Ohio State vs. Tennessee

Should I go to Ohio State University or The University of Tennessee? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Ohio State or Tennessee 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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Ohio State University vs. The University of Tennessee comparison
Ohio State University The University of Tennessee College 3 College 4
Ohio State University The University of Tennessee
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Overview

Ohio State Tennessee
Location Columbus, OH Knoxville, TN
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 60,046 36,304
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #139 #222
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website osu.edu tennessee.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Ohio State Tennessee
Tuition (In State) $11,826 $11,332
Tuition (Out of State) $37,332 $29,522
Room & Board $14,272 $12,500
Avg Net Price $19,575 $20,885
Avg Grant Aid $11,791 $11,491
% Receiving Grant Aid 64% 85%

Admission

Ohio State Tennessee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 70,028 50,488
Admitted 35,588 23,221
Acceptance Rate 50.8% 46%
Enrolled % 22.7% 28.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 25/31
SAT Range 1330/1480 1190/1340
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Ohio State Tennessee
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)

Outcomes

Ohio State Tennessee
Graduation Rate 80% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,600 $56,300
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $206

Diversity

Ohio State Tennessee
% Men 10% 9%
% Women 14% 11%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 79%
% Black 6% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Ohio State Tennessee
% In-State 65% 58%
% Out-of-State 26% 41%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Ohio State University is larger than than Tennessee based on total student enrollment (60,046 students vs. 36,304 students)

Ohio State vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State or Tennessee?

  • Ohio State University is 4.4% more expensive to attend than Tennessee for in-state tuition ($11,826.00 vs. $11,332.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 26.5% higher at Ohio State than The University of Tennessee ($37,332.00 vs. $29,522.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ohio State University than Tennessee ($19,575 vs. $20,885)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee are 14.2% lower than costs at Ohio State University ($12,500 vs. $14,272)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee than Ohio State University (85% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University students is 2.6% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($11,791 vs. $11,491)

Ohio State vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ohio State University (1295) is 81 points higher than at Tennessee (1214)
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Tennessee (27)
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Tennessee (3.66)
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (50.8%) than Tennessee (46%)

Ohio State vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Ohio State or Tennessee? 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 Tennessee and Ohio State.

  • The graduation rate at Ohio State is higher than The University of Tennessee (80% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee earn on average $5,700 more per year than Ohio State graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $50,600)
  • The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Ohio State graduates. ($20,000 vs. $21,500)
  • Tennessee graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Ohio State graduates. ($206 vs. $222)
  • More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)

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