Ohio State vs. Pitt

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Ohio State University Main Campus
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Pitt Large City
  • Enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Pitt Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 10%
  • Pitt 11%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 14%
  • Pitt 16%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Low
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Pitt based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 35,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Ohio State vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State or Pitt? 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 Pitt ($19,783 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 7.6% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($13,620 vs. $14,738).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 65.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $8,682 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.5% higher at Pitt than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $1,408 more per year; $41,430.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (70% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students is 25.4% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($16,494 vs. $13,151).

Ohio State vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 30 points higher than at Pitt (1370).
  • Incoming Pitt students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Pitt - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pitt students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Pitt (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 13% at Pitt.

Ohio State vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State and Pitt? 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 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's (79%).
  • Graduates from University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $5,409 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($222 vs. $278).
  • More Pitt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.