Ohio State University | Campus, courses, and rankings

Discover the Ohio State difference

The Ohio State University, also known as OSU or Ohio State, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. It is a member of the University System of Ohio and has been among the best public universities in the United States by major institutional rankings. Ohio State University creates unparalleled experiences by bringing together expertise, ideas, and resources to benefit local and global communities.

With the Morrill Act of 1862, Ohio State was founded in 1870 as the state’s land-grant university and the ninth university in Ohio. Its original name was the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College and focused on various similar disciplines. It developed into a comprehensive university under the direction of then-Governor and later U.S. president Rutherford B. Hayes. In 1878, the Ohio General Assembly passed a law changing the name to ‘the Ohio State University.’ Admission standards throughout the 2000s and 2010s became much more selective.

Ohio State University | A brief overview

The Ohio State University is a public university. It got its current name in 1878 when the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation changing it. On September 17, 1873, the university opened its doors to 24 students. The first class of six men graduated from the university in 1878. The University has four regional campuses that combine the strengths of the nation’s largest land-grant and comprehensive research institution with the experience of a small, student-centered, Liberal Arts-focused university.

It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a US-based institutional accreditor. The University has academic affiliations with the Association of American Universities (AAU) and US Sea-grant and Space-grant colleges. 

The political science department and faculty at Ohio State have made significant contributions to developing and constructing the constructivist and realist schools of international relations. A 2004 LSE study ranked the program first among public institutions and fourth in the world. Ohio State University, a member of the Association of American Universities, is a major producer of Fulbright Scholars and the only school in North America to offer an ABET-accredited undergraduate degree in welding engineering.

With over 1,000 student organizations, intercollegiate clubs, recreational sports programs, student media organizations, publications, fraternities, sororities, and three student communities, the university has a robust student life program. Its athletic teams compete in Division I of the NCAA. The Ohio State Buckeyes is the official team of the university, and most of its sports are part of the Big Ten Conference. The football program at the school has had great success and is one of the major programs in college football. Its rivalry with the University of Michigan has been described as one of the greatest in North American sports.

Campus

The Ohio State University is a multi-campus university with campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Newark, and Marion, as well as the main campus in Columbus. The main campus is a mix of traditional, modern, and postmodern styles that spans 1,764 acres and is located about 2.5 miles north of downtown. The university offers over 12,000 programs, with over 200 undergraduate majors. Courses are available through the University’s 15+ Colleges and Schools, including a Graduate School, and cover many subject areas.

Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, Public Health, Public Affairs, Optometry, Nursing, Law, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Food, Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Social Work, Education, Human Ecology, Dentistry, Architecture, and other specializations are among them. The University has international partners in China, India, Brazil, and France, providing students and researchers with ‘global gateways’ for training or education abroad.

Courses

Students will receive the same degree from the University regardless of campus. The Ohio State University’s colleges include the College of Social Work, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Fisher College of Business, the College of Dentistry, the College of Education and Human Ecology, the College of Engineering, the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, the Moritz College of Law, the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, and the College of Ophthalmology.

Undergraduate courses have an enrollment of 53,189 students, while graduate courses have an enrollment of 11,278 students. International students accounted for 8.2% of total enrollment, with China leading the way, followed by India. Founded in 1952, the Indian Students Association (ISA) bridges the gap between the Indian community and the mainstream of Ohio State University.

Popular programs

Bachelors (Areas of study)

• Finance
• Psychology
• Speech communication and rhetoric
• Computer engineering
• Biology/biological sciences
• Marketing/marketing management
• Accounting
• Allied health and medical assisting services
• Registered nursing/registered nurse
• Econometrics and quantitative economics

Certificate courses (Areas of study)

• Organizational leadership
• Nursing Practice
• Language interpretation and translation
• Natural sciences
• Planetary astronomy and science

Associate courses (Areas of study)

• Early childhood education and teaching

Rankings

• QS World University Rankings- 140
• QS WUR Ranking by Subject- 120
• Graduate Employability Ranking- 85
• US UNI (universities)- 50

Alumni

Some of the notable alumni of Ohio State are

• Roy Lichtenstein (Renowned artist)
• George Steinbrenner (Former owner of the New York Yankees)
• Larry Sanger (Founder of Wikipedia)
• James S. Albus (Known as the Hero of US Manufacturing)
• Jack Niklaus (World famous golfer)

Key takeaways

• The Ohio State University is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. It has a high ranking among the best public universities in the United States by major institutional rankings. 
• The Ohio State University is a multi-campus university. It has campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Newark, and Marion, as well as the main campus in Columbus. 
• Ohio State provides over 12,000 programs, with over 200 undergraduate majors. You can study the courses through the University’s 15+ Colleges and Schools, including a Graduate School, and cover many subject areas.

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FAQs

Q1. What is the GPA for getting admission to the Ohio State University?

Ans- Applicants with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher from all colleges and universities attended are quite competitive for admission to the Columbus campus.

Q2. Does Ohio State University offer full scholarships for international students?

Ans- Graduate Associateships are also available to international students pursuing masters and Ph.D. degrees at Ohio State University. To be considered for this fully funded scholarship, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements, taking a minimum of 8 credit hours per semester.

Q3. What is the acceptance rate for Ohio State University?

Ans- The acceptance rate for Ohio State is 68.5%.