Highly talented Ohio students learn they are Buckeye-bound

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Highly talented Ohio students learn they are Buckeye-bound

Early actions admissions decisions announced

More than 10,600 Ohio high school students learned they have been admitted to The Ohio State University Columbus campus this week as the university announced admissions decisions for students who applied by the early action deadline.

The university prioritized admission decisions for Ohio residents who applied by the Nov. 1 deadline. Students from all 88 counties and more than 750 schools were part of this first admissions announcement. More than 1,700 students admitted to the Columbus campus were first-generation college students. These students will form the backbone of the class admitted to Ohio State in the fall of 2026.

"We are excited to welcome these future Buckeyes to Ohio State. They represent students from across the state who are academically gifted and expressed an early interest in our university," said Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda. "I look forward to welcoming this new class in the autumn.

The admitted class includes 184 students who earned a perfect ACT or SAT score. These students stand to benefit from a new program that is part of the university's Education for Citizenship 2035 Strategic Plan.

In September, Ohio State President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. announced the President's Scholars Program will provide full-cost-of-attendance scholarships and academic support to Ohio students who score a perfect 36 on the ACT or a perfect 1600 on the SAT. It was one of three new scholarship programs to expand access and opportunity for more Ohio students.

More than 1,435 students applied and were admitted to the Columbus campus through the Ohio Guaranteed Admission program, which guarantees admission to the top 5% of their class to the main campus of any Ohio public college or university, provided they meet application requirements.

The program builds on the Governor's Merit Scholarship program, which is designed to provide up to $5,000 per year in financial assistance to high school seniors who are identified as graduating in the top 5% of their class. This financial assistance has been successful in encouraging Ohio's top graduating high school students to remain in Ohio for their postsecondary education.

Students can learn more about their status at the applicant center portal. All non-Ohio residents and international applicants who applied for early action will receive admissions decisions on Jan. 23.

Admitted students have until May 1 to pay their acceptance fee.

Students interested in attending Ohio State on the Columbus campus in autumn 2026 still have time to apply by Jan. 15. Students who apply by Jan. 15 will receive their admission decision on March 6.

Ohio State continues to admit students and offer admission opportunities at its regional campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Marion and Newark and Ohio State ATI in Wooster throughout the admissions cycle from October through July. Eligible low- to middle-income students who enroll on one of these campuses will qualify for the new Regional Campus Commitment, which covers all tuition and mandatory fees.

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