Ohio State University--Columbus

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Quick Stats
154 W. 12th Avenue

Columbus, OH 43210

[map]
Phone: (614) 292-6446
2011-2012 Tuition
$9,735
in-state
$24,630
out-of-state
Students
42,082
enrolled
53%
male /
47%
female
Admissions
Feb. 1
application deadline
68.0%
accepted

More Information

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category
U.S. News rank Category Name
#55 National Universities

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Summary

Ohio State University--Columbus is a public institution that was founded in 1870. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 42,082, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 3,469 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. Ohio State University--Columbus's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 55. Its in-state tuition and fees are $9,735 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $24,630 (2011-12).

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 900 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 37 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.

School mission (as provided by the school):

A big university means a big opportunity, and Ohio State prides itself on offering about any academic or extracurricular opportunity a student could dream of: 170 majors, 1000+ student organizations; 120 study abroad programs; internship and research opportunities in every college; 60+ service-learning courses; multiple Honors and Scholars programs, and 40+ learning communities. To help new students successfully navigate these opportunities, Ohio State has designed great support services and one of the nation's best First Year Experience (FYE) programs.

General Information

School type public, coed college
Year founded 1870
Religious affiliation N/A
Academic calendar quarter
Setting urban
2010 Endowment $1,871,328,390

Applying

When applying to Ohio State University--Columbus, it's important to note the application deadline is February 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due February 1. The application fee at Ohio State University--Columbus is $40. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 68.0 percent.

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

Selectivity more selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate 68%
Application deadline February 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by February 1

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Ohio State University--Columbus is 19:1, and the school has 31.5 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Ohio State University--Columbus include: Psychology, General; Speech Communication and Rhetoric; English Language and Literature, General; Finance, General; and Marketing/Marketing Management, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 92.5 percent.

Class sizes
Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio 19:1
4-year graduation rate 49% - Medium
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Psychology, General 6%
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 6%
English Language and Literature, General 4%
Finance, General 4%
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 3%

More About Academic Life

Student Life

Ohio State University--Columbus has a total undergraduate enrollment of 42,082, with a gender distribution of 53.0 percent male students and 47.0 percent female students. 25.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 75.0 percent of students live off campus. Ohio State University--Columbus is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Ohio State University--Columbus.

Total enrollment 56,064
Student gender distribution
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Collegiate athletic association NCAA I

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Campus Info & 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.

Students who have cars on campus 27% - Low
Health insurance offered Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer No

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Paying for School

At Ohio State University--Columbus, 55.5 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $7,789.

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.

In-state tuition and fees $9,735 (2011-12)
Out-of-state tuition and fees $24,630 (2011-12)
Room and board $10,215 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews

Here's what I'm going to talk about: why I love Ohio State. Admittedly, it was not the only college I applied to. I also applied to Baldwin-Wallace College and Marietta College. However, for as long as I can remember, I've wanted to go to college here. Ultimately, that is what drove my decision. And on a side note, the day I found out I was accepted here was one of the best days of my life! Before I actually got here, my family, friends, and others worried about safety, about me moving from our small, rural community to Ohio's capital. I have never felt in danger while on campus, but I know what I have to do if that situation should arise. I'll admit, too, that I was worried about my adjustment to the city; growing up on the farm doesn't exactly compare to walking down High Street, passing a variety of people, restaurants, and shops that I know would never be seen in my hometown. But once I moved in here, and after a couple days of adjusting, I knew I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else. I love walking across the Oval and seeing hundreds of other students laying out, doing homework, throwing a baseball around, or playing frisbee. I love walking past Orton Hall and admiring its beautiful bell tower. Mirror Lake is another great aspect of campus, too, and not only for the Mirror Lake Jump tradition the Thursday before the Ohio State vs. Michigan game! The RPAC is a great place to work out, too; I've never seen as many different machines that worked so many muscles I never knew I had! Aside from all these "exterior" reasons, I have plenty of "interior" reasons. I've made some great friends, and I don't have the roommate horror stories you sometimes hear. Ohio State does a fabulous job of matching people with compatible roommates. I've been able to re-connect with a friend of mine who I hadn't seen or talked to very often before now. I've been exposed to a variety of cultures, races, and traditions that have only made my experience here that much better. This university is the place for me, and it can be the place for thousands of other students, too. It's great to be a Buckeye; we love our toxic nuts!

Leslie Sophomore

Ohio State is the biggest campus in the world. So many of my friends from high school go here and both my parents went here. I found the transition to college akward and weird here because the campus is so big and it is very very hard to establish close friends. There is a ton of pride with people yelling the O-H-I-O chant. I loved the experience of having football tickets and being in the crazy atmosphere of the crowd.

Viggy Freshman

I love the fact that OSU is huge. There are literally thousands of people to meet. You never run out of new things to do. It never gets boring. The Oval in the spring is incredible. Whether you like to play frisbee, get a tan, smoke hookah, play guitar, walk tightrope, or just take advantage of the free foods that are given out from the various student organizations, the oval is the place to get it all.

Ben Freshman

More student reviews

* Overview details based on 2010 data

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