UC Berkeley vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of California Berkeley 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.

University of California Berkeley
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • UC Berkeley Midsize City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Berkeley 45,882
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • UC Berkeley Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC Berkeley #65
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC Berkeley -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • UC Berkeley Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC Berkeley
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC Berkeley $16,347
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC Berkeley $50,547
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • UC Berkeley $23,750
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • UC Berkeley $16,538
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley $29,608
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley 53%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC Berkeley 124,242
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • UC Berkeley 13,639
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC Berkeley 11%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Berkeley 1420
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Berkeley 32
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC Berkeley 3.87
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC Berkeley A
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Berkeley Elite
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC Berkeley 30/35
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UC Berkeley 1310/1530
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Berkeley Test-free
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC Berkeley 18:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC Berkeley
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC Berkeley 90%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC Berkeley $74,700
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC Berkeley 79%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC Berkeley $14,200
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC Berkeley $146
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • UC Berkeley 54%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UC Berkeley No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • UC Berkeley 27%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • UC Berkeley 35%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • UC Berkeley 2%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC Berkeley 5%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC Berkeley 3%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC Berkeley 84%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC Berkeley 9%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, CA 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 UC Berkeley based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 45,882 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UC Berkeley vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley 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 University of California Berkeley than Ohio State ($16,538 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 37.9% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($14,738 vs. $23,750).
  • University of California Berkeley is 23.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $3,103 more per year; $16,347.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.3% higher at UC Berkeley than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $10,525 more per year; $50,547.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of California Berkeley (70% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 125.1% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($29,608 vs. $13,151).

UC Berkeley vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Berkeley (1420) is 20 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UC Berkeley students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

UC Berkeley vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley 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).

  • University of California Berkeley's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $24,100 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $7,300 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($14,200 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($146 vs. $222).
  • More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.