The Ohio State University — usually just "Ohio State" — is one of the largest universities in the United States, with more than 60,000 students on its Columbus campus. It is a public land-grant research university with a huge range of programmes (217 undergraduate majors on the Columbus campus), a famous athletics programme, and a distinctive promise: the Ohio State Tuition Guarantee locks your tuition, general fees and housing and food costs for four years when you start. For international students, that predictability is a real advantage.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| Type | Public land-grant research university |
| Founded | 1870 |
| Students | About 60,000+ (Columbus campus) |
| Undergraduate majors | 217 (Columbus campus) |
Fees and cost of attendance (2026-27)
For incoming international and non-resident undergraduates at the Columbus campus in 2026-27, Ohio State estimates US$44,271 for tuition (including instructional and general fees and the out-of-state surcharge), before housing and food. With the annual International Undergraduate Student Fee of US$3,103, the total tuition-and-fees figure is about US$47,374 a year. Housing and food add about US$15,630, books about US$1,020 and general expenses about US$2,686.
Graduate tuition for a full-time non-resident student is about US$45,938 for the 2026-27 academic year, including the out-of-state surcharge. The Fisher College of Business full-time MBA costs about US$62,538 a year for non-resident students. Non-resident graduate tuition is charged per credit hour — US$2,847.31 for standard programmes.
Scholarships: non-Ohio residents attending the Columbus campus may be eligible for the National Buckeye Scholarship, a merit award for strong out-of-state students. International students are not eligible for US federal aid but are automatically considered for departmental fellowships and graduate assistantships.
Popular programmes
Ohio State's strongest areas are Engineering (especially mechanical, electrical and computer engineering), Business (Fisher College), Computer Science and Engineering, Health Sciences, and the social sciences. Its graduate engineering programmes are highly regarded, and the university is a major research centre in materials, medicine and agriculture. The 217 undergraduate majors mean almost any field is available — including less common options such as aviation, food science and fashion merchandising.
Admissions and deadlines
Ohio State admits first-year international undergraduates through the Common App, with autumn as the primary intake. Graduate and professional applicants use the Graduate and Professional Admissions portal. The international application fee is US$70 for graduate applicants (US$60 for US applicants) and is bundled inside the Common App fee for undergraduates. English proficiency (TOEFL iBT or IELTS) is required unless waived. For graduate engineering, the GRE is not required in Computer Science and Engineering or Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering will not even look at GRE scores. Ohio State does not accept three-year bachelor's degrees as equal to a US bachelor's, so check your degree before applying.
Autumn 2027 entry: undergraduate applications are open now through the Common App; graduate deadlines are programme-specific — most fall between 1 December 2026 and 15 January 2027. Exact dates for your programme are to be confirmed on the university's admissions page.
Life at Ohio State
Columbus is Ohio's capital and one of the fastest-growing cities in the American Midwest, with a strong job market in insurance, banking, technology and healthcare. The campus is large and self-contained, with the famous Ohio Stadium (the "Horseshoe"), a huge recreation centre and hundreds of student organisations. Winters are cold; summers are warm and humid.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Tuition Guarantee mean for me? Your tuition, general fees and housing and food costs are held steady for four years from the year you start. It applies to Ohio residents and non-residents alike, including international students.
How much should I budget per year? About US$47,374 in tuition and fees plus roughly US$19,000–US$20,000 for housing, food, books and personal costs — around US$66,000–US$67,000 all-in for 2026-27.
Can international students get scholarships? Yes — the National Buckeye Scholarship for strong undergraduates, plus departmental fellowships and graduate assistantships. There is no full-ride merit scholarship for international undergraduates.
What is the 2027-28 tuition? To be confirmed — final tuition and fees are approved annually at the May Board of Trustees meeting.
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Sources and verification: Ohio State undergraduate cost page 2026-27 (non-resident tuition US$44,271; international total US$47,374 including US$3,103 International Undergraduate Student Fee; housing and food US$15,630); Graduate and Professional Admissions (non-resident graduate US$45,938; Fisher MBA US$62,538); application fee US$70 international. Confirm current figures on osu.edu.