Butler vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Butler 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.

Butler University
Ohio State University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Butler Large City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Butler 5,746
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Butler #209
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Butler -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Butler Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Butler
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Butler $16,430
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Butler $38,438
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Butler $27,790
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Butler 97%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Butler 9,471
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Butler 8,058
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Butler 85.1%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Butler 12.9%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Butler 1260
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Butler 28
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Butler 3.92
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Butler A
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Butler Difficult
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Butler
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Butler 26/31
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Butler 1160/1350
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Butler Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Butler 11:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Butler 72%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Butler $68,400
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Butler 84%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Butler $27,000
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Butler $279
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Butler 38%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Butler 62%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Butler Very Low
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Butler No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Butler 82%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Butler 3%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Butler 4%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Butler 4%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Butler 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Butler 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Butler 2%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Butler 1%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Butler 4%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Butler 51%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Butler 48%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN 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 Butler based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 5,746 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Butler 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: Butler University 11:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Butler vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Butler 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 Butler ($19,783 vs. $38,438).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 10.3% lower than at Butler University ($14,738 vs. $16,430).
  • Butler University is 259.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $34,316 more per year; $47,560.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.8% higher at Butler than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $7,538 more per year; $47,560.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Butler University than at Ohio State University Main Campus (97% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Butler University students is 111.3% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($27,790 vs. $13,151).

Butler vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Butler 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 Butler.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 140 points higher than at Butler (1260).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Butler).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 1160/1350; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 26/31; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Butler - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Butler students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Butler has a higher acceptance rate (85.1%) than Ohio State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Butler vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Butler 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 Butler University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Butler University earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,400 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Butler graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Butler graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Butler graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.