Ohio State University--Columbus

Summary

Ohio State University--Columbus is a public institution that was founded in 1870. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 44,201, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,700 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Ohio State University--Columbus's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 54. Its in-state tuition and fees are $10,037 (2014-15); out-of-state tuition and fees are $26,537 (2014-15).

Located in the state capital of Columbus, The Ohio State University is a sprawling school with seemingly endless opportunities for students to get involved. There are more than 1,000 clubs and organizations on campus, including about 65 fraternities and sororities. Sports are another big part of campus life, with the Ohio State Buckeyes competing in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. The athletic teams are named after the state tree and cheered on by mascot Brutus Buckeye. The football stadium, which was completed in 1922, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. All Ohio State freshmen must live in one of the more than 35 residence halls across campus, unless a student is from Central Ohio and can commute from home. The Ohio State First Year Experience offers freshmen orientation, mentors and special programming to ease the transition into college. Freshmen can also go on the school’s community service spring break, a trip to Chicago that is only open to first-year students. Local community service opportunities are easy to find through the school’s Pay It Forward program, which includes an online listing of volunteer events. Students can also study abroad in more than 40 countries through Ohio State.

Ohio State offers a wide variety of graduate programs through its highly ranked College of Education and Human Ecology, Max M. Fisher College of Business, College of Engineering, College of Medicine and Michael E. Moritz College of Law. At the undergraduate level, Ohio State offers more than 175 majors, as well as a Personalized Study Program for students who want to design a nontraditional education. There are notable Ohio State alumni in nearly every industry sector, and famous graduates include actress Patricia Heaton and "Goosebumps" author R. L. Stine.

General Information

Applying

When applying to Ohio State University--Columbus, it's important to note the application deadline is February 1, and the early action deadline is November 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due February 1. The application fee at Ohio State University--Columbus is $60. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 55.5 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Ohio State University--Columbus is 19:1, and the school has 29.6 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Ohio State University--Columbus include: Psychology, General; Finance, General; Speech Communication and Rhetoric; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; and Marketing/Marketing Management, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 92.5 percent.

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Student Life

Ohio State University--Columbus has a total undergraduate enrollment of 44,201, with a gender distribution of 52.7 percent male students and 47.3 percent female students. At this school, 26 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 74 percent of students live off campus. Ohio State University--Columbus is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

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Campus Services

Ohio State University--Columbus offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, day care, health service, and health insurance. Ohio State University--Columbus also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Ohio State University--Columbus, 27 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Ohio State University--Columbus.

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Cost and Financial Aid

At Ohio State University--Columbus, 51.5 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $9,032.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs, or use the U.S. News 529 Finder to choose the best tax-advantaged college investment account for you.

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