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USD UCSD Miami Michigan UC Riverside Wisconsin Pitt Cal State Fullerton Cal Poly Cal State Long Beach Purdue NC State| Ohio State University | San Diego State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Ohio State | San Diego State | ||
| Location | Columbus, OH | San Diego, CA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 60,046 | 39,241 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #139 | #337 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | osu.edu | sdsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Ohio State | San Diego State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,826 | $5,742 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $37,332 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,272 | $21,630 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,575 | $19,500 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,791 | $5,459 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 64% | 94% |
Admission |
Ohio State | San Diego State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 70,028 | 82,800 | ||
| Admitted | 35,588 | 28,517 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 50.8% | 34.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.7% | 21.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.76 | 3.82 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 22/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1330/1480 | 1090/1300 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Ohio State | San Diego State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 22:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Ohio State | San Diego State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 80% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $50,600 | $53,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 65% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $15,349 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $158 |
Diversity |
Ohio State | San Diego State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 34% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 31% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 7% | ||
| % International | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 4% |
Students |
Ohio State | San Diego State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 65% | 75% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 23% | ||
Campus |
Ohio State | San Diego State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Ohio State University is larger than than San Diego State based on total student enrollment (60,046 students vs. 39,241 students)
Ohio State vs. San Diego State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Ohio State or San Diego State?
- Ohio State University is 106% more expensive to attend than San Diego State for in-state tuition ($11,826.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 111.8% higher at Ohio State than San Diego State University ($37,332.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Diego State University than Ohio State ($19,500 vs. $19,575)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University are 51.6% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($14,272 vs. $21,630)
- More students receive financial grant aid at San Diego State University than Ohio State University (94% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University students is 116% larger than aid received San Diego State University ($11,791 vs. $5,459)
Ohio State vs. San Diego State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Ohio State or San Diego State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between San Diego State or Ohio State .
- The average SAT score at Ohio State University (1295) is 165 points higher than at San Diego State (1130)
- Incoming Ohio State students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at San Diego State (25)
- Accepted freshman San Diego State students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Ohio State (3.76)
- Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (50.8%) than San Diego State (34.4%)
Ohio State vs. San Diego State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Ohio State or San Diego State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between San Diego State and Ohio State.
- The graduation rate at Ohio State is higher than San Diego State University (80% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from San Diego State University earn on average $2,800 more per year than Ohio State graduates after ten years. ($53,400 vs. $50,600)
- San Diego State University students graduate with a $6,151 lower median federal student loan debt than Ohio State graduates. ($15,349 vs. $21,500)
- San Diego State graduates are paying $64 less per month on federal student loans than Ohio State graduates. ($158 vs. $222)
- More San Diego State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/