RIT vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Rochester Institute of Technology and Ohio State University 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.

Rochester Institute of Technology
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • RIT 17,098
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RIT #175
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RIT -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • RIT Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RIT
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RIT $59,274
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RIT $59,274
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • RIT $16,142
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • RIT $39,534
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RIT $35,077
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RIT 98%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RIT 27,911
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • RIT 18,682
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RIT 66.9%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • RIT 16.3%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RIT 1380
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • RIT 31
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • RIT 3.7
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RIT A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RIT Very High
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • RIT Low
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • RIT 29/33
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RIT Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RIT 13:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RIT
    • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Engineering Technology (11%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RIT 64%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RIT $64,900
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RIT 75%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RIT $28,000
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RIT $289
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RIT 64%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • RIT 36%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RIT Medium
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • RIT No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • RIT 66%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • RIT 8%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • RIT 5%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • RIT 7%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • RIT 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RIT 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RIT 3%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • RIT 6%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RIT 5%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RIT 44%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RIT 51%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY with Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than RIT based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 17,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

RIT vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT or Ohio State? 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 RIT ($19,783 vs. $39,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 8.7% lower than at Rochester Institute of Technology ($14,738 vs. $16,142).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is 347.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $46,030 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.1% higher at RIT than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $19,252 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Ohio State University Main Campus (98% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 166.7% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($35,077 vs. $13,151).

RIT vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 20 points higher than at RIT (1380).
  • Incoming RIT 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: Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIT - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at RIT (3.7).
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Ohio State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.3% at RIT vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

RIT vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Ohio State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $14,300 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($21,500 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($222 vs. $289).
  • More RIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.