UNC Chapel Hill vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • UNC Chapel Hill Small City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UNC Chapel Hill 32,438
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • UNC Chapel Hill Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNC Chapel Hill #59
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNC Chapel Hill -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • UNC Chapel Hill Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNC Chapel Hill
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $8,994
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $41,203
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • UNC Chapel Hill $13,804
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • UNC Chapel Hill $10,154
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNC Chapel Hill $17,814
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNC Chapel Hill 38%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNC Chapel Hill 66,535
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10,209
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15.3%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UNC Chapel Hill 45.5%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1460
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNC Chapel Hill 31
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3.83
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNC Chapel Hill A-
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNC Chapel Hill Exceptional
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNC Chapel Hill Very High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UNC Chapel Hill 28/34
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1390/1530
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNC Chapel Hill Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNC Chapel Hill
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNC Chapel Hill 89%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNC Chapel Hill $66,100
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNC Chapel Hill 82%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNC Chapel Hill $16,479
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNC Chapel Hill $170
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNC Chapel Hill 40%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • UNC Chapel Hill 60%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNC Chapel Hill Medium
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UNC Chapel Hill No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • UNC Chapel Hill 64%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNC Chapel Hill 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNC Chapel Hill 4%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • UNC Chapel Hill 2%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNC Chapel Hill 84%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNC Chapel Hill 11%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC 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 UNC Chapel Hill based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 32,438 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNC Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill than Ohio State ($10,154 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 6.3% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($13,804 vs. $14,738).
  • Ohio State University Main Campus is 47.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $4,250 more per year; $13,244.00 vs. $8,994.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3% higher at UNC Chapel Hill than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $1,181 more per year; $41,203.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (70% vs. 38%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students is 35.5% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($17,814 vs. $13,151).

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNC Chapel Hill 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 UNC Chapel Hill.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 60 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming UNC Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

UNC Chapel Hill vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNC Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $15,500 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $5,021 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($16,479 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($170 vs. $222).
  • More UNC Chapel Hill 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.