Ohio State vs. Rice vs. George Washington vs. Case Western

Compare Ohio State University Main Campus, Rice University, George Washington University, and Case Western Reserve University in one place. The table aligns tuition and aid, admissions, student body, campus context, graduation outcomes, and earnings so you can weigh fit as well as cost. Figures use the same comparable fields we publish for more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

Ohio State University Main Campus
Rice University
George Washington University
Case Western Reserve University

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • George Washington Washington, DC
  • Case Western Cleveland, OH
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Rice Large City
  • George Washington Large City
  • Case Western Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Rice 8,961
  • George Washington 25,374
  • Case Western 12,475
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • George Washington Private 4 Year
  • Case Western Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Rice #9
  • George Washington #82
  • Case Western #51
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Rice -
  • George Washington -
  • Case Western -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Rice Non-profit
  • George Washington Non-profit
  • Case Western Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Rice
  • George Washington
  • Case Western

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Rice $64,144
  • George Washington $67,710
  • Case Western $66,608
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Rice $64,144
  • George Washington $67,710
  • Case Western $66,608
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Rice $18,100
  • George Washington $16,920
  • Case Western $18,762
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Rice $23,589
  • George Washington $46,485
  • Case Western $44,000
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Rice $56,199
  • George Washington $37,500
  • Case Western $41,913
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Rice 56%
  • George Washington 78%
  • Case Western 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Rice 32,473
  • George Washington 27,016
  • Case Western 37,082
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Rice 2,597
  • George Washington 12,723
  • Case Western 13,550
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Rice 8%
  • George Washington 47.1%
  • Case Western 36.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • George Washington 19.3%
  • Case Western 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Rice 1540
  • George Washington 1430
  • Case Western 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Rice 34
  • George Washington 32
  • Case Western 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Rice 3.96
  • George Washington 3.81
  • Case Western 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Rice A
  • George Washington A-
  • Case Western A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Rice Elite
  • George Washington Exceptional
  • Case Western Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Rice Extreme
  • George Washington Low
  • Case Western High
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Rice 34/35
  • George Washington 31/34
  • Case Western 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Rice 1510/1570
  • George Washington 1350/1500
  • Case Western 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Required
  • Rice Test optional
  • George Washington Test optional
  • Case Western Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027
  • George Washington Jan 5, 2027
  • Case Western Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • George Washington 13:1
  • Case Western 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • George Washington
    • Social Sciences (34%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (4%)
  • Case Western
    • Engineering (28%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Rice 92%
  • George Washington 81%
  • Case Western 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Rice $86,400
  • George Washington $80,500
  • Case Western $84,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Rice 87%
  • George Washington 82%
  • Case Western 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Rice $10,227
  • George Washington $24,962
  • Case Western $24,066
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Rice $105
  • George Washington $258
  • Case Western $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 48%
  • Rice 56%
  • George Washington 38%
  • Case Western 48%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Rice 44%
  • George Washington 62%
  • Case Western 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • Rice Very High
  • George Washington High
  • Case Western High
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Rice No
  • George Washington No
  • Case Western No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Rice 37%
  • George Washington 56%
  • Case Western 52%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Rice 24%
  • George Washington 10%
  • Case Western 20%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Rice 7%
  • George Washington 6%
  • Case Western 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Rice 14%
  • George Washington 8%
  • Case Western 6%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • George Washington 0%
  • Case Western 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • George Washington 0%
  • Case Western 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Rice 4%
  • George Washington 4%
  • Case Western 4%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Rice 12%
  • George Washington 10%
  • Case Western 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Rice 2%
  • George Washington 5%
  • Case Western 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Rice 38%
  • George Washington 2%
  • Case Western 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Rice 46%
  • George Washington 89%
  • Case Western 75%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 8,961 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; Rice University 6:1.

Ohio State vs. Rice Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State or Rice? 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 Rice ($19,783 vs. $23,589).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 18.6% lower than at Rice University ($14,738 vs. $18,100).
  • Rice University is 384.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $50,900 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 60.3% higher at Rice than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $24,122 more per year; $64,144.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at Rice University (70% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rice University students is 327.3% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($56,199 vs. $13,151).

Ohio State vs. Rice Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ohio State or Rice? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Rice and Ohio State.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Rice University (1540) is 140 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Rice students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; Rice University 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; Rice University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Required; Rice - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Rice students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Rice (8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 44.2% at Rice.

Ohio State vs. Rice Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State and Rice? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Rice University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from Rice University earn a median of about $35,800 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($86,400 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $11,273 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($10,227 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $117 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($105 vs. $222).
  • More Rice graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.