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Columbus , OH
The Ohio State University at Columbus, often referred to as simply Ohio State or OSU, is a prominent public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in 1870 and has since evolved into one of the largest universities in the United States. With a sprawling campus spanning over 1,700 acres, Ohio State offers a diverse range of programs and degrees across various disciplines.
At Ohio State, students have access to a multitude of academic opportunities, including more than 200 undergraduate majors and over 275 graduate and professional degrees. The university is divided into various colleges, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the College of Education and Human Ecology. With a strong emphasis on research, Ohio State hosts a number of renowned research centers and institutes, addressing critical global challenges in fields such as health, energy, and sustainability.
Ohio State is known for its rich athletic tradition, particularly in football. The university's athletic teams, the Buckeyes, compete in the Big Ten Conference and have achieved numerous championships and accolades. Campus life at Ohio State is vibrant and diverse, with over 1,400 student organizations catering to a wide range of interests. Whether it's attending sporting events, engaging in community service, or participating in cultural clubs, students have ample opportunities to get involved and make lasting connections on campus. Overall, Ohio State provides a dynamic and stimulating academic environment with abundant resources and opportunities for its students.
The Ohio State University at Columbus is a public university located in Columbus, OH. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 60%. The freshman retention rate at The Ohio State University at Columbus is 94% and the six-year graduation rate is 88%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is May 15.
Read more about what The Ohio State University at Columbus has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
46,815
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
88%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to maximize your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. What are the admission requirements for The Ohio State University at Columbus?
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 44,116 in 2025.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 24% and ACT scores 40%. 38% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 49% between 1,200 and 1,399, 11% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 2% between 800 and 999. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 48, 40 between 24-29, 11 in the range between 18-23, and 1 between 12-17.
Deadlines
The deadline for submitting applications to this school is January 15. If you plan on applying as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is May 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for The Ohio State University at Columbus was 94% in 2025, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 88%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 61,443 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 22% for that year. There was a total of 46,815 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 3,473 international students. 1,887 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 25,307 male and 27,930 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 4,921 Asian students and 3,623 Afro-American students in 2025. 2,653 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 2,214 as multirace. The school also had 20 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 27 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 1,437 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $12,180. Tuition fees were $40,962 for students coming from a different state. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $44,065. Full-time students in 2025 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,064.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $40,962 | $1,064 | $42,026 |
| In-State | $12,180 | $1,064 | $13,244 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to spend about $1,030 for books and supplies during their time at The Ohio State University at Columbus.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
At The Ohio State University at Columbus, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $14,810. If you only needed a dormitory room, you had to pay $10,090 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $10,080.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 12,180 |
| Room and Board | $ 14,810 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,030 |
| Total Expense | $ 28,020 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid available at The Ohio State University at Columbus.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 3,685 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $20,876.3.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
14,950 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 16,789. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $71,371,055, and state $36,613,006. The students of The Ohio State University at Columbus received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $143,573,110, and external in the amount of $7,718,270.
$7,641
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,049 students overall (including freshmen) at The Ohio State University at Columbus in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 399 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $71,371,055 while the state aid is $243,457. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $87,745,509. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $11,642,457 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at The Ohio State University at Columbus was 14:1. That means that there were 14 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 4,083. Out of that number, there were 2,080 male and 1,999 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at The Ohio State University at Columbus is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about students' life at The Ohio State University at Columbus.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists only of current students and/or alumni.
If you are interested in music, you can join the The Ohio State University at Columbus band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students looking to explore media and communication, The Ohio State University at Columbus publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
FAQ
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The Ohio State University at Columbus is located in Columbus, OH.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for The Ohio State University at Columbus is 60%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for The Ohio State University at Columbus is 94%.
Contact Information
The Ohio State University at Columbus
Student Academic Services Building
281 West Lane Avenue
Columbus , OH
43210
614 292-6446
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
