George Washington vs. Ohio State

Deciding between George Washington University and Ohio State University Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

George Washington University
Ohio State University Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • George Washington Washington, DC
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • George Washington Large City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • George Washington 25,374
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • George Washington Private 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • George Washington #82
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • George Washington -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • George Washington Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • George Washington
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • George Washington $67,710
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • George Washington $67,710
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • George Washington $16,920
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • George Washington $46,485
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • George Washington $37,500
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • George Washington 78%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • George Washington 27,016
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • George Washington 12,723
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • George Washington 47.1%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • George Washington 19.3%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • George Washington 1430
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • George Washington 32
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • George Washington 3.81
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • George Washington A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • George Washington Exceptional
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • George Washington Low
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • George Washington 31/34
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • George Washington 1350/1500
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • George Washington Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • George Washington Jan 5, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • George Washington 13:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • George Washington
    • Social Sciences (34%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (4%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • George Washington 81%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • George Washington $80,500
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • George Washington 82%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • George Washington $24,962
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • George Washington $258
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • George Washington 38%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • George Washington 62%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • George Washington High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • George Washington No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • George Washington 56%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • George Washington 10%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • George Washington 6%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • George Washington 8%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • George Washington 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • George Washington 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • George Washington 4%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • George Washington 10%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • George Washington 5%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • George Washington 2%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • George Washington 89%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • George Washington Yes
  • Ohio State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • George Washington No
  • Ohio State No
  • Meal Plan
  • George Washington Yes
  • Ohio State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • George Washington No
  • Ohio State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • George Washington No
  • Ohio State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare George Washington University in Washington, DC with Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than George Washington based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 25,374 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • George Washington University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • George Washington University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: George Washington University 13:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

George Washington vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, George Washington or Ohio State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ohio State University Main Campus than George Washington ($19,783 vs. $46,485).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 12.9% lower than at George Washington University ($14,738 vs. $16,920).
  • George Washington University is 411.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $54,466 more per year; $67,710.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 69.2% higher at George Washington than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $27,688 more per year; $67,710.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Washington University than at Ohio State University Main Campus (78% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Washington University students is 185.1% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($37,500 vs. $13,151).

George Washington vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, George Washington or Ohio State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Ohio State and George Washington.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Washington University (1430) is 30 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming George Washington students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Washington University 1350/1500; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Washington University 31/34; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: George Washington - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: George Washington Jan 5, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman George Washington students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than George Washington (47.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.3% at George Washington vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

George Washington vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for George Washington and Ohio State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • George Washington University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from George Washington University earn a median of about $29,900 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,500 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $3,462 lower median loan debt than George Washington graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,962).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than George Washington graduates ($222 vs. $258).
  • More George Washington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.