CU Boulder vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder 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 Colorado Boulder
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO 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 CU Boulder based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 38,799 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder 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 Colorado Boulder 19:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

CU Boulder vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder ($19,783 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 20.2% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($14,738 vs. $18,468).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is 18.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $2,422 more per year; $15,666.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at CU Boulder than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $4,896 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of Colorado Boulder (70% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 17.2% larger than aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students ($13,151 vs. $11,225).

CU Boulder vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 60 points higher than at CU Boulder (1340).
  • Incoming CU Boulder 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 Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at CU Boulder (3.68).
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than Ohio State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

CU Boulder vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder 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 University of Colorado Boulder's (68%).
  • Graduates from University of Colorado Boulder earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Colorado Boulder graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, CU Boulder graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($201 vs. $222).
  • More CU Boulder 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.