Case Western vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Case Western Reserve 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.

Case Western Reserve University
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Case Western Cleveland, OH
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Case Western Large City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Case Western 12,475
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Case Western Private 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Case Western #51
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Case Western -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Case Western Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Case Western
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Case Western $66,608
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Case Western $66,608
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Case Western $18,762
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Case Western $44,000
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Case Western $41,913
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Case Western 88%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Case Western 37,082
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Case Western 13,550
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Case Western 36.5%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Case Western 11.9%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Case Western 1490
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Case Western 33
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Case Western 3.86
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Case Western A
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Case Western Exceptional
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Case Western High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Case Western 32/34
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Case Western 1430/1540
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Case Western Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Case Western Jan 15, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Case Western 9:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Case Western
    • Engineering (28%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Case Western 78%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Case Western $84,700
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Case Western 84%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Case Western $24,066
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Case Western $248
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Case Western 48%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Case Western 52%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Case Western High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Case Western No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Case Western 52%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Case Western 20%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Case Western 5%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Case Western 6%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Case Western 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Case Western 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Case Western 4%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Case Western 11%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Case Western 2%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Case Western 13%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Case Western 75%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH 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 Case Western based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 12,475 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Case Western Reserve University is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Case Western Reserve 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: Case Western Reserve University 9:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Case Western vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Case Western 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 Case Western ($19,783 vs. $44,000).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 21.4% lower than at Case Western Reserve University ($14,738 vs. $18,762).
  • Case Western Reserve University is 402.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $53,364 more per year; $66,608.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66.4% higher at Case Western than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $26,586 more per year; $66,608.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Case Western Reserve University than at Ohio State University Main Campus (88% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Case Western Reserve University students is 218.7% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($41,913 vs. $13,151).

Case Western vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Case Western 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 Case Western.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Case Western Reserve University (1490) is 90 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Case Western 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: Case Western Reserve University 1430/1540; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Case Western Reserve University 32/34; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Case Western - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Case Western Jan 15, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Case Western students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Case Western (36.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.9% at Case Western vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Case Western vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Case Western 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 Case Western Reserve University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Case Western Reserve University earn a median of about $34,100 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,700 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $2,566 lower median loan debt than Case Western graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,066).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Case Western graduates ($222 vs. $248).
  • More Case Western 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.