UCSD vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of California San Diego 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 San Diego
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 47%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 53%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, 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 UCSD based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 44,256 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of California San Diego 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 San Diego 19:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

UCSD vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD 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 San Diego than Ohio State ($14,047 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 22.3% lower than at University of California San Diego ($14,738 vs. $18,970).
  • University of California San Diego is 26.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $3,514 more per year; $16,758.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.3% higher at UCSD than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $10,936 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of California San Diego (70% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 95.9% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($25,757 vs. $13,151).

UCSD vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD 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 UCSD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 20 points higher than at UCSD (1380).
  • Incoming UCSD 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: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCSD students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UCSD (26.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

UCSD vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $17,300 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($18,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($191 vs. $222).
  • More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.