Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
53%
Acceptance Rate
$12,485
Avg Cost (In-State)
$36,722
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
83%
Graduation Rate
61,369
Total Enrollment
What they weigh most
Source: Common Data Set
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
February 1
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
0
Application Fee
$60
Interview
Not required
Essays: One required essay, maximum 550 words on topics such as overcoming challenges, leadership, or community service
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$51,438
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$60,409
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies. | $41,232 | $62,096 | 571 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | $65,181 | $97,986 | 544 |
| Psychology, General. | $32,276 | $54,182 | 479 |
| Marketing. | $56,465 | $81,119 | 474 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | $62,399 | $90,850 | 345 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $71,175 | $81,795 | 339 |
| Computer Engineering. | $83,342 | $123,731 | 324 |
| Biology, General. | $32,356 | $64,324 | 305 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Ohio College Opportunity Grant
~$16k valueOhio need-based grant: $4,392/year at OH publics for low-income residents.
Who it helps: Low-income Ohio residents attending OH public or eligible private 4-year colleges.
How to use: File FAFSA. School awards automatically based on EFC.
Source ↗Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Oberlin Dean's Scholarship + Merit
$15,000-$30,000/year
universityOberlin incoming freshmen with academic merit; multiple named awards.
Deadline: January 15
Learn more ↗Ohio State Bar Foundation Scholarship
$1,000-$5,000
stateOH law students with academic merit + service.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗Ohio College Opportunity Grant
Up to $3,500/year
stateOhio residents with an EFC of $2,190 or less attending eligible Ohio or Pennsylvania institutions.
Deadline: October 1 (apply via FAFSA, funds limited)
Learn more ↗Ohio State Morrill Scholarship Program
Tuition + fees + room/board (Distinction tier)
universityOSU incoming freshmen committed to diversity, inclusion, and social justice. Three tiers.
Deadline: November 1
Learn more ↗Case Western Bolton Scholars Program
Full tuition + faculty mentor + research stipend
universityTop CWRU incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: Mid-December
Learn more ↗Ohio Nurses Association Scholarship
$1,000-$2,500
stateOH nursing students at accredited programs.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more ↗UC President's Leadership Award
Up to full tuition
universityTop UC incoming freshmen via competitive process; combines academics + leadership.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Cleveland Foundation Scholarships
$500-$15,000
localCleveland-area students; one app routes to 100+ named scholarship funds.
Deadline: January 31
Learn more ↗Greater Cincinnati Foundation Scholarships
$500-$10,000
localGreater Cincinnati area students; multiple named funds.
Deadline: February 15
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 53% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
60.57%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
19.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
21.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
79.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
18.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
28.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
94.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
88.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Not considered
Visits, info sessions and opening emails don't move the needle here.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
53% acceptance
Both admit around 53% of applicants, with 51k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Florida International University
Miami, FL
54.7% acceptance
Both admit around 55% of applicants, with 40k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA
54.8% acceptance
Both admit around 55% of applicants, with 31k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
University of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH
59.7% acceptance
Similar selectivity (60% vs 53%) but out-of-state cost runs $21k — meaningfully less than $37k.
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR
56.5% acceptance
Similar selectivity (57% vs 53%) but out-of-state cost runs $5k — meaningfully less than $37k.
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
San Juan, PR
54.6% acceptance
Similar selectivity (55% vs 53%) but out-of-state cost runs $5k — meaningfully less than $37k.
Reaches above this college
Washington University in St Louis
St. Louis, MO
12.1% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but more selective (12% vs 53%) — a stretch target if Ohio State University is already on your list.
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
4.5% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but more selective (5% vs 53%) — a stretch target if Ohio State University is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
73% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (73% vs 53%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO
75% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (75% vs 53%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
75.9% acceptance
Same u setting in the Midwest, but higher admit rate (76% vs 53%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Transfer pathways
Routes in from a community college.
From OH community colleges
articulation onlyOhio State participates in the Ohio Transfer 36 statewide articulation and has formal partnerships with Columbus State Community College, Cuyahoga CC, Sinclair CC, and Lorain County CC through the Transfer Affiliate Program. The Bridge Program guarantees admission to the Columbus…
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