University

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Verified · last verified 2026-09-02

University details

The Ohio State University is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a federal land-grant institution, originally as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, and was renamed The Ohio State University in 1878. In addition to the Columbus campus, the university operates regional campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Marion, and Newark, along with the Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster. According to the university, the Columbus campus serves more than 56,000 students who can choose from 170 undergraduate majors and more than 250 master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs, and about 8,000 students attend the regional campuses and the Agricultural Technical Institute.

Institution type: Public
Campus setting: Urban
Application platforms: Common App
Testing policy: Test required (2025–2026)
In-state tuition: $13,244
Out-of-state tuition: $40,022
Cost of attendance: Not available (2024–2025)
Undergraduate enrollment: 45,638

Website Admissions Financial aid

Common Data Set

Institution-reported facts by reporting cycle. Missing and withheld values are shown explicitly.

2025–2026 · most recent available

First-year admission rate

49.2%

Calculated from applications and admissions reported in CDS C1. This is a factual calculation, not a CollegePath rating.

Enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment (B1): 46,627 students
Full-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 43,117 students
Part-time undergraduate enrollment (B1): 3,510 students

First-year admission

Majors

Accounting and Related Services
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Engineering
Agricultural and Food Products Processing
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Agricultural Business and Management
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Agricultural Engineering
Engineering
Agricultural Mechanization
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Agricultural Production Operations
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Agricultural Public Services
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Deadlines

Early action · 2026–2027
2026-11-01 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Regular decision · 2026–2027
2027-01-15 — First-year deadline listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf

View deadlines from earlier years

2025–2026

Financial aid · 2025–2026
2026-02-01 — FAFSA priority date for the 2026-2027 aid year (Ohio State federal school code 003090); also the priority date for most institutional scholarships awarded through Scholarship Universe.

Supplemental essays

No supplemental essays are required for this university.

Application requirements

2026–2027

Application fee · Required
Value: $60
First-year U.S. application fee listed in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Fee waiver · Optional
Value: U.S. only
Common App fee-waiver availability listed in the 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Personal essay · Required
The Common App personal essay is marked required in the Common App 2026–2027 Requirements Grid, updated 2026-08-28.
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Supplemental essays · Not required

Sources

Direct sources supporting this university’s facts, with retrieval dates.

Official source · supports requirements:2026–2027:supplemental_essays
https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/common-app
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Institution first-year requirements page reviewed alongside the current Common App Requirements Grid.
Secondary source · supports deadlines:2026–2027
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Common App member-reported first-year deadlines; grid updated 2026-08-28.
Secondary source · supports requirements:2026–2027
https://content.commonapp.org/Files/ReqGrid.pdf
Retrieved 2026-09-02 — Common App member-reported first-year fee, waiver, and personal-essay fields; grid updated 2026-08-28.
Official source · supports financial_aid_url

First-year applications (C1)

First-year students admitted (C1)

40,047 students

First-year students enrolled (C1)

8,248 students

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 4.0 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.75-3.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.50-3.74 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.25-3.49 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 3.00-3.24 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.50-2.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 2.00-2.49 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA 1.00-1.99 (C11)

Not reported by institution

High-school GPA distribution · GPA below 1.0 (C11)

Not reported by institution

Average high-school GPA (C12)

Not reported by institution

The CDS leaves the average and all GPA-distribution cells blank; it does not publish GPA percentiles.

Testing

Enrolled students submitting scores · SAT (C9): 25%
Enrolled students submitting scores · ACT (C9): 42%
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 25th percentile (C9): 640 score
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing · 75th percentile (C9): 720 score
SAT Math · 25th percentile (C9): 650 score
SAT Math · 75th percentile (C9): 740 score
ACT Composite · 25th percentile (C9): 27 score
ACT Composite · 75th percentile (C9): 32 score

Academics and class size

Student-to-faculty ratio (I2): 13:1

Source: Ohio State University Columbus Campus Common Data Set 2025-2026 · Retrieved 2026-08-31

Open the official institutional source

Document ID: sha256:47ad8c68770dc89275c5b7d3468b567cfdfdb2c8837d074b068bb418643e9d1a · Import: cds-2026-08-v15

Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Air Transportation

Transportation and Materials Moving

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

Health Professions and Related Programs

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

Health Professions and Related Programs

Animal Sciences

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Anthropology

Social Sciences

Apparel and Textiles

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Applied Mathematics

Mathematics and Statistics

Architectural Sciences and Technology

Architecture and Related Services

Architecture

Architecture and Related Services

Area Studies

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

Visual and Performing Arts

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Physical Sciences

Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

Physical Sciences

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Biology, General

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Biomedical/Medical Engineering

Engineering

Botany/Plant Biology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Business Administration, Management and Operations

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Business/Commerce, General

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Business/Managerial Economics

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Chemical Engineering

Engineering

Chemistry

Physical Sciences

City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning

Architecture and Related Services

Civil Engineering

Engineering

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

Health Professions and Related Programs

Communication and Media Studies

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services

Health Professions and Related Programs

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Computer and Information Sciences, General

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Computer Engineering

Engineering

Criminology

Social Sciences

Dance

Visual and Performing Arts

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

Health Professions and Related Programs

Design and Applied Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services

Health Professions and Related Programs

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Visual and Performing Arts

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Economics

Social Sciences

Education, General

Education

Educational Administration and Supervision

Education

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

Engineering

Engineering Physics

Engineering

Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians

Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields

Engineering, Other

Engineering

English Language and Literature, General

English Language and Literature/Letters

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

Engineering

Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy

Natural Resources and Conservation

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Finance and Financial Management Services

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Fine and Studio Arts

Visual and Performing Arts

Food Science and Technology

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

Genetics

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Geography and Cartography

Social Sciences

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

Physical Sciences

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Health and Medical Administrative Services

Health Professions and Related Programs

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General

Health Professions and Related Programs

Health/Medical Preparatory Programs

Health Professions and Related Programs

Hospitality Administration/Management

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

Human Resources Management and Services

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Industrial Engineering

Engineering

Insurance

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

International Business

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

International Relations and National Security Studies

Social Sciences

International/Globalization Studies

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Journalism

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Landscape Architecture

Architecture and Related Services

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Management Information Systems and Services

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Marketing

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Materials Engineering

Engineering

Mathematics

Mathematics and Statistics

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering

Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Microbiological Sciences and Immunology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Modern Greek Language and Literature

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Music

Visual and Performing Arts

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Natural Resources and Conservation

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Non-Professional Legal Studies

Legal Professions and Studies

Nutrition Sciences

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

Health Professions and Related Programs

Philosophy

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Physics

Physical Sciences

Plant Sciences

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

Political Science and Government

Social Sciences

Psychology, General

Psychology

Public Administration

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

Public Health

Health Professions and Related Programs

Public Policy Analysis

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

Real Estate

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Health Professions and Related Programs

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

Health Professions and Related Programs

Religion/Religious Studies

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Research and Experimental Psychology

Psychology

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Social Sciences, General

Social Sciences

Social Work

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

Sociology

Social Sciences

Special Education and Teaching

Education

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies

Statistics

Mathematics and Statistics

Sustainability Studies

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

Education

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

Education

Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language

Education

Zoology/Animal Biology

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

No supplemental essays are required for this university.

2025–2026

Application fee · Required
Value: 60
$60 nonrefundable application fee submitted with the Common Application.
https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/common-app
Fee waiver · Optional
"If your family has economic need, talk to your school counselor to determine your eligibility for a fee waiver."
https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/apply-step-by-step
Recommendation letters · Optional
Value: 2
"While not required, your counselor may send a maximum of two letters of recommendation."
https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/apply-step-by-step
Personal essay · Required
Ohio State requires a personal statement essay in response to one of the prompts provided through the Common Application.
https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/common-app
Supplemental essays · Not required
No supplemental essays are required for this university.
https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/common-app
Secondary school report · Required
Applicants request that their school counselor send the high school transcript, including senior-year courses, to Ohio State.
https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/apply-step-by-step
English proficiency · Required
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency (for example, TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or ACT/SAT English section minimums).
https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/apply-step-by-step
CSS Profile · Not required
The incoming-freshmen financial aid dates page lists the FAFSA and does not list a CSS Profile requirement.
https://sfa.osu.edu/incoming-freshmen/apply-for-aid/important-dates
FAFSA · Required
Financial-aid applicants file the 2026-2027 FAFSA using Ohio State's federal school code 003090; priority date February 1, 2026.
https://sfa.osu.edu/incoming-freshmen/apply-for-aid/important-dates

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports application_platforms

https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/apply-step-by-step

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports testing_policy

https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/apply-step-by-step

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports requirements

https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/common-app

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports requirements

https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/apply-step-by-step

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports requirements

https://sfa.osu.edu/incoming-freshmen/apply-for-aid/important-dates

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports deadlines

https://sfa.osu.edu/incoming-freshmen/apply-for-aid/important-dates

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports description

https://economics.osu.edu/about-ohio-state

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source · supports admissions_url

https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/apply-step-by-step

Retrieved 2026-07-21

Official source

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?204796

Retrieved 2026-06-10