Features

Buckeyes are really smart. This year, we had more than 52,000 applicants for a freshman class of 7,136, with students hailing from all 88 Ohio counties, 44 states and 21 countries.

We also know how to have fun.  Whether you’re a fan of trying a ton of new foods or gathering with friends to scope out a total solar eclipse, there’s always something interesting happening on campus. There’s even a chocolate science course here!

Ohio State is a big place -- but that just means a world of opportunities. Some students choose to travel abroad, some set out to discover their favorite author, and some want to hack and build to their heart’s content. Whatever your goal, Ohio State can help you accomplish it.

“The seasons pass, the years will roll” —There’s a lot of history and culture here at Ohio State. We’re always changing and evolving to stay current, but there are other traditions that will never change.

Start making a difference from day one. Who says you have to wait till graduation to make a difference? Amy Chu, an undergrad, went to work in CERN lab in Switzerland to help rethink clean water in India.

But once you graduate? Look out, world! Our alumni are doing big things. Just look at our Oscar-winning Buckeyes like Steve May, chief technology officer at Pixar, or Katie Lucas, who is living a ‘Game of Thrones’ fan’s dream.. 

Our professors have a passion for teaching and learning, so you’ll learn from the very best. A professor with a huge YouTube following who uses virtual reality to teach math? Yeah, we have one of those. An astrophysicist who answers all of your out-of-this-world questions? We have one of those, too.

Your family is about to get a whole lot bigger. We have more than 500,000 living alumni, so you’ll find a network wherever you go.

Columbus is the place to be. Programs like D-Tix give students the chance to experience life in Columbus while on a budget, and the city helps our students gain real-world experiences before they even graduate.

Our history and traditions are big. We bleed scarlet and gray, especially during our Beat Michigan Week -- one of the biggest rivalries in college football. Brutus Buckeye, our 50-year-old mascot, is engrained in Buckeye tradition, and dotting the “i” in Script Ohio is considered the honor of a lifetime.

But our culture isn’t all football. We have a one-of-a-kind cartoon library, a brand new, cutting edge chemical and biomolecular engineering and chemistry building, and not to mention one seriously amazing, award-winning cancer hospital.

Our campus has it all. A top notch rec center that’s definitely not just a “gym.” Residence halls that are more than just a place to live -- they’re a place to learn. A 21st-century library. A student union that’s truly yours. And campus learning spaces that have changed with the times.

You’ll be truly inspired by your peers. Where else could you work and learn alongside students and researchers coming together to study the positive effects Shakespeare has on child autism and veterans’ mental health?

At Ohio State, “global citizen” isn’t just a buzzword.  It’s true when we say, “Buckeyes are everywhere.” Students travel and study in so many places around the world, it’s hard to keep track of it all. If you look at a map, you’ll realize that Buckeyes represent Ohio State all over the world.

Want to get involved? You name it, we’ve got it. More than 1,000 student orgs means a place for everyone. From Quidditch Club to Students for Recycling, Ohio State makes it easy for students to find their niche.

We take the phrase “pay forward” very seriously.  Coach Woody Hayes coined it during his 1986 commencement speech, and Buckeyes have been living it ever since. Last year senior Maggie Griffin won the President’s Prize — now she’s fighting food insecurity in Columbus. And don’t forget the annual 24-hour dance marathon to raise money for children with cancer, which raised $1.5 million last year.

Campus is full of hidden gems. Our student union holds Archie Griffin’s second Heisman Trophy, our oldest buildings on campus were completed in 1893 and two Ohio State professors helped the Drumstick ice cream cone become a reality.

You’ll have chance to rub elbows with legends. We have a college named after John Glenn (Ohio State alum and the first American to orbit Earth). Around campus, it’s not uncommon to spot Buckeye football hero Archie Griffin or global-warming expert and scientist Lonnie Thompson.

Our faculty and staff take on the issues that matter. Whether it’s creating a welcoming atmosphere for all students or leading efforts to make a college education affordable, Buckeye leaders are doing it.

“Ohio State’s tuition coverage program will help bring the American Dream closer to many more individuals and families throughout the Buckeye State. We are thrilled to open our doors even wider to so many more deserving students.”
– President Drake

Whatever your passion, we can support it. Ohio State continues to make groundbreaking discoveries, contribute to incredible research and pay forward like no other university. This is a place where you can combine your passion with purpose — and make a lasting, positive difference in the world.