Ohio State vs University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
Ohio State University-Main Campus and University of Alabama at Birmingham, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Ohio State, a public research university, boasts a sprawling campus in Columbus, Ohio, while UAB, also a public research university, resides in the vibrant city of Birmingham, Alabama. With acceptance rates of 52% and 73%, respectively, both universities welcome a diverse student body. Ohio State's larger student population of over 60,000 dwarfs UAB's 19,000, creating different campus dynamics. While Ohio State excels in fields like engineering, business, and health sciences, UAB shines in nursing, public health, and biomedical sciences. Explore the detailed comparison table to uncover further distinctions between these two exceptional universities and determine which aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Ohio State University-Main Campus |
![]() University of Alabama at Birmingham |
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Overview |
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Location | Columbus, Ohio | Birmingham, Alabama |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 94.0% | 84.0% |
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No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 57.2% | 88.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
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Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1250 - 1440 | 1173 - 1388 |
ACT range | 26 - 32 | 23 - 30 |
Students submitting SAT score | 21.0% | 7.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 64.0% | 65.0% |
Total number of applicants | 58,180 | 11,906 |
Total number of admissions given out | 33,269 | 10,541 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 8,423 | 2,415 |
Yield rate | 25.3% | 22.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$27,796
Out of state:
$50,879
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In state:
$27,630
Out of state:
$39,462
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Average net price | $19,474 | $16,990 |
Tuition |
In state:
$11,018
Out of state:
$34,101
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In state:
$8,568
Out of state:
$20,400
|
Room & board | $13,392 |
Room/dormitory:
$7,767
Meal plan:
$4,540
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
72.0%
Average amount $11,830 |
93.0%
Average amount $10,940 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
36.0%
Average amount $5,228 |
46.0%
Average amount $5,208 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $17,841 |
5.0%
Average amount $14,247 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
47,106
Men 50.3% Women 49.7% |
13,547
Men 37.9% Women 62.1% |
Graduate students |
14,571
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
8,742
Men 34.1% Women 65.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 25.1% | 16.8% |
International students | 9.1% | 5.0% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 15,129 | 3,480 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Ohio New York Illinois New Jersey Pennsylvania | Alabama Georgia Tennessee Louisiana Florida |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 19:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 88.0% | 62.4% |
Dropout rate | 3.8% | 16.5% |
Transferred out | 7.1% | 17.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Dentistry (Master's Degrees)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
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Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Systems Science and Theory (Master's Degrees)
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
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