Ohio State vs. UVA

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus and University of Virginia 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.

Ohio State University Main Campus
University of Virginia Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • UVA Charlottesville, VA
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • UVA Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • UVA 26,409
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • UVA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • UVA #58
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • UVA -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • UVA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • UVA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • UVA $21,803
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • UVA $59,512
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • UVA $14,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • UVA $18,427
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • UVA $28,715
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • UVA 39%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • UVA 58,951
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • UVA 9,909
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • UVA 16.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • UVA 40%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • UVA 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • UVA 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • UVA 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • UVA A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • UVA Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • UVA Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • UVA 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • UVA 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Required
  • UVA Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • UVA

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • UVA 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • UVA
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • UVA 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • UVA $77,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • UVA 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • UVA $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • UVA $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 48%
  • UVA 45%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 52%
  • UVA 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • UVA Medium
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • UVA No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • UVA 60%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • UVA 13%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • UVA 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • UVA 6%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • UVA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • UVA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • UVA 5%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • UVA 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • UVA 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • UVA 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • UVA 29%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH with University of Virginia Main Campus in Charlottesville, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than UVA based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 26,409 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); University of Virginia Main Campus is in Charlottesville, VA (Small City setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Virginia Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; University of Virginia Main Campus 15:1.

Ohio State vs. UVA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State or UVA? 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 University of Virginia Main Campus than Ohio State ($18,427 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 0.4% lower than at University of Virginia Main Campus ($14,738 vs. $14,800).
  • University of Virginia Main Campus is 64.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $8,559 more per year; $21,803.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.7% higher at UVA than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $19,490 more per year; $59,512.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of Virginia Main Campus (70% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students is 118.3% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($28,715 vs. $13,151).

Ohio State vs. UVA Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Virginia Main Campus (1480) is 80 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming UVA students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; University of Virginia Main Campus 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; University of Virginia Main Campus 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Required; UVA - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UVA students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UVA (16.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 40% at UVA.

Ohio State vs. UVA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State and UVA? 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).

  • University of Virginia Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $26,600 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Virginia Main Campus graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($19,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UVA graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($201 vs. $222).
  • More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.