University of Cincinnati vs. The Ohio State University
A side-by-side comparison of Cincinnati and Ohio State — acceptance rates (85% vs. 60.6%), SAT scores (1160–1350 vs. 1280–1430), tuition, financial aid, and majors, drawn from each school's official Common Data Set.
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Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
Cincinnati does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Cincinnati is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Cincinnati's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 42.9% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Cincinnati does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Cincinnati weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Cincinnati's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $15,334 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Action
Ohio State offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
Ohio State is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Ohio State's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 27% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Ohio State does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Ohio State weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Ohio State's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $28,782 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Cincinnati vs. Ohio State: frequently asked questions
Is Cincinnati or Ohio State harder to get into?＋
Ohio State is more selective: it admits about 60.6% of applicants, compared with 85% at Cincinnati. Both are competitive, and your odds depend on far more than the overall rate.
Which has higher SAT scores, Cincinnati or Ohio State?＋
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1160–1350 at Cincinnati and 1280–1430 at Ohio State on the SAT. Treat the ranges as a benchmark — a score inside or above a school's range keeps you competitive there.
Is Cincinnati or Ohio State cheaper for out-of-state students?＋
Cincinnati has the lower published price for out-of-state students — $29,728 in tuition and fees versus $42,423 at Ohio State, a gap of about $12,695 a year before financial aid.
Does Cincinnati or Ohio State have a higher graduation rate?＋
Ohio State graduates a higher share of its students within six years — 88% versus 75% at Cincinnati.
Source: University of Cincinnati Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-11. In-State Cost and Out-of-State Cost are from the 2025-2026 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Cincinnati. Banner photo by Steinsky, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Source: The Ohio State University Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Ohio State. Banner photo by Lectrician2, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).