Ohio State vs. Washington and Lee

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus and Washington and Lee University? 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
Washington and Lee University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Washington and Lee Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Washington and Lee Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Washington and Lee 2,241
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Washington and Lee Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Washington and Lee #31
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Washington and Lee -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Washington and Lee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Washington and Lee

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Washington and Lee $68,045
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Washington and Lee $68,045
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Washington and Lee $18,685
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Washington and Lee $23,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Washington and Lee $63,945
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Washington and Lee 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Washington and Lee 8,213
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Washington and Lee 1,147
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Washington and Lee 14%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Washington and Lee 41.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Washington and Lee 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Washington and Lee 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Washington and Lee 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Washington and Lee A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Washington and Lee Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Washington and Lee Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Washington and Lee 33/34
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Washington and Lee 1430/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Required
  • Washington and Lee Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Washington and Lee Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Washington and Lee 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Washington and Lee
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Washington and Lee 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Washington and Lee $89,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Washington and Lee 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Washington and Lee $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Washington and Lee $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 48%
  • Washington and Lee 50%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Washington and Lee 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • Washington and Lee Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Washington and Lee No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Washington and Lee 82%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Washington and Lee 3%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Washington and Lee 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Washington and Lee 3%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Washington and Lee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Washington and Lee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Washington and Lee 3%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Washington and Lee 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Washington and Lee 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Washington and Lee 17%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Washington and Lee 74%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Washington and Lee based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 2,241 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); Washington and Lee University is in Lexington, VA (Distant Town setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Washington and Lee University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; Washington and Lee University 7:1.

Ohio State vs. Washington and Lee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State or Washington and Lee? 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 Washington and Lee ($19,783 vs. $23,055).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 21.1% lower than at Washington and Lee University ($14,738 vs. $18,685).
  • Washington and Lee University is 413.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $54,801 more per year; $68,045.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 70% higher at Washington and Lee than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $28,023 more per year; $68,045.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at Washington and Lee University (70% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington and Lee University students is 386.2% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($63,945 vs. $13,151).

Ohio State vs. Washington and Lee Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington and Lee University (1490) is 90 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Washington and Lee students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; Washington and Lee University 1430/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; Washington and Lee University 33/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Required; Washington and Lee - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027; Washington and Lee Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Washington and Lee students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Washington and Lee (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 41.2% at Washington and Lee.

Ohio State vs. Washington and Lee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State and Washington and Lee? 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).

  • Washington and Lee University's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from Washington and Lee University earn a median of about $38,400 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,000 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Washington and Lee University and Ohio State graduates have the same median loan debt ($21,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Washington and Lee University and Ohio State graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($222 vs. $222).
  • More Washington and Lee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.