Minnesota vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of Minnesota Twin Cities 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 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Minnesota Minneapolis, MN
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Minnesota Large City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Enrollment
  • Minnesota 56,666
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Minnesota Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Minnesota #159
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Minnesota -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Minnesota Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Minnesota
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Minnesota $17,214
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Minnesota $38,362
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Minnesota $13,856
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Minnesota $17,209
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Minnesota $12,552
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Minnesota 65%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Minnesota 41,496
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Minnesota 33,091
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Minnesota 79.7%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Minnesota 22.3%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Minnesota 1400
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Minnesota 28
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Minnesota 3.75
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Minnesota A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Minnesota Very High
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Minnesota
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Minnesota 26/31
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Minnesota 1300/1500
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Minnesota Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Ohio State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Minnesota Jan 1, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Minnesota 70%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Minnesota $58,200
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Minnesota 74%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Minnesota $20,185
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Minnesota $208
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Minnesota 11%
  • Ohio State 10%
  • % Women
  • Minnesota 16%
  • Ohio State 14%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Minnesota Medium
  • Ohio State Low
  • HBCU
  • Minnesota No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Minnesota 70%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Minnesota 9%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Minnesota 4%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Minnesota 4%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Minnesota 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Minnesota 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Minnesota 4%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Minnesota 9%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Minnesota 1%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Minnesota 65%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Minnesota 27%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Minnesota Twin Cities in Minneapolis, MN 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 Minnesota based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 56,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, MN (Large City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities 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 Minnesota Twin Cities 17:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Minnesota vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Minnesota 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 Minnesota Twin Cities than Ohio State ($17,209 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Minnesota Twin Cities are 6% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($13,856 vs. $14,738).
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities is 30% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $3,970 more per year; $17,214.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Ohio State than at University of Minnesota Twin Cities (about $1,660 more per year; $40,022.00 vs. $38,362.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of Minnesota Twin Cities (70% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 4.8% larger than aid received by University of Minnesota Twin Cities students ($13,151 vs. $12,552).

Minnesota vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Minnesota 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 Minnesota.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Minnesota Twin Cities (1400) is the same as at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Minnesota).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Minnesota Twin Cities 1300/1500; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Minnesota Twin Cities 26/31; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Minnesota - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Ohio State - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Minnesota Jan 1, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Minnesota (3.75).
  • Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (79.7%) than Ohio State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.3% at Minnesota vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Minnesota vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Minnesota 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 Minnesota Twin Cities's (70%).
  • Graduates from University of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates have a $1,315 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($20,185 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Minnesota graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($208 vs. $222).
  • More Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.