Ohio State vs. Tennessee

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus and The University of Tennessee Knoxville? 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
The University of Tennessee Knoxville

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Tennessee Knoxville, TN
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Tennessee Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Tennessee 38,728
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Tennessee Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Tennessee #226
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Tennessee -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Tennessee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Tennessee

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tennessee $13,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Tennessee $33,256
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Tennessee $13,356
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Tennessee $21,648
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Tennessee $11,434
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Tennessee 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Tennessee 59,764
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Tennessee 24,863
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Tennessee 41.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Tennessee 27.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Tennessee 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Tennessee 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Tennessee 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Tennessee B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Tennessee Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Tennessee Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Tennessee 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Tennessee 1200/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Tennessee Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Tennessee

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Tennessee 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Tennessee
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Tennessee 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Tennessee $56,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Tennessee 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Tennessee $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Tennessee $206

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 42%
  • Tennessee 44%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 58%
  • Tennessee 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • Tennessee Low
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Tennessee No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Tennessee 79%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Tennessee 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Tennessee 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Tennessee 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Tennessee 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Tennessee 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH with The University of Tennessee Knoxville in Knoxville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Tennessee based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 38,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); The University of Tennessee Knoxville is in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Knoxville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1.

Ohio State vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State or Tennessee? 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 Tennessee ($19,783 vs. $21,648).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville are 9.4% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($13,356 vs. $14,738).
  • The University of Tennessee Knoxville is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $568 more per year; $13,812.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.3% higher at Ohio State than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (about $6,766 more per year; $40,022.00 vs. $33,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than at Ohio State University Main Campus (94% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 15% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students ($13,151 vs. $11,434).

Ohio State vs. Tennessee Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 110 points higher than at Tennessee (1290).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Tennessee).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Tennessee - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Tennessee (3.66).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Tennessee (41.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 27.4% at Tennessee.

Ohio State vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State and Tennessee? 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).

  • Ohio State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than The University of Tennessee Knoxville's (63%).
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee Knoxville earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Knoxville graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($20,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Tennessee graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($206 vs. $222).
  • More Tennessee 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.