Public · Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution in Columbus, Ohio. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.

$17,339
Avg net price / yr
$60,409
10-yr median earnings
87.7%
150%-time completion
60.6%
Acceptance rate

The verdict

Ohio State University-Main Campus pairs top-quartile former-student earnings with a moderately open admit.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

Top 15%
former-student earnings, US
60.6%
acceptance rate
87.7%
150%-time completion
+17%
earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Large Carnegie: R1
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Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

How to read this Ohio State University-Main Campus profile

Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.

Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.

Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.

College Value Score

B
College Value Score
71/100
Ohio State University-Main Campus

A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.

Earnings A-
$60,409
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price D
$17,339
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate A+
87.7%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$19,976
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment B+
74.7%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention A+
94.2%
First-year students returning for year two
Ohio State University-Main Campus vs. the national benchmark
EarningsNet PriceCompletionDebtRepaymentRetention

Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.

10-yr median earnings

$60,409

Federal aid recipients only

Avg net price

$17,339

After grants and scholarships

150%-time completion

87.7%

Full-time, first-time cohort

150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 87.7%

Four-year-institution cohort

College ROI Quadrant - Ohio State University-Main Campus vs peers

Ohio State University-Main Campus positioned by earnings vs cost Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 8 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. Ohio State University-Main Campus positioned… Carnegie Classification: R1 R1 COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $30K $63K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $4K $30K Avg Net Price ($) Ohio State University-Main Campus (you are here): $60K earn · $17K net · 88% grad You are here - Ohio State Univers… University of Cincinnati-Main Campus: $55K earn · $26K net · 73% grad University of Cinc… Ohio University-Main Campus: $53K earn · $22K net · 66% grad Ohio University-Ma… Kent State University at Kent: $45K earn · $21K net · 65% grad Kent State Univers… Columbus State Community College: $39K earn · $8K net · 28% grad Columbus State Com… Miami University-Oxford: $55K earn · $28K net · 81% grad Miami University-O… Cuyahoga Community College District: $36K earn · $4K net · 30% grad Adult and Community Education-Hudson: $52K earn · $15K net · 96% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.

How Ohio State University-Main Campus ranks nationally

Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.

Ohio State University-Main Campus: former-student earnings vs. every US college

10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$60,409 Top 15% higher than 85% of 5,103 US colleges

$0–$20,000: 169 US colleges (3%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 2,245 US colleges (44%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 1,897 US colleges (37%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 606 US colleges (12%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 134 US colleges (3%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 39 US colleges (1%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 11 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 2 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. This college $0 $160,000 every US college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Metric Ohio State University-Main Campus National rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $60,409 #777 of 5103 85th
Average net price $17,339 #2550 of 5020 49th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 87.7% #321 of 4858 93rd
Undergraduate enrollment 45,638 #13 of 5462 100th

National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.

Quick Facts

45,638
Undergraduate enrollment
60.6%
Acceptance rate
1,387
SAT average
87.7%
150%-time completion
$60,409
10-yr median earnings
94.2%
First-year retention

How Ohio State University-Main Campus ranks in Ohio

State rank among 243 reporting Ohio colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.

Metric Ohio State University-Main Campus State rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $60,409 #27 of 243 89th
Average net price $17,339 #109 of 228 52nd (lower is better)
150%-time completion 87.7% #12 of 235 95th
Undergraduate enrollment 45,638 #1 of 257 100th

Highest former-student earnings in Ohio

#School10-yr earningsNet price
1Chamberlain University-Ohio$92,405$31,544
2Case Western Reserve University$87,989$41,190
3Ohio Northern University$80,928$24,478
4Four County Career Center$77,338-
5University of Dayton$75,537$29,533
6Mount Carmel College of Nursing$75,103$10,420
7Mount Carmel College of Nursing - Fairfield$75,103-
8Kenyon College$71,830$38,512
9Trinity Health System School of Nursing$71,660$9,825
10Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing$68,723-
11The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences$68,303$18,378
12Denison University$67,753$40,007
22Ohio State University-Main CampusThis school$60,409$17,339

Admissions

Admission Rate 60.6%
SAT Average 1,387
SAT Math (25th-75th) 670 – 760
SAT Reading (25th-75th) 640 – 720
ACT Average 29
ACT (25th-75th) 28 – 32
0%100%60.6%
Share of applicants admitted

Costs & Financial Aid

Net price by family income at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket

net price / yr

What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Ohio State University-Main Campus - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $13,244
Out-of-State Tuition $40,022
Average Net Price $17,339
20.2%
Pell Grant Rate
28.8%
Federal Loan Rate
$19,976
Median Debt
$212/mo
Monthly Payment

Net price at Ohio State University-Main Campus swings rather than trends

Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $16,845 to $18,623 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as +2.4%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.

Lowest year
$16,845
Highest year
$18,623
Most recent (2023)
$18,292
Average net price, 2013–2023

11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

2013: $17,8662014: $18,0682015: $18,0992016: $17,2312017: $17,6992018: $17,7042019: $17,6162020: $16,8452021: $18,6232022: $17,9532023: $18,292
2013 · $17,8662023 · $18,292

Over the same years, enrollment went +3.4% (43,139 → 44,617 students).

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.

Student Demographics

Race & ethnicity

Student body at a glance

52.0%
Female
26.2%
First Generation

Outcomes

94.2%
Retention Rate
$51,438
Median Earnings (6yr)
71.5%
Earning Over $25K
74.7%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)

Outcomes & debt snapshot

Measure Cohort / horizon Value
Completion within 150% of normal time First-time, full-time 87.7%
First-year retention First-time, full-time freshmen 94.2%
Median earnings 6 years after entry $51,438
Median earnings 10 years after entry $60,409
Share earning over $25,000 Working, not enrolled 71.5%
Loan repayment rate Completers, 3 years after leaving 74.7%
Median federal student debt At completion $19,976
Estimated monthly payment Standard 10-year plan $212/mo

Programs & Earnings

Field-of-study summary by credential

Credential Programs Award count Avg earnings Top earnings Avg debt
Bachelor's 109 11,224 $69,810 $123,731 $20,874
Master's 36 2,109 $102,120 $329,225 $43,484
Doctoral 13 456 $97,699 $132,984 $50,144
Associate's 8 1 $50,820 $61,971 $12,120
First Professional 6 846 $137,273 $198,071 $166,995
Post-baccalaureate Certificate 1 0 - - -
Certificate 1 72 - - $16,816

Top programs at Ohio State University-Main Campus by completer earnings

Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file

median earnings

What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Dentistry Master's - $329,225 $162,749
Veterinary Medicine Master's - $263,241 -
Dentistry First Professional 113 $198,071 $207,650
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration Master's 19 $160,491 -
Business Administration, Management and Operations Master's 225 $139,427 $48,030
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences Master's 11 $138,085 -
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration First Professional 121 $137,783 $141,078
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Master's 80 $134,031 -
Veterinary Medicine First Professional 158 $132,986 $192,912
Physics Doctoral 38 $132,984 -
Optometry First Professional 68 $132,661 $175,334
Mechanical Engineering Master's 44 $126,887 -
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Doctoral 16 $123,814 -
Computer Engineering Bachelor's 404 $123,731 $19,500
Chemistry Doctoral 57 $123,152 -

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution in Columbus, Ohio. The acceptance rate is 60.6%. The average SAT score is 1,387. Undergraduate enrollment is 45,638 students.
How much do Ohio State University-Main Campus former students earn?
Federally aided former students at Ohio State University-Main Campus who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $60,409 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $51,438.
How much does Ohio State University-Main Campus cost?
The average net price at Ohio State University-Main Campus is $17,339. In-state tuition is $13,244 and out-of-state tuition is $40,022. Median student debt at graduation is $19,976.
What is the graduation rate at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
Ohio State University-Main Campus has a 87.7% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 94.2%.
Is Ohio State University-Main Campus worth the student debt?
The median student debt at Ohio State University-Main Campus is $19,976, while former students earn a median of $60,409 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 33% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 74.7% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $212.

Sources & methodology

Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.

Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Where to go next from Ohio State University-Main Campus

Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.