UCSB vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of California Santa Barbara 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.

University of California Santa Barbara
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSB Santa Barbara, CA
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • UCSB Midsize Suburban
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSB 26,133
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • UCSB Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSB #112
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSB -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • UCSB Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSB
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSB $16,414
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSB $50,614
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • UCSB $20,279
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSB $17,658
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSB $24,695
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSB 53%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSB 110,259
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • UCSB 36,347
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSB 33%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSB 13.8%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSB 1350
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSB 31
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSB 3.82
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSB A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSB Exceptional
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSB High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSB 28/34
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UCSB 1230/1460
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSB Test-free
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSB Nov 30, 2026
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSB 17:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSB
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSB 80%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSB $59,000
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSB 73%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSB $16,451
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSB $170
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSB 43%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • UCSB 57%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSB Very High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSB No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • UCSB 35%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • UCSB 19%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • UCSB 2%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSB 26%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • UCSB 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSB 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSB 8%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • UCSB 7%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSB 3%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSB 82%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSB 9%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA 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 UCSB based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 26,133 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of California Santa Barbara 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: University of California Santa Barbara 17:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

UCSB vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB 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 University of California Santa Barbara than Ohio State ($17,658 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 27.3% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($14,738 vs. $20,279).
  • University of California Santa Barbara is 23.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $3,170 more per year; $16,414.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.5% higher at UCSB than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $10,592 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of California Santa Barbara (70% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 87.8% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($24,695 vs. $13,151).

UCSB vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSB 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 UCSB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 50 points higher than at UCSB (1350).
  • Incoming UCSB 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: University of California Santa Barbara 1230/1460; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 28/34; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSB - Test-free; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCSB students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UCSB (33%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

UCSB vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSB 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).

  • The graduation rate at UCSB is the same as at Ohio State University Main Campus (80% vs. 80%).
  • Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $5,049 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($16,451 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($170 vs. $222).
  • More UCSB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.