UCI vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of California Irvine 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 Irvine
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCI Irvine, CA
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • UCI Rural Fringe
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCI 37,297
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • UCI Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCI #98
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCI -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • UCI Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCI
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCI $15,722
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCI $49,922
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • UCI $18,991
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • UCI $15,889
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCI $23,110
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCI 55%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCI 122,699
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • UCI 35,054
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCI 28.6%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCI 19.2%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCI 1330
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCI 29
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCI 3.75
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCI A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCI Very High
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCI High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCI 26/33
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UCI 1230/1430
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCI Test-free
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCI Nov 30, 2026
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCI 19:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCI
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Biology (16%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCI 85%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCI $61,800
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCI 76%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCI $17,000
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCI $175
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCI 45%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • UCI 55%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCI Very High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCI No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • UCI 15%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • UCI 37%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • UCI 2%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCI 25%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • UCI 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCI 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCI 4%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • UCI 16%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCI 1%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCI 74%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCI 7%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, 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 UCI based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 37,297 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of California Irvine 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 Irvine 19:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

UCI vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI 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 Irvine than Ohio State ($15,889 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 22.4% lower than at University of California Irvine ($14,738 vs. $18,991).
  • University of California Irvine is 18.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $2,478 more per year; $15,722.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.7% higher at UCI than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $9,900 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of California Irvine (70% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 75.7% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($23,110 vs. $13,151).

UCI vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI 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 UCI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 70 points higher than at UCI (1330).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UCI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at UCI (3.75).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UCI (28.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

UCI vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI 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 Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of California Irvine earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($17,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($175 vs. $222).
  • More UCI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.