The Ohio State University College Portrait
The Ohio State University154 W. 12th Avenue Columbus, OH 43210
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The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University is one of the nation's most comprehensive universities, with five Ohio campuses enrolling more than 63,000 students. Consistently ranked a top public university by USNews, Ohio State has also been ranked 11th nationally by SmartMoney magazine for return on tuition investment. The university's status as a research powerhouse provides unequalled opportunities for students to participate in the discovery of new knowledge, exploring their passions and interests across 175 majors and 12,000 courses. With more than 475,000 living alumni, the university's global network touches virtually every continent and benefits every student.
Living in the Community
A big university means a big opportunity, and Ohio State prides itself on offering about any academic or extracurricular opportunity a student could dream of: 175 majors, 1000+ student organizations; 120 study abroad programs, internship and research opportunities in every college; 70+ service-learning courses; multiple Honors and Scholars programs, and 40+ learning communities.To help new students successfully navigate these opportunities, Ohio State designed great support services and a First Year Experience (FYE) program rated by US News as one of the best.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 56,064 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 42,082 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 19,772 | 47% |
| Men | 22,310 | 53% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 128 | <1% |
| Asian | 2,232 | 5% |
| African American / Black | 2,726 | 6% |
| Hispanic | 1,202 | 3% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 | <1% |
| White | 32,574 | 77% |
| Two or More Races | 271 | 1% |
| International | 2,259 | 5% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 690 | 2% |
| Where do OSU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Ohio | 84% |
| Other US States & Territories | 10% |
| Other Countries | 5% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are OSU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 21 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 9% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 26 - 30 | |
| Math | 25 - 31 | 590 - 700 |
| English | 25 - 31 | |
| Critical Reading | 540 - 650 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 89% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 98% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 66% | |
| Average High School GPA Data Not Available | ||
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $24,870
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend The Ohio State University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 40% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $7,789. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 51% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $5,118. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2008-2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
OSU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 19 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 58% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 80% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 4,632 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 37% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 18% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 72% |
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Campus-based Housing
92% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
25% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
Ohio State has been committed to safety and security throughout the university community since the appointment of the first Night Watchman in 1890. Today, the university’s Department of Public Safety provides services such as law enforcement, security for facilities, and emergency management planning. OSU students and their parents can rest assured that the foundations for a free and open academic setting in which students can learn, live, and grow are being safeguarded.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (very high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, more selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral with medical/veterinary
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at OSU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 93% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 54% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 32% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 84% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 23% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 55% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 62% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 19% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 96% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 95% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 72% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 65% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 91% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 56% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 74% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 94% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 66% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 66% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 89% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 57% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 87% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 89% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 82% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at The Ohio State University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Associate's | 373 |
| Bachelor's | 9,880 |
| Master's | 2,695 |
| Doctoral | 1,596 |
| Total | 14,544 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| PSYCHOLOGY | 6% |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 5% |
| English Language and Literature, General | 4% |
| Finance, General | 4% |
| Marketing/Marketing Management, General | 3% |
| Links to degree programs at The Ohio State University |
|---|
Associate'sBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Future Plans of 2009-10 Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 94% four-year success and progress rate means that 94% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 6,037 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,683 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 93%
More Information
Student Learning at The Ohio State University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Ohio State is committed to effective assessment of student learning consistent with the Higher Learning Commission’s 2003 Statement on Assessment of Student Learning. Assessment is a broad-based activity that occurs at a number of levels across the university. Some assessment activities are carried out at the institutional level, others are specific to the success of our general education curriculum (GEC), and still others are specific to major program goals. Regardless of the level, assessment is viewed as an ongoing process whereby outcomes and core values are identified, evidence is collected and evaluated, and modifications are made to improve student learning.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
Results from the pilot project using one of the three learning outcomes tests are not yet available.