True College Verdict
B

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · 45,638 undergraduates · 23% receive Pell Grants · admits 61%
PublicMainly bachelor's degrees

A good choice overall. It ranks 215 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 77.4 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
About average
Average net price $17,269 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
Yes
83% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $19,500 against earnings of $67,080, a ratio of 0.29. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Ohio State University-Main Campus. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

  • 83% of students graduate, better than 90% of four-year colleges.
  • Students stay: 94% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 92% of four-year colleges.
  • Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $67,080, higher than 71% of four-year colleges.
  • Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $19,500 in federal loans against earnings of $67,080.

Why it is bad

Nothing stands out as clearly worse than similar colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
83%
Better than 90% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
94%
Better than 92% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$67,080
Better than 71% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$19,500
Better than 75% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$17,269
Better than 62% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$13,641
Out of state: $42,423

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Finance and Financial Management Services817$60,701$19,500
Research and Experimental Psychology646n/a$18,490
Biology, General486$30,092$19,500
Communication and Media Studies478$40,447$17,764
Marketing478$48,477$19,500
Computer Engineering455$70,931$19,500
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services436$30,988$19,829
Accounting and Related Services297$57,149$19,500
Neurobiology and Neurosciences283$24,904$20,500
Economics272$42,276$19,000
Political Science and Government265$37,379$16,875
Business Administration, Management and Operations236$56,327$19,500

Associate degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods7n/an/a

Certificates and diplomas: largest programs

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Ohio State University-Main Campus, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

Compare with other colleges Estimate your cost

The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.