University of Dayton vs. Ohio State

Should I go to University of Dayton or Ohio State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Dayton or Ohio State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Dayton vs. Ohio State University comparison
University of Dayton Ohio State University College 3 College 4
University of Dayton Ohio State University
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Overview

University of Dayton Ohio State
Location Dayton, OH Columbus, OH
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 11,304 60,046
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #206 #139
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website udayton.edu osu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Dayton Ohio State
Tuition (In State) $47,600 $11,826
Tuition (Out of State) $47,600 $37,332
Room & Board $15,640 $14,272
Avg Net Price $31,551 $19,575
Avg Grant Aid $31,852 $11,791
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 64%

Admission

University of Dayton Ohio State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,747 70,028
Admitted 14,023 35,588
Acceptance Rate 61.6% 50.8%
Enrolled % 13.6% 22.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.76
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 26/31 29/32
SAT Range 1195/1370 1330/1480
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

University of Dayton Ohio State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (5%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)

Outcomes

University of Dayton Ohio State
Graduation Rate 74% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,300 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 84% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $268 $222

Diversity

University of Dayton Ohio State
% Men 14% 10%
% Women 14% 14%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 71%
% Black 3% 6%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 11% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

University of Dayton Ohio State
% In-State 54% 65%
% Out-of-State 45% 26%

Campus

University of Dayton Ohio State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Ohio State University is larger than than University of Dayton based on total student enrollment (60,046 students vs. 11,304 students)

University of Dayton vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Dayton or Ohio State?

  • University of Dayton is 302.5% more expensive to attend than Ohio State for in-state tuition ($47,600.00 vs. $11,826.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.5% higher at University of Dayton than Ohio State University ($47,600.00 vs. $37,332.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ohio State University than University of Dayton ($19,575 vs. $31,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University are 9.6% lower than costs at University of Dayton ($14,272 vs. $15,640)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Dayton than Ohio State University (95% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Dayton students is 170.1% larger than aid received Ohio State University ($31,852 vs. $11,791)

University of Dayton vs. Ohio State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Dayton or Ohio State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Ohio State or University of Dayton .

  • The average SAT score at Ohio State University (1295) is 108 points higher than at University of Dayton (1187)
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at University of Dayton (27)
  • Accepted freshman University of Dayton students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Ohio State (3.76)
  • University of Dayton has a higher acceptance rate (61.6%) than Ohio State (50.8%)

University of Dayton vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Dayton or Ohio State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Ohio State and University of Dayton.

  • The graduation rate at Ohio State is higher than University of Dayton (80% vs. 74%)
  • Graduates from University of Dayton earn on average $6,700 more per year than Ohio State graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $50,600)
  • Ohio State University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Dayton graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Ohio State graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than University of Dayton graduates. ($222 vs. $268)
  • More University of Dayton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/