Ohio State vs. Vanderbilt

Deciding between Ohio State University Main Campus and Vanderbilt University? 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
Vanderbilt University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Vanderbilt Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Vanderbilt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Vanderbilt 13,575
  • Type
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • Vanderbilt Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ohio State #135
  • Vanderbilt #16
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ohio State -
  • Vanderbilt -
  • Status
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Vanderbilt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ohio State
  • Vanderbilt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Room & Board
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Vanderbilt $22,054
  • Average Net Price
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Vanderbilt $25,186
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • Vanderbilt $64,404
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ohio State 70%
  • Vanderbilt 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Vanderbilt 45,409
  • Admitted
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Vanderbilt 2,662
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Vanderbilt 5.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Vanderbilt 61.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Vanderbilt 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ohio State 30
  • Vanderbilt 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Vanderbilt 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ohio State A-
  • Vanderbilt A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Vanderbilt Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ohio State Low
  • Vanderbilt Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • Vanderbilt 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Vanderbilt 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ohio State Required
  • Vanderbilt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027
  • Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Vanderbilt 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Vanderbilt
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • General Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Vanderbilt 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Vanderbilt $83,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Vanderbilt 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Vanderbilt $14,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ohio State $222
  • Vanderbilt $144

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ohio State 48%
  • Vanderbilt 44%
  • % Women
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Vanderbilt 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ohio State Medium
  • Vanderbilt High
  • HBCU
  • Ohio State No
  • Vanderbilt No
  • % White
  • Ohio State 71%
  • Vanderbilt 55%
  • % Asian
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Vanderbilt 12%
  • % Black
  • Ohio State 6%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ohio State 4%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Native American
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ohio State 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Vanderbilt 5%
  • % International
  • Ohio State 7%
  • Vanderbilt 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ohio State 3%
  • Vanderbilt 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ohio State 64%
  • Vanderbilt 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ohio State 28%
  • Vanderbilt 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Vanderbilt based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 13,575 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio State University Main Campus is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); Vanderbilt University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Vanderbilt University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1; Vanderbilt University 8:1.

Ohio State vs. Vanderbilt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ohio State or Vanderbilt? 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 Vanderbilt ($19,783 vs. $25,186).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 33.2% lower than at Vanderbilt University ($14,738 vs. $22,054).
  • Vanderbilt University is 409.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $54,254 more per year; $67,498.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68.7% higher at Vanderbilt than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $27,476 more per year; $67,498.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at Vanderbilt University (70% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vanderbilt University students is 389.7% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($64,404 vs. $13,151).

Ohio State vs. Vanderbilt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vanderbilt University (1540) is 140 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Vanderbilt 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: Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480; Vanderbilt University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32; Vanderbilt University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ohio State - Required; Vanderbilt - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027; Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vanderbilt students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Vanderbilt (5.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at Ohio State vs. 61.2% at Vanderbilt.

Ohio State vs. Vanderbilt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Vanderbilt University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from Vanderbilt University earn a median of about $32,500 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vanderbilt University graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($14,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Vanderbilt graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($144 vs. $222).
  • More Vanderbilt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.