Kentucky vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of Kentucky 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 Kentucky
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Kentucky Large City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kentucky #437
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kentucky -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Kentucky Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kentucky
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kentucky 95%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kentucky 1180
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kentucky 24
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kentucky A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kentucky
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Kentucky 21/28
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Kentucky 1070/1290
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kentucky Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kentucky 59%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kentucky 62%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kentucky $235
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kentucky 40%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Kentucky 60%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kentucky Low
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Kentucky No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Kentucky 76%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Kentucky 2%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Kentucky 8%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kentucky 4%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Kentucky 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kentucky 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kentucky 58%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kentucky 41%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY 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 Kentucky based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 34,709 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, KY (Large City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of Kentucky 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 Kentucky 18:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Kentucky vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kentucky 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 Ohio State University Main Campus than Kentucky ($19,783 vs. $21,958).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 8% lower than at University of Kentucky ($14,738 vs. $16,016).
  • University of Kentucky is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $258 more per year; $13,502.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.2% higher at Ohio State than at University of Kentucky (about $5,882 more per year; $40,022.00 vs. $34,140.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Kentucky than at Ohio State University Main Campus (95% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students is 2% larger than aid received by University of Kentucky students ($13,151 vs. $12,898).

Kentucky vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 220 points higher than at Kentucky (1180).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at Kentucky).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kentucky 1070/1290; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kentucky 21/28; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kentucky - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kentucky Feb 15, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Ohio State students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Kentucky (3.59).
  • Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (92.9%) than Ohio State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at Kentucky vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Kentucky vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kentucky 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).

  • Ohio State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than University of Kentucky's (59%).
  • Graduates from University of Kentucky earn a median of about $400 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Kentucky graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,750).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kentucky graduates ($222 vs. $235).
  • More Ohio State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kentucky students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 62%)

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.