University of Washington vs Ohio State

University of Washington vs Ohio State

University of Washington is a public research university located in Seattle, Washington in the Seattle metropolitan area. It is a large public university with about 51,000 students, of which more than 30,000 are undergraduate students. Admissions are moderately competitive because University of Washington has an acceptance rate of around 43%. Majors offered at the institution include Computer Science, Engineering, Business, Biological Sciences, and Social Sciences. The graduation rate for six years is 84%, and the median starting salary of UW graduates is about INR 74,70,000 (ten years after graduation, equivalent to $90,000 median earnings).

Ohio State University is a highly ranked public university in Columbus, Ohio in the Columbus metropolitan area. Ohio State is one of the largest universities in the United States with an enrollment of about 60,046 students, of which more than 46,000 are undergraduates. Admissions are moderately competitive since Ohio State has an acceptance rate of about 51%. Standard majors include Business, Engineering, Health Professions, Biological Sciences, and Social Sciences. The graduation rate after six years is 88%, and the median starting salary for Ohio State graduates is about INR 44,50,000 (converted from $53,600 median earnings ten years after graduation).

Overview Comparison
University of WashingtonOhio State University
Collegedunia Score7.2 Out of 106.1 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 76 QS World University 2025
# 7 US News 2024
# 25 Times Higher Education 2024
# 108 Times Higher Education 2026
# 190 QS World University 2026
# 55 Center for World University Rankings 2025
Subject Strength# 25 for Engineering by US News 2024
# 12 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2024
# 13 for Medicine by US News 2024
# 27 for Engineering by US News 2025
# 84 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 28 for Law by US News 2025
ProgramsUG Programs -77
PG Programs -56
Doctorate Programs -1
UG Programs -146
PG Programs -75
Doctorate Programs -100
Acceptance Rate0.0 %61.0 %
Exam ScoreDuolingo-120
IELTS-7
TOEFL-92
Duolingo-120
IELTS-7
TOEFL-79
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   35166
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  31473
[For PG Program]
Average Tuition Fees   36430
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  40507
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 15178 Per Year
placement (average package)

Employability Ranking- #60 (QS); 93% engineering graduates placed within first placement cycle; Average salary- 78,172 USD; Top recruiters: The Boeing Company, University of Washington, Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp, Expedia Inc.; Highest paying degrees: Doctorate (118,000 USD), Ph.D. (112,000 USD), MBA(111,000 USD), Masters in Science (93,000 USD), BBA (85,000 USD).


Average Salaries are listed below:

  • MBA  :  $114,000 
  • Doctorate : $108,000 
  • Masters in Science : $99,000 
  • Bachelor of Science : $89,000 
  • Bachelor of Arts :  $75,000 
  • Master (Other) : $57,000 

application requirements

Coallition Essay
Answers to University of Washington Questions
Essay/Profile submitted to UW

Academic transcripts; Academic recommendation; Standardized test scores; 2-3 LORs; Resume; SOPs/ Essays; Proof of English language proficiency; Additional Requirements (video interview, work experience, research papers, etc.).

Campuses and B-SchoolsNAFisher College of Business
CollegeDunia Reviews7.4/10 Read 8 reviews8.5/10 Read 6 reviews
General Facts Comparison
General FactsUniversity of WashingtonOhio State University
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1861
1870
Student:Faculty Ratio9.5:1
18:1:1
Male:Female43% Male, 0% Female49% Male, 0% Female
Location Facts

Bordered by two lakes of Seattle, Cascade Range view on East, Olympic Mountain view on West, and Red square is the heart of campus. The university has been relocated twice in the past (1876 and 19th century). The main campus lies shores of Portage and Union Bays. 
 


main campus in Columbus & regional campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Marion, Newark, & Wooster; 1,764-acre main campus, about 2.5 miles north of the city's downtown


Library

Largest collection in Pacific Northwest
Won Excellence in Academic Libraries Award
Over 9 million collection of books, microforms, journals, etc
Over 3000 audio records of Pacific Northwest indegineous languages


18th largest university research library in North America; 21 libraries on Columbus campus, 8 branches at off-campus research facilities & regional campuses, 1 book storage depository near campus; 5.8 million volumes in total.


Campus Life

Over 60 fraternities and sororities
The Daily: UW Newletter
Over 100 registered student organizations
Ethnic Cultural Center
Museum of Arts and History
Graduate & Professional Student Senate
Varsity sports are a great part of campus life


90-acre recreational space; 6 Rec Sports facilities; 8 health & student wellness centers; 1000+ student organizations; 3 Arts and Culture centers; 30+ food outlets across different campuses; Ohio Union (One of area's most comprehensive event centers); The Lantern (official daily student published newspaper, one of the largest campus newspaper in USA).


Famous Alumni

Four Nobel laureates, eight Pulitzer prize winners. 
Bill Gates Sr., Bruce Lee, Marilynne Robinson (novelist), Mark Edward Pope (former American basketball coach), Linda Buck (biologist) 


570,000 living alumni; Larry Sanger (one of the founders of Wikipedia); Steve May (chief technology officer at Pixar); James S. Albus (Roboticist); Jesse Owens (American athlete); R. L. Stine (American novelist); Roy Lichtenstein (American artist); Patricia Heaton (American actress); Woody Hayes (American football player); James Thurber (American cartoonist); Ross Butler (American actor).


City Life

From intramural clubs to adventure activities, nature abound city has a lot to offer. Various national parks, Heritage monuments
Museum, theatre, comedy shows, and bumping nightlife. Seattle is a great city for cyanophiles. It is one of the nation’s tech capitals. It is home to Amazon and is one of the fastest-growing cities. The unemployment rate (Jul 2020) in the middle of pandemic reached 13.2%.
 


Columbus- the capital & largest city in Ohio; distinctive neighborhoods, dynamic nightlife & music, creative arts scene, original culinary experiences, wide array of festivals; famous attractions: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Columbus Museum of Art, Center of Science and Industry (COSI), Huntington Park, Topiary Park; Unemployment Rate: 3.5% (Dec 2019)


Weather
Comparison Notes

University of Washington vs Ohio State University

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

Both Ohio State University (OSU) and the University of Washington (UW) are large public research universities in the United States, with UW normally ranking higher on worldwide systems. UW is around 81th and OSU around 190th in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Times Higher Education ranks UW #25 and OSU #116, which indicates UW's better global reputation for research.

In subject areas, UW leads in Computer Science, Engineering, Medicine, and Environmental Science, with high-level placements in Public Health and Nursing. OSU is especially strong in Business, Agriculture, Engineering, and Social Sciences, with nationally placed programs in Logistics, Welding Engineering, and Veterinary Medicine. UW's location near Seattle's tech environment adds to its STEM and innovation portfolio, while OSU provides wide academic breadth and applied research capabilities.

General Information

The University of Washington, founded in 1861, is located in Seattle, Washington, a major tech and cultural hub. It has a student population of approximately 55,620, including 30,000 undergraduates. The Ohio State University, established in 1870, is based in Columbus, Ohio, with a larger student body of around 60,046, including 46,000 undergraduates.

UW has an urban, research-intensive campus with close industry and innovation connections. OSU has a spread-out campus with an active sports life and extensive community outreach throughout Ohio and the Midwest.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Admissions at the two universities are fairly competitive. UW has an acceptance rate of approximately 43%, while that of OSU is a mere 51%. Students admitted to UW usually score 1200–1453 SAT and 27–33 ACT, whereas students admitted at OSU have an average of 1330–1480 SAT and 29–32 ACT.

UW is test-blind for admissions, emphasizing holistic review and academic strength, particularly in the STEM disciplines. OSU is test-optional and places a high value on leadership, service, and academic excellence among a broad range of applicants.

Research Impact & Facilities

UW's research infrastructure comprises the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, UW Medicine, and the Clean Energy Institute, with more than $1.5 billion in annual research investment. It is among the top U.S. universities in federal research grants and innovation production.

OSU has ample research support in its Wexner Medical Center, College of Engineering, and Fisher College of Business, with prominent programs in agriculture, materials science, and public health. It has a strong research base and collaborations with industry, government, and community organizations.

Cost & Financial Aid

Both schools are public institutions and provide financial assistance, although UW is more so. UW's in-state tuition is approximately $11,524, while out-of-state tuition is $40,878, with the average net price being $11,023. OSU's in-state tuition is $11,826, and out-of-state tuition is $37,332, with a slightly larger average net price of $19,575.

UW provides higher average grants ($14,390) to the OSU ($11,791), although OSU aids more students (64% vs. 43%) with financial aid. UW's urban setting raises living expenses, while OSU's affordability favors in-state and local students.

Career Outcomes & Alumni Success

UW alumni have a median salary of $65,800 ten years following graduation, with excellent placement in tech, healthcare, engineering, and public policy. Top recruiters include Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, fueled by Seattle's thriving job market.

OSU alumni have a median income of $50,600, with business, healthcare, education, and government being among the strong areas. OSU has one of the largest alumni bases in the U.S., with over 475,000 members, with strong connections to employers such as Nationwide, JPMorgan Chase, and Honda.