Student Population At Ohio State University: How Big?

what is the student population at ohio state university

The Ohio State University (OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. It is one of the largest universities in the United States by enrolment, with nearly 50,000 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students. The university consists of sixteen colleges and offers over 400 degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2024, the university announced a record first-year class of 9,530 students on the main campus, with a total enrolment of 66,901 students. The student population is diverse, with a mix of races and ethnicities, and the gender distribution is relatively balanced, with a slight majority of female students.

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Total student population: 66,901

The Ohio State University (OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. It is one of the largest universities in the United States by enrolment, with a total student population of 66,901 as of 2024. This number is a 2.3% increase from 2023.

The student population is comprised of 45,728 undergraduates and nearly 15,000 graduate students. The gender distribution of the undergraduate population is 49.6% male and 50.4% female, while the overall gender distribution of degree recipients is 53.6% female and 46.4% male.

The racial composition of the student body at OSU is predominantly White (59.9%), with Asian students forming the second-largest group (9.31%). Black or African American students make up 7.67% of the student population, followed by Hispanic or Latino students at 5.72%. Additionally, 4.35% of students identify as belonging to two or more races, 0.0616% as American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.04% as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders.

The university consists of sixteen colleges and offers over 400 degree programmes at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2023, the most popular Bachelor's degree concentrations at OSU were General Finance, Experimental Psychology, and Speech Communication & Rhetoric.

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Undergraduate population: 45,728

The Ohio State University (OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, with nearly 50,000 undergraduate students and nearly 15,000 graduate students. The total undergraduate population at OSU is 45,728, with a gender distribution of 49.6% male students and 50.4% female students. The university's ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #41. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,244, while out-of-state tuition and fees are $40,022. The median undergraduate tuition at OSU is $11,826, which is significantly lower than the national average for Doctoral Universities, which is $31,004.

In 2023, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at OSU were General Finance (817 degrees awarded), Experimental Psychology (646 degrees), and Speech Communication & Rhetoric (478 degrees). That year, a total of 16,837 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs, with 53.6% of these degrees awarded to women and 46.4% to men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (10,682 degrees), followed by Asian (1,296 degrees).

The enrolled student population at OSU is diverse, with 59.9% identifying as White, 9.31% as Asian, 7.67% as Black or African American, 5.72% as Hispanic or Latino, 4.35% as Two or More Races, 0.0616% as American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.04% as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. Additionally, 3.1% of students did not report their race. The university consists of sixteen colleges and offers over 400 degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

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Graduate population: 11,408

The Ohio State University (OSU) is a public land-grant research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It is one of the largest universities in the United States by enrollment, with nearly 50,000 undergraduate and around 15,000 graduate students. The graduate student population at OSU reached a record high of 11,408 in 2024, a 2.3% increase from the previous year. This large graduate student body reflects the university's focus on research and its classification as an "R1: Doctoral University" with "very high research activity".

The graduate student population at OSU is diverse, with a mix of full-time and part-time students from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. The majority of graduate students at OSU are enrolled in full-time programs, and the most common demographic group among them are White females, followed by White males and Asian females. The university's overall student population, including both undergraduate and graduate students, is predominantly White (59.9%), with Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and other racial groups comprising smaller percentages.

OSU's graduate programs attract students from various academic backgrounds and interests. The university consists of sixteen colleges and offers over 400 degree programs at the graduate level. In 2023, a total of 16,837 degrees were awarded across all graduate programs, with 53.6% of these degrees earned by women. The median graduate tuition at OSU is significantly lower than the national average for Doctoral Universities, making it an affordable option for many students.

The high enrollment numbers at OSU, including the large graduate student population, contribute to the university's vibrant and diverse community. The university's regional campuses, such as the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Wooster campus, also attract a significant number of graduate students, fostering a distributed community of scholars across Ohio. OSU's reputation for academic excellence and affordability continues to make it a top choice for students seeking graduate education.

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Racial demographics

The Ohio State University (OSU) has a long history of racial segregation and a lack of racial equity. In 1911, the university's president, Thompson, expressed doubts about social equality between "coloured people" and whites, and the university practised racial segregation at the time. Despite comprising more than 12% of Ohio's residents, less than 7% of OSU students identify as African-American. The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law launched the REASON Project to address the enduring disconnect between the racial makeup of flagship universities and that of their home states, with OSU as one of its targets.

OSU's student population of nearly 50,000 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students is predominantly white, with 59.9% of the student body identifying as white, 9.31% as Asian, 7.67% as Black or African American, 5.72% as Hispanic or Latino, 4.35% as two or more races, 0.0616% as American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.04% as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. The high percentage of white students reflects the demographics of Ohio, where 74.5% of public high school graduates identify as white. However, the representation of Black students at OSU falls short of their proportion in the state, which stands at 14.3%.

Latinx and Asian students are overrepresented at OSU compared to their numbers in the state's high school graduate population. For full-time transfers, 67.0% of students are white, followed by 10.3% who are Black, 6.1% who are Asian, and 5.1% who are Latinx. There is a negligible number of full-time transfer students identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.

Among full-time undergraduate students, the demographic breakdown by gender reveals that 31.6% are white females, 30.7% are white males, and 4.84% are Asian males. In graduate programs, 33.9% of students are white females, 19.3% are white males, and 4.88% are Asian females. Overall, 53.6% of degree recipients in 2023 were women, with white students making up the majority of recipients with 10,682 degrees, followed by Asian students with 1,296 degrees.

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Gender distribution: 49.6% male, 50.4% female

The Ohio State University (OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. It is one of the largest universities by enrollment in the United States, with nearly 50,000 undergraduate students and nearly 15,000 graduate students. The gender distribution of the student population is 49.6% male and 50.4% female. This small difference between the two genders indicates a fairly equal balance of males and females at the university.

The gender distribution at OSU is reflective of a broader trend in higher education. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of female students pursuing post-secondary education. This shift towards greater gender equality in higher education is not limited to OSU or the United States but is a global phenomenon.

A variety of factors may have contributed to the slight female majority at OSU. One possible factor is the perception of certain subjects or fields of study as being more traditionally "masculine" or "feminine". For example, fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have historically been dominated by men, while fields like humanities, social sciences, and education have tended to attract more women.

Another factor that may influence gender distribution is the availability and accessibility of financial aid and scholarships. Female students may be more likely to pursue post-secondary education if they have access to financial support, such as grants, scholarships, or loans. At OSU, 62% of undergraduate students received financial aid through grants, and 30% received aid through loans in 2023. Such financial assistance can play a significant role in enabling women to access higher education.

Additionally, it is worth considering the impact of cultural and societal influences on gender distribution in higher education. Social expectations and norms surrounding gender roles and education can vary across different communities and backgrounds. For instance, certain cultural groups may encourage and prioritize education for women, while others may emphasize different paths or expectations for their female members. These cultural factors can influence the decisions of prospective students and shape the gender dynamics within university environments.

Frequently asked questions

The total student population at Ohio State University is 66,901, as of 2024.

The gender distribution of the student population at Ohio State University is 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

The racial distribution of the student population at Ohio State University is 59.9% White, 9.31% Asian, 7.67% Black or African American, 5.72% Hispanic or Latino, 4.35% Two or More Races, 0.0616% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.04% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

The undergraduate student population at Ohio State University is around 50,000.

The graduate student population at Ohio State University is around 15,000.

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