Northwestern vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Northwestern 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.

Northwestern University
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northwestern Evanston, IL
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Northwestern Small City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northwestern 23,856
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Northwestern Private 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northwestern #15
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northwestern -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Northwestern Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northwestern
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Northwestern $21,126
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Northwestern $26,830
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northwestern $64,429
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northwestern 53%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northwestern 49,474
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Northwestern 3,806
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northwestern 7.7%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Northwestern 55.3%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northwestern 1540
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northwestern 34
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northwestern 3.92
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northwestern A
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northwestern Elite
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northwestern Extreme
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Northwestern 33/35
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Northwestern 1510/1570
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northwestern Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Northwestern Jan 1, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northwestern 6:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northwestern
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Communication (14%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northwestern 94%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northwestern $89,800
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northwestern 87%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northwestern $19,378
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northwestern $200
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northwestern 45%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Northwestern 55%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northwestern High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Northwestern No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Northwestern 50%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Northwestern 17%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Northwestern 6%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northwestern 12%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Northwestern 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northwestern 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northwestern 5%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Northwestern 8%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northwestern 2%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northwestern 19%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northwestern 66%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern University in Evanston, IL 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 Northwestern based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 23,856 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northwestern University is located in Evanston, IL (Small City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Northwestern 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: Northwestern University 6:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Northwestern vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern 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 Northwestern ($19,783 vs. $26,830).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 30.2% lower than at Northwestern University ($14,738 vs. $21,126).
  • Northwestern University is 415.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $55,078 more per year; $68,322.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 70.7% higher at Northwestern than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $28,300 more per year; $68,322.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at Northwestern University (70% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 389.9% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($64,429 vs. $13,151).

Northwestern vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern 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 Northwestern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northwestern University (1540) is 140 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Northwestern students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern University 1510/1570; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern University 33/35; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northwestern - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northwestern Jan 1, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Northwestern (7.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.3% at Northwestern vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Northwestern vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwestern 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).

  • Northwestern University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn a median of about $39,200 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwestern University graduates have a $2,122 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($19,378 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Northwestern graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($200 vs. $222).
  • More Northwestern 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.