Notre Dame vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Notre Dame Rural Fringe
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Notre Dame 13,042
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Notre Dame Private 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Notre Dame #27
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Notre Dame Roman Catholic
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Notre Dame Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Notre Dame
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Notre Dame $17,900
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Notre Dame $29,300
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame $53,971
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame 61%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Notre Dame 29,942
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Notre Dame 3,374
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Notre Dame 11.3%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Notre Dame 61.7%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Notre Dame 1510
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Notre Dame 34
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Notre Dame 3.91
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Notre Dame A
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Notre Dame Elite
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Notre Dame Very High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Notre Dame 33/35
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Notre Dame 1455/1560
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Notre Dame Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Notre Dame 8:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Notre Dame
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Notre Dame 96%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Notre Dame $89,800
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Notre Dame 92%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Notre Dame $21,500
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Notre Dame $222
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Notre Dame 52%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Notre Dame 48%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Notre Dame Medium
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Notre Dame No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Notre Dame 69%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Notre Dame 11%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Notre Dame 1%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Notre Dame 8%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Notre Dame 82%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN 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 Notre Dame based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 13,042 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of Notre Dame is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Notre Dame 8:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Notre Dame vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame ($19,783 vs. $29,300).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 17.7% lower than at University of Notre Dame ($14,738 vs. $17,900).
  • University of Notre Dame is 391% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $51,781 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 62.5% higher at Notre Dame than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $25,003 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of Notre Dame (70% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Notre Dame students is 310.4% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($53,971 vs. $13,151).

Notre Dame vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Notre Dame (1510) is 110 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Notre Dame students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 1455/1560; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 33/35; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Notre Dame - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Notre Dame students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Notre Dame (11.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.7% at Notre Dame vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Notre Dame vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Notre Dame 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 Notre Dame's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of Notre Dame earn a median of about $39,200 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus and Notre Dame graduates have the same median loan debt ($21,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Ohio State University Main Campus and Notre Dame graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($222 vs. $222).
  • More Notre Dame graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.