Is Ohio State University on your radar? Dive deep into the latest OSU acceptance rates and key recent admissions statistics to determine your chances of admission in the upcoming years.
Ohio State University Ranking & Facts 2025
The Ohio State University acceptance rate is 51%, and it is moderately selective for students, with 200+ undergraduate majors across 15+ colleges and 1,000+ student clubs & organizations, the OSU has became many students’ first choice. In the academic year of 2024-25, OSU announced the enrollment of a record first-year class on Columbus campus: 9,530 students, which is the largest in the university’s 154-year history. Graduate student enrollment also reached a record high of 11,408 students, total enrollment at Ohio State increased to 66,901, up 2.3% from 2023.
The new first-year class on the Columbus campus is exceptionally talented, with 96% graduating in the top 25% and 64% graduating in the Top 10% of their high school classes. Average ACT and SAT scores remain at or above the 94th percentile. Here is a table shown some basic information of Ohio State University.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1870 |
| Location | Columbus, Ohio (main campus) |
| Other Campuses | Regional campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Marion, Newark, and Wooster |
| Rankings | Top 15 public universities, #41 in National Universities (U.S. News & World Report) |
| Undergraduate Enrollment (2024-25) | 9,530 |
| Total Enrollment | 66,901 |
| Student-Faculty Ratio | 17:1 |
| Undergraduate Majors | 200+ |
| Academic Colleges | 15+ (including Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, Nursing, etc.) |
| First-Year Retention Rate | 94% |
| Six-Year Graduation Rate | 86% |
| Study Abroad Programs | 200+ programs in over 70 countries |
Ohio State University Acceptance Rate
Whether you’re a student applying next year or five years down the road, knowing colleges’ acceptance rates can help you identify where you sit in the applicant pool. The Ohio State University acceptance rate can fluctuate each year, and the updated Ohio State University acceptance rate for 2025 is 51%.
OSU is top 15 public colleges in the U.S. and it is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity”. As of 2024, the university has an endowment of $7.9 billion. Its athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I as the Ohio State Buckeyes as a member of the Big Ten Conference for the majority of fielded sports. For these reasons, thousands of students throw their names into the ring each year, hoping to be admitted. The OSU acceptance rate is a measure of the university’s selectivity, take a look at the latest statistics.
Ohio State University Acceptance rate statistics 2025
| Total | Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 51% | 50% | 52% |
| Applicants | 70,028 | 34,160 | 35,868 |
| Admissions | 35,588 | 16,943 | 18,645 |
| Freshmen enrolled full time | 8,034 | 3,795 | 4,239 |
| Freshmen enrolled part time | 28 | 14 | 14 |
Ohio State Acceptance Rate Out of State
The Ohio State University acceptance rate may vary based on residency status. The school is a hot spot for non-residents and international applicants. From the table, you will find in the year of 2023–2024, OSU out-of-state acceptance rates increased significantly (24.50% to 27.20%), while Ohio resident acceptance rates continued to decline (65.70% to 63.90%). OSU may be prioritizing out-of-state enrollments, which often pay higher tuition, to boost revenue.
OSU is becoming slightly more selective for Ohio residents while expanding opportunities for out-of-state students. This trend aligns with many public universities’ strategies to balance local commitments with financial sustainability.
| Year | Ohio Residents | Ohio Residents Acceptance Rate | Out of State | Out of State Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5,162 | 67.70% | 1,795 | 23.50% |
| 2020 | 6,113 | 71.10% | 2,101 | 24.40% |
| 2021 | 5,773 | 69.10% | 1,884 | 22.60% |
| 2022 | 5,281 | 66.30% | 1,793 | 22.50% |
| 2023 | 5,245 | 65.70% | 2,031 | 24.50% |
| 2024 | 6,091 | 63.90% | 2589 | 27.20% |
Ohio State University Enrollment by Residency
Ohio State University’s acceptance rate is influenced by various factors. If you are a Ohio residents, your chance of getting into the school will be better. State University (OSU)’s total enrollment by residency shown over 70% of students are from Ohio, reflecting OSU’s role as a flagship public university. Besides, there are nearly 20% come from other U.S. states, likely due to OSU’s academic reputation and Big Ten affiliation. International students make up almost 10% of enrollment, which can bring a diverse range of perspectives and experiences to the OSU community.
Ohio Residents: 47,595 students (71.1% of total enrollment).
Non-Ohio (Domestic): 13,001 students (19.4% of total enrollment).
International: 6,305 students (9.4% of total enrollment).
OSU Enrollment by Ethnic Diversity
Ohio State University Admissions Statistics
Applicants should aim to stand out to meet the Ohio State University acceptance rate criteria. Here is admission requirements for students who want to apply the university, please notify that all international applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through standardized tests. Applicants should strive to meet or exceed the OSU acceptance rate expectations. Here are the minimum score requirements:
Undergraduate Programs:
IELTS: Minimum overall score of 6.5.
TOEFL (iBT): Minimum score of 79.
Postgraduate Programs:
IELTS: Minimum overall score of 6.5–7.0 (may vary by program)
TOEFL (iBT): Minimum score of 90–100(may vary by program)
| OSU Admissions requirements | |
|---|---|
| College-preparatory program | Required |
| Secondary school GPA | Required |
| Secondary school rank | Required |
| Secondary school record | Required |
| TOEFL/IELTS | Required |
| Recommendations | Considered but not required |
| SAT/ACT Scores Must Be Received By | Jan. 15 |
What’s a good SAT/ACT score for Ohio State University?
Ohio State is a “Test Optional” school. But there are over half of applicants submitted their SAT or ACT scores. The recommended ACT requirements for Ohio State are a 29 composite score combining all English, mathematics, reading, and science sections. Here are details of OSU applicants’s ACT composite:
50% of admitted students scored between 28 and 33
25% scored below 28
25% scored above 33
According to the statistics, the average SAT score is around 1400, therefore aiming for a score at or above this level will place you in a strong position. The top 25% of Ohio State students scored 1480 or more, implying that a “good” SAT score for the school would be fairly high.
| Section | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite | 1330 | 1400 | 1480 |
| English | 650 | 680 | 720 |
| Math | 680 | 720 | 760 |
Ohio State University Application Deadlines
| Spring 2025 | Autumn 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Application deadline | Nov. 1, 2024 | Early action: Nov. 1, 2024 |
| Regular decision: Jan. 15, 2025 | ||
| Priority date for financial aid | Aug. 1 | Feb. 15 |
| Early action decision | December 13 (Ohio residents) | |
| Jan. 24 (non-Ohio residents & international applicants) | ||
| Regular decision | Mar. 7 | |
Ohio State University Costs
Tuition and fees will vary depending on the mode of instruction (on-campus, online) and the program of study. Ohio residents: Your tuition, general fees, and housing and food costs are held steady through 2028-2029 as part of the Ohio State Tuition Guarantee.
| Billed expenses | Ohio resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (includes instructional | Columbus: $13,244 | $40,022* |
| and general fees) | Regional campus/ATI: $9,488 | |
| Housing and food | Columbus: $14,738** | $14,738** |
| Regional campus/ATI: Varies^ |
| International student expenses | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $42,950 |
| Housing and food | $14,738 |
| Books, supplies and equipment | $1,030 |
| Health insurance | $3,768^ |
| Miscellaneous personal expenses | $3,738 |
Ohio State University Student Housing
The vast majority of first- and second-year students live on campus, taking advantage of easy access to classrooms and campus activities. Ohio State’s residence halls offer a variety of room styles and living arrangements. For Junior and senior students want to experience living off-campus, uhomes.com is user-friendly rental website provides various high-quality, spacious and safe student housing near campus.
The best apartments near OSU on our website offers easy communte to campus, local amenities and public transporation. Here are some popular Ohio State University off-campus student housing is booking fast by students：
How to Make a Strong Ohio State University Application
Meeting the requirements can improve your chances of beating the acceptance rate of Ohio State University. Read the tips below learn about the OSU admission crtieria and explore the resources that make the application process easy.
- 3.0 GPA or better AND top 33.3% rank in high school graduating class
- 3.0 GPA or better in 15-unit core AND 21 ACT/1060 SAT or better
- 24 ACT/1160 SAT or better
Achieving strong academic performance is crucial for meeting the Ohio State University acceptance rate. Except for academic performance, it’s also important to note that Ohio State has a holistic admissions process and considers many other factors beyond just residency. You’ll need to have strong grades, rigorous coursework, well-rounded extracurricular activities, and strong essays to enhance your chances of admission.
Final Thoughts on OSU Acceptance Rate
Ohio State acceptance rate varies year to year, although it is normally between 50% and 57%. However, the rate differs between in-state and out-of-state applicants. Ohio State University’s out-of-state acceptance rate is often lower than the total acceptance rate, and it can be 10-20% lower than the in-state acceptance rate. This is because Ohio State University has a mandate to prioritize Ohio citizens. For students who wants to get into OSU, it’s essential to prepare well to increase your chances of meeting the Ohio State University acceptance rate.
FAQ
The Ohio State University acceptance rate for 2024-25 is approximately 51%, it is moderately selective for students. Besides, OSU is a public school and it is one of the largest universities by enrollment in the United States, with nearly 50,000 undergraduate students and nearly 15,000 graduate students, most of the students in the school are Ohio residents.
The average GPA for admitted students to The Ohio State University (OSU) is 3.81, to be competitive for admission to Ohio State University, a GPA between 3.6 to 4.0 is generally recommended, placing you in the top half of your class. This requires primarily A’s, and taking AP or IB courses can further demonstrate college-level readiness.
Here are details of minimum test scores and requirements for international language, any graduate programs at Ohio State University require a score above these minimums.
TOEFL
19 on each section of the paper-based TOEFL
79 on the TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
550 on the TOEFL ITP for students in the American Language Program
IELTS
7.0 on the IELTS Academic test or IELTS Indicator (6.5 for Moritz College of Law applicants)
Duolingo
120 or higher
Notes:
Getting into The Ohio State University is moderately competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 50.8%, meaning that for every 100 applicants, about 51 are admitted. Besides, Ohio State is a public university prioritizes admitting students from Ohio, so the acceptance rate for out-of-state applicants is usually lower.
