Kent State vs. Ohio State

Should I go to Kent State University at Kent or Ohio State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Kent State or Ohio State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Kent State University at Kent vs. Ohio State University comparison
Kent State University at Kent Ohio State University College 3 College 4
Kent State University at Kent Ohio State University
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Overview

Kent State Ohio State
Location Kent, OH Columbus, OH
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 25,854 60,540
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #839 #134
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website kent.edu osu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Kent State Ohio State
Tuition (In State) $12,304 $11,525
Tuition (Out of State) $21,410 $35,762
Room & Board $12,676 $14,006
Avg Net Price $19,046 $19,582
Avg Grant Aid $9,539 $10,993
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 74%

Admission

Kent State Ohio State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,369 65,189
Admitted 17,929 34,370
Acceptance Rate 88% 52.7%
Enrolled % 23.9% 23.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.76
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/25 29/32
SAT Range 990/1220 1310/1480
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Kent State Ohio State
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Kent State Ohio State
Graduation Rate 50% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,300 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,825 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $267 $222

Diversity

Kent State Ohio State
% Men 37% 48%
% Women 63% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 71%
% Black 9% 6%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 6% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Kent State Ohio State
% In-State 80% 66%
% Out-of-State 18% 23%

Campus

Kent State Ohio State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Ohio State University is larger than than Kent State based on total student enrollment (60,540 students vs. 25,854 students)

Kent State vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kent State or Ohio State?

  • Kent State University at Kent is 6.8% more expensive to attend than Ohio State for in-state tuition ($12,304.00 vs. $11,525.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 67% higher at Ohio State than Kent State University at Kent ($35,762.00 vs. $21,410.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kent State University at Kent than Ohio State ($19,046 vs. $19,582)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kent State University at Kent are 10.5% lower than costs at Ohio State University ($12,676 vs. $14,006)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Kent State University at Kent than Ohio State University (96% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University students is 15.2% larger than aid received Kent State University at Kent ($10,993 vs. $9,539)

Kent State vs. Ohio State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kent State or Ohio State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Ohio State or Kent State .

  • The average SAT score at Ohio State University (1295) is 228 points higher than at Kent State (1067)
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Kent State (23)
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Kent State (3.61)
  • Kent State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than Ohio State (52.7%)

Kent State vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Kent State or Ohio State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Ohio State and Kent State.

  • The graduation rate at Ohio State is higher than Kent State University at Kent (80% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Ohio State University earn on average $10,300 more per year than Kent State graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $40,300)
  • Ohio State University students graduate with a $4,325 lower median federal student loan debt than Kent State graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,825)
  • Ohio State graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than Kent State graduates. ($222 vs. $267)
  • More Ohio State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/