Skip to content
College Path Hub

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, Ohio · Public · 4-year · City

Compare this college

Official website

At a glance

Average net price
$17,339What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
61%
Graduation rate
88%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
45,638
In-state tuition
$13,244Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$40,022
SAT midpoint
1,345
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$60,409Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$17,339

Better than 28% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

88%

Better than 97% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$60,409

Better than 67% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$19,976

Better than 62% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$30,305

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$17,339

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Ohio State University-Main Campus
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time88%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return94%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$19,976
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$60,409

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Ohio State University-Main Campus by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Engineering$83,342455
Applied Mathematics$82,52365
Computer and Information Sciences, General$82,448145
Industrial Engineering$80,876149
Mechanical Engineering$79,359218
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$78,872217
Engineering, Other$78,73430
Chemical Engineering$77,455155
Real Estate$72,76966
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering$72,06296
Management Information Systems and Services$72,01784
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other$71,57071
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$71,175235
Materials Engineering$70,37154
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$68,81452
Civil Engineering$68,031151
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering$67,93837
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$65,46989
Finance and Financial Management Services$65,181817
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$64,26725
Agricultural Engineering$62,98156
Accounting and Related Services$62,399297
Business/Managerial Economics$61,979104
Business Administration, Management and Operations$61,423236
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$61,17343
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$60,83487
Food Science and Technology$59,88915
Human Resources Management and Services$58,99162
International Business$57,67838
Marketing$56,465478
International/Globalization Studies$55,240Not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services$54,30126
Physics$53,50468
Mathematics$52,921158
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services$52,24710
Non-Professional Legal Studies$51,231Not reported
Public Policy Analysis$50,64332
Agricultural Business and Management$50,56551
Landscape Architecture$50,394Not reported
Economics$50,209272
Business/Commerce, General$48,5974
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies$46,47457
Special Education and Teaching$45,21321
Design and Applied Arts$45,17648
Geography and Cartography$44,78943
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$43,3939
Plant Sciences$42,71227
Chemistry$42,69869
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$41,944171
Apparel and Textiles$41,82775
Public Administration$41,65088
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning$41,50136
Communication and Media Studies$41,232478
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$41,15615
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other$41,04018
Air Transportation$40,10287
Philosophy$39,97134
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs$39,642Not reported
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$39,545143
Criminology$39,396142
Social Work$38,739163
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services$38,691436
International Relations and National Security Studies$38,584133
Sociology$38,03484
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$37,59241
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration$37,36992
Hospitality Administration/Management$36,98637
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$36,72513
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$36,592167
Educational Administration and Supervision$36,48785
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$36,48366
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$36,427100
Public Health$36,22693
Political Science and Government$35,977265
Architecture$35,370Not reported
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy$35,01950
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$34,610101
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services$34,54069
Animal Sciences$33,642130
Biology, General$32,356486
Psychology, General$32,276Not reported
Journalism$31,95541
Genetics$31,80056
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$31,17930
Zoology/Animal Biology$29,996101
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$29,638283
English Language and Literature, General$29,605130
Fine and Studio Arts$29,18674
Anthropology$28,17270
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$28,10924
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$27,81582
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$27,78836
History$26,663120
Music$26,08430
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$23,92020
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$23,50985
Agricultural Public Services$23,2217
Dance$21,16722
Research and Experimental PsychologyNot reported646
Architectural Sciences and TechnologyNot reported73
StatisticsNot reported58
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsNot reported45
Astronomy and AstrophysicsNot reported36
Social Sciences, GeneralNot reported31
Sustainability StudiesNot reported30
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported20
Engineering PhysicsNot reported19
Atmospheric Sciences and MeteorologyNot reported13
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign LanguageNot reported13
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported11
InsuranceNot reported9
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported7
Botany/Plant BiologyNot reported6
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported6
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported5
Agricultural and Food Products ProcessingNot reported4
Area StudiesNot reported4
Modern Greek Language and LiteratureNot reported3
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralNot reported2
Agricultural Production OperationsNot reported1
Arts, Entertainment, and Media ManagementNot reported1
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsNot reportedNot reported
Agricultural MechanizationNot reportedNot reported
Education, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Medieval and Renaissance StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Nutrition SciencesNot reportedNot reported
Engineering-Related Technologies/TechniciansNot reportedNot reported
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory ProgramsNot reportedNot reported

All 129 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

Similar colleges