Ohio State University-Main Campus: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Columbus, Ohio · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025
Or open Ohio State University-Main Campus in College Search to compare programs, costs and outcomes side by side.
Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public university in Columbus, Ohio that admits about 61% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $17,339 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Finance and Financial Management Services, Research and Experimental Psychology and Communication and Media Studies, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 88% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 6.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Ohio State University-Main Campus admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 61%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1360 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,339 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about Ohio State University-Main Campus right now
Ohio State University's Columbus campus enrolls more than 60,000 students, with 65,405 across all locations, making it one of the largest universities in the country. For recent cycles, Ohio State admitted 38,532 of 88,508 applicants, a 43.5 percent admit rate, with middle-50 percent scores of SAT 1360 to 1500 and ACT 29 to 34, freshman retention of 93.9 percent, and an 88 percent six-year graduation rate. The most distinctive recent academic news, and one parents are likely to ask about, is the June 2025 announcement that Ohio State will require all undergraduates to develop foundational AI fluency in their coursework, regardless of major; the university plans to hire 100 tenure-track faculty with AI expertise by 2030 and runs the Ohio Supercomputer Center, one of the most powerful academic computing systems for AI development. Ohio State ranks 12th nationally in research and development spending at $1.58 billion in 2026 data. The 1,665-acre main campus sits 2.5 miles north of downtown Columbus with 41 residence halls and a $8.62 billion 2025 endowment. Parents should note recent leadership change with President Walter E. Carter Jr. resigning in March 2026, and statewide DEI program restrictions under the 2025 Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, both of which have shaped current campus operations and student programs.
What GPA does my child need for Ohio State University-Main Campus?
Ohio State University-Main Campus admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What does Ohio State University-Main Campus weight in admissions?
Ohio State University-Main Campus reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Class rank
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • First generation status
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
SAT and ACT scores Ohio State University-Main Campus typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 670–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 660. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1280 |
| 50th percentile | 1360 |
| 75th percentile | 1430 |
| % submitting SAT | 24% |
| 25th percentile | 26 |
| 50th percentile | 29 |
| 75th percentile | 32 |
| % submitting ACT | 40% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 64% |
| Top 25% of class | 95% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
| % submitting class rank | 27% |
How much does Ohio State University-Main Campus actually cost?
Published tuition is $13,244 for in-state students and $40,022 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,738 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $17,339 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $12,545 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $44,430 |
| Room and board | $15,252 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $17,339 |
| Application fee | $60 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Ohio State University-Main Campus
| Regular deadline | January 15 |
| Notification date | March 31 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Ohio State University-Main Campus?
These predict outcomes at Ohio State University-Main Campus better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Ohio State University-Main Campus
The most popular undergraduate programs at Ohio State University-Main Campus, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Finance and Financial Management Services, Research and Experimental Psychology and Communication and Media Studies. Across all programs, Ohio State University-Main Campus confers roughly 3,918 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Finance and Financial Management Services program report a median income of about $93,666 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 813 | $93,666 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 593 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 489 | $63,099 |
| Biology, General | 429 | $67,156 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 416 | $70,008 |
| Marketing | 405 | $80,070 |
| Computer Engineering | 404 | $106,752 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 369 | $89,592 |
Is Ohio State University-Main Campus safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Ohio State University-Main Campus disclosed 289 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 6.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 32 violent offenses and 134 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
About 34% of undergraduates at Ohio State University-Main Campus live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 8% of men join a fraternity and 12% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Ohio parents ask about
- University of Cincinnati-Main Campus85% acceptance
- Case Western Reserve University37% acceptance
- University of Dayton65% acceptance
- Miami University-Oxford75% acceptance
- Kent State University at Kent86% acceptance
- Cleveland State University91% acceptance
- Kenyon College31% acceptance
- Oberlin College34% acceptance
Next steps for Ohio State University-Main Campus
Common questions parents ask about Ohio State University-Main Campus
What GPA do I need for Ohio State University-Main Campus?
Ohio State University-Main Campus admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does Ohio State University-Main Campus typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 670–760, with an EBRW midpoint near 660. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32.
How much does Ohio State University-Main Campus actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Ohio State University-Main Campus after grants and scholarships is $17,339 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $13,244 and $40,022 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Ohio State University-Main Campus realistic for my child?
Ohio State University-Main Campus admits 61% of applicants, so 670–760 SAT Math is target range and below 670 is a reach. Then check the $17,339 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
Ohio State University-Main Campus accepts about 61% of applicants out of roughly 72,829 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Ohio State University-Main Campus test-optional?
Yes. Ohio State University-Main Campus is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
About 88% of students at Ohio State University-Main Campus graduate within six years. 94% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Ohio State University-Main Campus look for in applicants?
Ohio State University-Main Campus rates course rigor, class rank, GPA and test scores as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Ohio State University-Main Campus a public or private school, and where is it located?
Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio.
What are the most popular majors at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
The largest undergraduate majors at Ohio State University-Main Campus by annual graduates are Finance and Financial Management Services, Research and Experimental Psychology and Communication and Media Studies. The school awards about 3,918 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Ohio State University-Main Campus safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Ohio State University-Main Campus reported 289 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 6.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
At Ohio State University-Main Campus, 34% of undergraduates live on campus, 8% of men are in fraternities, 12% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Ohio State University-Main Campus, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers