Have your sights set on Ohio State? Before you’re ready to be a Buckeye, here’s everything you need to know about how to get into Ohio State, and the Ohio State admission requirements.
With a total enrollment of 65,795 students over five campuses, Ohio State University is one of the nation’s largest and most popular state universities. It’s no surprise: OSU is among the top public universities in the country, boasting highly regarded programs across a broad range of disciplines, including Agricultural Sciences, Accounting, Criminal Justice, and Public Health.
Ohio State is also known for its vibrant campus life, culture of service, top ranked athletic program, over 1400 student organizations, and popular Greek system. Students make ample use of OSU’s plentiful research and networking opportunities while enjoying a campus culture rich in traditions—like Script Ohio and the iconic chimes of Orton Hall—and beauty (no campus tour is complete without a trip to mirror lake!).
A quick note on college rankings: we think they’re generally a bad way to think about where you should go to college. We talk about why rankings are bad in greater detail here, but essentially, a lot of college rankings don’t actually tell you whether you and the school would fit well together, or that the school is someplace you’ll thrive. That said, we also understand that many students/families are confused regarding and have questions about aspects of the application process, so we’ve built the post below to hopefully clarify things, so students/families can make informed decisions.
How hard is it to get into Ohio State?
It is fairly difficult to get accepted to Ohio State. The grade point average of people who get accepted to OSU are in the top half of their class. People who successfully get into Ohio State also tend to have impressive extracurricular activities and college applications essays.
Ohio State Acceptance Rate
The Ohio State acceptance rate is 57%, making it a moderately competitive school. Acceptance rate is generally an indication of how competitive a school is, but it is also an indication of how popular a school is. To get into a school like OSU, you will need to perform well in most areas of your college application.
Important note: because Ohio State prioritizes admitting students from Ohio, its out of state acceptance rate is usually 10-20% lower than for in-state students, making acceptance significantly harder.
Ohio State Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Transfer Acceptance Rate
Ohio State’s early action acceptance rate is 64%. It is a widely popular school to apply to for Ohioans and out-of-state applicants alike.
Ohio State GPA Requirements
The recommended GPA requirements for Ohio State are between 3.6 and 4.0. You will need a very strong GPA and will likely be graduating at the top half of your class in order to get into Ohio State. If your GPA is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your standardized tests. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.
Ohio State Unweighted Average GPA: 3.76
What GPA is required for Ohio State?
Applicants’ GPA when applying to OSU should be between 3.6 and 4.0 to be strong candidates. Having less than this will require compensating by having outstanding extracurricular activities or personal statement.
Ohio State SAT Requirements
Ohio State is a “Test Optional” school, meaning it does not require standardized test scores, but will consider them if submitted. Last year, 21% of applicants submitted their SAT scores. It’s up to you whether to submit your scores or not. There are a number of factors to consider as you make this decision, and you can read more about them here.
The recommended SAT requirements for Ohio State are a 1260 to 1420 composite score, combining the reading and writing, and math sections together. You will need a very high SAT score in order to get into Ohio State. If your SAT is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your other standardized tests or have spectacular extracurricular activities to compensate. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.
Columbia Average SAT Composite Score: 1340
| SAT Score Distribution | Reading % | Math % |
|---|---|---|
| 700-800 | 30% | 47% |
| 600-699 | 53% | 38% |
| 500-599 | 16% | 13% |
| 400-499 | 1% | 2% |
| 300-399 | 0% | 0% |
| 200-299 | 0% | 0% |
What SAT score is required for Ohio State?
Applicants should score between 1300 and 1400 on their SAT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute ACT score or having an above-average GPA.
Ohio State ACT Requirements
Remember, Ohio State is a “Test Optional” school. Last year, 64% of applicants submitted their ACT scores.
The recommended ACT requirements for Ohio State are a 29 composite score combining all English, mathematics, reading, and science sections. You will need a very high ACT score in order to get into Harvard University. If your ACT is not what you’d hoped by the time you apply, you may have to make it up by getting above-average scores on the SAT and having an above-average grade point average. If your ACT wasn’t as high as you’d like because of difficulties or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.
Ohio State Average ACT: 29
| ACT Score Range | Composite Score % |
|---|---|
| 30-36 | 49% |
| 24-29 | 38% |
| 18-23 | 12% |
| 12-17 | 1% |
| 6-11 | 0% |
| Below 6 | 0% |
What ACT score is required for Ohio State?
Applicants should score between 27 and 31 on their ACT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute SAT score or having an above-average GPA. Either an SAT or ACT score is required for application to this school.
Is Ohio State a good fit for me?
How do you know if you and OSU fit together?
Start by exploring Ohio State’s mission statement and values. Notice, for example, how often the focus is on service and leadership. Take some time to think about your responses to these questions:
How do you see yourself aligning with this mission and these values?
What parts of your story demonstrate that you have already worked toward these things, and that OSU is the place for you to take your next steps?
How will you and the OSU community make great partners in trying to solve the world’s problems?
Talk to current and former students about their experiences, and—if you can—pay a visit to Columbus, OH, for a campus tour.
Ohio State Application Deadlines
The Ohio State application deadline for regular decision is February 1st. OSU also provides an alternative form of application in addition to regular decision: early action. The application deadline for Ohio State’s early action is November 1st. Below is a table showing the deadlines for each of the steps of the Ohio State admissions process.
| Notification Plan |
Application Material |
Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Early Action |
Submit Test Scores |
Nov 1 |
| Submit Application and Financial Aid Application |
Nov 1 |
|
| Admissions Decisions Released |
Dec 9 - Jan 20 |
|
| Regular Decision |
Submit Test Scores |
Feb 1 |
| Submit Application |
Feb 1 |
|
| Submit Financial Aid Application (if still pending) |
Feb 1 |
|
| Admissions Decisions Released |
Feb 14 - Mar 24 |
Ohio State Early Decision, Early Action Policy
Ohio State’s early action policy is non-binding. That means if your early action application is accepted, you are not obligated to attend OSU.
Ohio State Supplemental Essay Prompts
Fortunately, Ohio State does not require supplemental essays.
Harrison is a writing coach, playwright, and college essay specialist. He strives to empower students to take ownership of the writing process and develop their voices as storytellers. He is an avid swimmer, voracious reader, crossword enthusiast, and proud uncle to the coolest girls in the world.
Top values: Curiosity | Creativity | Generosity
