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- calendar_today October 11, 2026
Ohio State University Achieves Record Enrollment in Autumn 2026
The Ohio State University has announced that its total enrollment has climbed to 68,183 for autumn 2026, representing a 1.4% increase over the previous year. The Columbus campus reached a record high with 62,010 students and also broke records for undergraduate enrollment at 47,308 students.
Growth Across Columbus and Regional Campuses
Columbus campus enrollment is central to ohio state enrollment trends, with a 1.1% growth year over year. The number of new first-year students on the Columbus campus rose to 8,585, up by 375 compared to the prior year. Of these new first-year enrollments, 70% are Ohio residents.
Regional campuses have also shown considerable growth. Total regional campuses enrollment increased by 4.1% to 6,173 students. Notably, new first-year enrollment on regional locations reached 3,256—a 6.1% rise over the preceding year and a 22% jump over two years.
Expanding Access Through Tuition-Free Opportunities
Autumn 2026 marked the introduction of the Regional Campus Commitment, a tuition free program for eligible new first-year students. Students enrolling at campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Marion, Newark, or Ohio State ATI in Wooster—whose family incomes fall below $100,000 and who demonstrate financial need—can now attend without paying tuition or mandatory fees.
Academic Strength and Student Retention
The incoming class at Ohio State maintains a strong academic profile with an average ACT score of 28.6 and SAT score of 1300. The student retention rate, a key indicator of success, has increased on the Columbus campus, now standing at 93.9%—up from 93.5% the previous year. Retention rates have also improved on nearly all regional campuses.
Graduate, Professional, and Online Enrollment Trends
Graduate enrollment remained stable at 11,427 students. Professional student enrollment increased slightly to 3,281—up 1.3% year over year. Online education is experiencing robust growth; online student enrollment at Ohio State grew by 884 students to a total of 4,196, a 26.7% increase from the previous year.
Student Success Initiatives and New Programs
President Ravi V. Bellamkonda highlighted new student success initiatives and partnerships in his recent State of the University address. A new collaboration with Google Public Sector will provide student ambassadors opportunities to work with on-campus Google researchers. The buildx startup program combines practical startup experience, rapid experimentation, and mentorship from experienced founders, operators, and investors to help students develop scalable ventures. The university also continues to expand programs intended to increase AI proficiency relevant to students’ academic and professional fields.
Looking Ahead
Ohio State’s continuing enrollment gains reflect not only the university’s growing appeal but also an ongoing commitment to expanding access, supporting student achievement, and offering innovative learning experiences across its campuses and online platforms.
Source: news.osu.edu.
