Rutgers vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and Ohio State University Main Campus? 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Rutgers based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 52,269 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Rutgers vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Ohio State? 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 Rutgers ($19,783 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 6.2% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($14,738 vs. $15,714).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 35.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $4,685 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.9% higher at Ohio State than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $2,581 more per year; $40,022.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (70% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 27.3% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($16,742 vs. $13,151).

Rutgers vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 10 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Rutgers students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Ohio State (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Rutgers vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and Ohio State? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $15,600 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $715 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($222 vs. $229).
  • More Rutgers graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.