UCLA vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, 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 UCLA based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 47,335 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 20:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

UCLA vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA 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 Los Angeles than Ohio State ($14,512 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 19.8% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($14,738 vs. $18,369).
  • University of California Los Angeles is 14.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $1,959 more per year; $15,203.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.4% higher at UCLA than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $9,381 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of California Los Angeles (70% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 94.9% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($25,627 vs. $13,151).

UCLA vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA 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 UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 20 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming UCLA 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 Los Angeles 1300/1530; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

UCLA vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA 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 Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $20,100 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $5,200 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($16,300 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($168 vs. $222).
  • More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.