharmacy
College of Public Health
John Glenn College of Public Affairs
Moritz College of Law

Graduation rate

87%

First-year students who return

93%

College Scorecard: median earnings of $60,409 ten years after entry (and $51,438 six years after entry) for federally aided students. Ohio State says more than half of its students graduate debt-free.

Student life

Most first-years at Ohio State live on campus for their first two years, in residence halls with resident advisors, living-learning communities and, in year two, the STEP program. Campus life revolves around the Oval, Mirror Lake and the Ohio Union, and around more than 1,000 student organizations. Traditions run deep: students learn "Carmen Ohio", the alma mater first performed in 1903, watch the marching band's Script Ohio formation at football games in Ohio Stadium, and answer the O-H I-O chant wherever they meet another Buckeye. Welcome Week and Homecoming Week bookend the start of each autumn.

Big Ten athletics: the Buckeyes compete in NCAA Division I, with football in Ohio Stadium.
Script Ohio, the marching band formation that ends with a senior sousaphone player dotting the i.
More than 1,000 registered student organizations.
350 study abroad programs in 80 countries; Ohio State ranks 7th nationally for students studying abroad (Open Doors).
A network of more than 600,000 alumni with over 250 clubs and societies on five continents.

Housing. Most incoming first-years on the Columbus campus must live on campus for their first two years; the most common housing and food plan costs $15,738 in 2026-27.

Location

The main campus is in Columbus, Ohio's capital and largest city. The university points out that Time Out ranked Columbus the 3rd best college town in the U.S. and Zumper named it 4th for new college graduates. Students get a big-city job market and state government close at hand, and 36 career fairs a year on campus.

Nearest airport: John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

Notable alumni

JO
Jesse Owens

Four-time gold medalist at the 1936 Berlin Olympics; the "Buckeye Bullet" entered Ohio State in 1933
JN
Jack Nicklaus

Winner of a record 18 men's major golf championships; the Jack Nicklaus Museum is on the Ohio State campus
RL
Roy Lichtenstein

Pop art painter; studied fine arts at Ohio State
RL
R. L. Stine

Author of the Goosebumps books; BA in English, 1965, and editor of the humor magazine The Sundial
PH
Patricia Heaton

Emmy-winning actress (Everybody Loves Raymond, The Middle); BA in drama
AG
Archie Griffin

Only two-time Heisman Trophy winner (1974 and 1975) as an Ohio State running back

Frequently asked questions

What is Ohio State's acceptance rate?

For fall 2025, Ohio State's Columbus campus admitted 40,047 of 81,392 first-year applicants, about 49%. The rate was 45% for Ohio residents, 46% for out-of-state applicants and 66% for international applicants.

Does Ohio State require the SAT or ACT?

Yes. SAT or ACT scores are required for first-year applicants to the Columbus campus for fall 2027, and Ohio State superscores both tests. The middle 50% of enrolled fall 2025 first-years scored 1300-1440 on the SAT or 27-32 on the ACT.

When is the Ohio State early action deadline?

November 1, 2026 for autumn 2027. Early action is nonbinding and is required for merit scholarship consideration; regular decision closes January 15, 2027.

How much does Ohio State cost for out-of-state and international students?

For 2026-27, tuition and fees are $44,271 for non-Ohio residents and $47,374 for international students, plus about $15,738 for housing and food. Ohio residents pay $14,050, fixed for four years.

Can international students get scholarships at Ohio State?

International students are not eligible for Ohio State's university merit scholarships for incoming first-years, and admitted international students must show they can pay their costs. The international student budget for 2026-27 lists items totaling about $72,178.

Sources & methodology

Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.