University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign vs Ohio State University

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign vs Ohio State University

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

Both Ohio State University (OSU) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) are major U.S. public research universities with good reputations, although UIUC generally ranks higher in international rankings. According to the QS World University Rankings 2026, UIUC is 70th, and OSU is 190th. Based on the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, UIUC ranks at 46, while OSU ranks at 116. OSU is, however, stronger in the U.S. News Global Rankings 2026, ranking 66 against UIUC's 109. UIUC is well-known globally for its excellence in engineering, computer science, and business, while OSU is highly regarded in medicine, law, social sciences, and policy research.

General Information

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, established in 1867, is a public flagship research university in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. It has over 34,000 undergraduate students and belongs to the Big Ten Conference. The university is particularly famous for its top-ranked programs in engineering, computer science, and agriculture, and it boasts one of the largest populations of international students in the U.S.

Ohio State University, founded in 1870 in Columbus, Ohio, is among the nation's largest universities, with approximately 47,000 undergraduate students. OSU is an extensive research university with broad-based strengths in business, medicine, public affairs, and law, along with one of the most renowned athletic programs in American higher education.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Admissions selectivity between the two is different. UIUC has an acceptance rate of 43.7%, making it somewhat competitive, particularly in highly sought majors such as engineering and computer science. Ohio State University is slightly higher at 50.8%, so it is somewhat less selective, although the most competitive programs it has, including health sciences and business, are still selective.

Research Impact & Facilities

Both universities are R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity. UIUC is world-famous for innovative research in STEM, artificial intelligence, agriculture, and data science, abetted by resources such as the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). OSU boasts a very extensive research profile, with special highlight in healthcare, public policy, law, and social sciences, and its Wexner Medical Center among the leading academic medical centers in the nation.

Cost & Financial Aid

As large public universities, both OSU and UIUC charge lower tuition rates for students residing in state than private schools, although rates for out-of-state and international students are significantly higher. Both institutions offer several scholarships, assistantships, and financial aid packages to assist students, although UIUC receives more research funding, which can offer extra opportunities for graduate and research students.

Career Outcomes & Alumni Success

UIUC graduates are very much coveted by the best companies, especially in the fields of technology and engineering, with numerous alumni employed at world leaders such as Google, Microsoft, and Intel. OSU, boasting a massive alumni base of more than 580,000 members, provides vast opportunities in a variety of industries, especially business, law, public affairs, and healthcare. Although UIUC graduates tend to excel in technical professions, OSU's graduates have the advantage of its extensive professional network and strong national presence.