Ohio State University

Columbus, OH · Public · 45,638 undergrads

• Admit rate: 60.6% (70,028 applicants)
• SAT middle 50%: 1310–1480 (ACT 28–32)
• Undergraduates: 45,638 (7.6% international)
• Average net price: $17,339 (per year after aid)
• Graduation rate: 88% (within 6 years)

Deadlines

• Early Action: Nov. 1, 2026
• Regular Decision: Jan. 15, 2027

Editor's notes

• At Ohio State, Early Action is the real deadline. Engineering, Nursing direct admission, honors programs and university merit scholarships all require a complete application, test scores included, by Nov. 1. Book an SAT by Oct. 3 or an ACT by Oct. 17 and send the scores when you register.
• Tests are required for Columbus, and the CDS rates them very important, alongside rigor, rank and GPA. The essay is rated important too, so don't treat the Common App essay as an afterthought just because there's no supplement.

Sources

1. Ohio State Undergraduate Admissions, First-year applicants to the Columbus campus: step-by-step
2. Ohio State Undergraduate Admissions, Who gets in?
3. Ohio State Undergraduate Admissions, Ohio Guaranteed Admission Program
4. Ohio State Institutional Research and Planning, Common Data Set 2025-2026 (Columbus campus)
5. Common App, 2026-27 first-year requirements grid