Ohio State vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus and University of Wisconsin Madison? 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 Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Required
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 48%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Wisconsin based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 51,044 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State or Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin Madison than Ohio State ($14,235 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 4.2% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($14,124 vs. $14,738).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is 14.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $1,641 more per year; $13,244.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at Wisconsin than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $2,081 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of Wisconsin Madison (70% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 34.9% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($17,741 vs. $13,151).

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 50 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Wisconsin 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; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Required; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ohio State and Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $14,200 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($222 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.