IU vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, 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 IU based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 48,424 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

IU vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington than Ohio State ($17,270 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 5.1% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($13,984 vs. $14,738).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is 9.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $1,100 more per year; $13,244.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at IU than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $1,869 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana University Bloomington than at Ohio State University Main Campus (73% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 25.4% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($13,151 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 110 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming IU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Ohio State (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at IU (3.74).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Ohio State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

IU vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington's (72%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than IU graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU graduates ($222 vs. $232).
  • More IU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.