Wake Forest vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Wake Forest University 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.

Wake Forest University
Ohio State University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wake Forest #49
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wake Forest -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wake Forest
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest 35%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wake Forest 33
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wake Forest -
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wake Forest -
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wake Forest Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wake Forest $237
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wake Forest 43%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Wake Forest 57%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wake Forest Medium
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Wake Forest No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wake Forest 84%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC 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 Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wake Forest University 10:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Wake Forest vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest ($19,783 vs. $24,401).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 20.3% lower than at Wake Forest University ($14,738 vs. $18,494).
  • Wake Forest University is 410.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $54,398 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 69% higher at Wake Forest than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $27,620 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at Wake Forest University (70% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 379.9% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($63,117 vs. $13,151).

Wake Forest vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 70 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Wake Forest 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: Wake Forest University 1410/1520; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 32/34; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wake Forest - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Wake Forest vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Wake Forest vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wake Forest 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).

  • Wake Forest University's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $26,600 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Forest graduates ($222 vs. $237).
  • More Wake Forest 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.