Ohio State vs. Dickinson College

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus and Dickinson College? 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.

Ohio State University Main Campus
Dickinson College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Dickinson College Carlisle, PA
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Dickinson College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Dickinson College 2,314
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Dickinson College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Dickinson College #76
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Dickinson College -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Dickinson College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Dickinson College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Dickinson College $17,100
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Dickinson College $38,483
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Dickinson College $44,479
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Dickinson College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Dickinson College 7,258
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Dickinson College 3,055
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Dickinson College 42.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Dickinson College 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Dickinson College 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Dickinson College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Dickinson College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Dickinson College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Dickinson College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Dickinson College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Dickinson College 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Dickinson College 1310/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Required
  • Dickinson College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Dickinson College 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Dickinson College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Ethnic Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Dickinson College 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Dickinson College $62,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Dickinson College 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Dickinson College $21,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Dickinson College $217

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 48%
  • Dickinson College 40%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Dickinson College 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • Dickinson College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Dickinson College No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Dickinson College 72%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Dickinson College 3%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Dickinson College 6%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Dickinson College 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Dickinson College 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Dickinson College 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Dickinson College 67%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH with Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Dickinson College based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 2,314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); Dickinson College is in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; Dickinson College 11:1.

Ohio State vs. Dickinson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State or Dickinson College? 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 Dickinson College ($19,783 vs. $38,483).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 13.8% lower than at Dickinson College ($14,738 vs. $17,100).
  • Dickinson College is 395.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $52,406 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 64% higher at Dickinson College than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $25,628 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at Ohio State University Main Campus (96% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dickinson College students is 238.2% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($44,479 vs. $13,151).

Ohio State vs. Dickinson College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ohio State or Dickinson College? 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 Dickinson College and Ohio State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 10 points higher than at Dickinson College (1390).
  • Incoming Dickinson College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; Dickinson College 1310/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; Dickinson College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Required; Dickinson College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027; Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Dickinson College (42.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 21.1% at Dickinson College.

Ohio State vs. Dickinson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State and Dickinson College? 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).

  • Dickinson College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from Dickinson College earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($21,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($217 vs. $222).
  • More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.