Kenyon vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Kenyon College 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.

Kenyon College
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kenyon Gambier, OH
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Kenyon Distant Rural
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Kenyon 2,249
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Kenyon Private 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kenyon #62
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kenyon -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Kenyon Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kenyon
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Kenyon $15,640
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Kenyon $46,859
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kenyon $40,731
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kenyon 82%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kenyon 7,726
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Kenyon 2,397
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kenyon 31%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Kenyon 18.3%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kenyon 1430
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kenyon 32
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kenyon 3.84
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kenyon A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kenyon Exceptional
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kenyon High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Kenyon 31/33
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Kenyon 1358/1503
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kenyon Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Kenyon Jan 15, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kenyon 9:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kenyon
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kenyon $52,900
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kenyon $19,000
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kenyon $196
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kenyon 44%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Kenyon 56%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kenyon Low
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Kenyon No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Kenyon 73%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Kenyon 4%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Kenyon 4%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kenyon 7%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Kenyon 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kenyon 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kenyon 4%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Kenyon 5%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kenyon 3%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kenyon 12%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kenyon 78%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kenyon College in Gambier, 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 Kenyon based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 2,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kenyon College is located in Gambier, OH (Distant Rural setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Kenyon College 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: Kenyon College 9:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Kenyon vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kenyon 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 Kenyon ($19,783 vs. $46,859).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 5.8% lower than at Kenyon College ($14,738 vs. $15,640).
  • Kenyon College is 440% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $58,276 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 78.7% higher at Kenyon than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $31,498 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kenyon College than at Ohio State University Main Campus (82% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kenyon College students is 209.7% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($40,731 vs. $13,151).

Kenyon vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kenyon 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 Kenyon.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kenyon College (1430) is 30 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Kenyon students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kenyon College 1358/1503; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kenyon College 31/33; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kenyon - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kenyon Jan 15, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kenyon students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Kenyon (31%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Kenyon vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Kenyon vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kenyon 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).

  • Kenyon College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from Kenyon College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,900 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kenyon College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($19,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Kenyon graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($196 vs. $222).
  • More Kenyon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.