Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus and Virginia Tech? 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
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 42%
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 58%
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Virginia Tech based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 38,857 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech ($19,783 vs. $24,912).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 10.9% lower than at Virginia Tech ($14,738 vs. $16,550).
  • Virginia Tech is 20.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $2,704 more per year; $15,948.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6% higher at Ohio State than at Virginia Tech (about $2,258 more per year; $40,022.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at Virginia Tech (70% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 43.4% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($13,151 vs. $9,168).

Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 30 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Virginia Tech (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Virginia Tech (54.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State and Virginia Tech? 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).

  • Virginia Tech's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $14,400 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $2,466 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($222 vs. $247).
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.