Ohio State vs. Penn State

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus and Penn State 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.

Ohio State University Main Campus
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Required
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 48%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Penn State based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 50,737 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Ohio State vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State or Penn 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 Penn State ($19,783 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 1.8% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($14,474 vs. $14,738).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 55.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $7,400 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at Penn State than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $1,768 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at Penn State Main Campus (70% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 16% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($13,151 vs. $11,336).

Ohio State vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ohio State or Penn 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 Penn State and Ohio State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 70 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Required; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Ohio State vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State and Penn 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $5,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($222 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.