Apply step-by-step
Follow these instructions if you are a U.S. resident applying to transfer to Ohio State.
If your immigration status has been deferred under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, read the information for DACA students, under "Undergraduate study."
Do not apply as a transfer student if:
You already attend Ohio State and want to change to a different Ohio State campus. Learn about your next steps at campuschange.osu.edu.
You want to take a class and transfer credit to another university. Follow the instructions at Additional types of applicants under "Undergraduate study."
You have not enrolled in a college or university after high school graduation.
Deadlines
Spring 2022 | Summer 2022 | Autumn 2022 | |
Application deadline | Columbus campus: Nov. 1, 2021 Regional campus: Dec. 1, 2021 | March 15, 2022 Regional campus: April 1, 2022 (after 4/1,
contact your regional campus directly) | Columbus campus: May 20, 2022 Regional campus: July 14, 2022 (after 7/14,
contact your regional campus directly) |
Priority date for financial aid | Feb. 1, 2021 | Feb. 1, 2022 | Feb. 1, 2022 |
Acceptance fee deadline | See your Acceptance Fee Statement | See your Acceptance Fee Statement | See your Acceptance Fee Statement |
Your academic record may be reviewed for enrollment to your intended major. Some colleges and schools at Ohio State require a minimum GPA, prerequisite course work and/or an audition or portfolio. Before you apply, look up the enrollment criteria for your intended major.
Interested in a professional program? If you already meet certain prerequisites, you may be able to apply directly to one of these programs.
Learn more about undergraduate professional programs.
Dental Hygiene (BS)
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (BS)
Health Information Management and Systems
Health Sciences
Medical Dietetics
Medical Laboratory Science
Radiological Sciences and Therapy
Respiratory Therapy
Health and Wellness Innovation in Healthcare (BS)
Nursing (BSN and RN-BSN)
Public Health (BS)
This application, the application fee or fee waiver, plus all required materials (STEP 4) make up a complete application.
APPLY HERE: Admission application for transfer students
Application prep
Be prepared for the following questions and prompts.
Your planned major
To learn more about Ohio State's majors, search Ohio State majors or read Undecided? if you're not sure what to major in.
Personal statement
Completing the personal statement is required for students whose academic records include interruptions in education. It is optional for others. Find the personal statement section under the “Program data” tab on the application.
Pre-professional programs
Ohio State offers pre-professional programs in dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine. Identifying your pre-professional interest on the application will enable your advisors to provide you with a wide range of support to realize your goals.
Application fee
Before submitting your application, you will be asked for a NONREFUNDABLE $60 application fee.
Ohio State accepts ACT, SAT and other fee waivers meant to assist low-income families.
Applicants receiving a Pell Grant are also eligible for a fee waiver (send us a copy of your financial aid award letter to verify this).
To request a waiver, check the box in the Application Fee Waiver section of the application indicating the program for which you qualify.
You will not be prompted to pay the application fee in order to submit the application.
Fee waiver requests will be verified by Undergraduate Admissions.
Do you need to supply your Social Security Number?
Supply your Social Security Number if you plan to file the FAFSA and want Ohio State to receive it, or if you are the child of an Ohio State employee using the Dependent Tuition Assistance program.
These items plus your admission application make up a complete application. Your academic record will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for admission to the university.
Official transcripts
University transcripts
Request that all colleges or universities you’ve attended send your official transcript to Ohio State. Include a transcript of any college coursework taken in high school. You do not need to provide a transcript for coursework completed at Ohio State.
How to send your transcripts to Ohio State:
If you attended an Ohio college or university, request that your transcript be sent electronically.
For other institutions, request electronic delivery if available to avoid processing delays. If ordering a transcript online, select The Ohio State University as a recipient. In the absence of a list of universities to select from, have your school email your encrypted transcript directly to esue-studugt@osu.edu.
If your school does not offer electronic delivery, please have your transcript(s) mailed to:
The Ohio State University
Undergraduate Admissions
PO Box 182646
Columbus, OH 43218-2646.
Transcripts should not be delivered by the student or sent to other addresses on campus. Doing so will prevent acceptance of the transcript as official.
If this coursework was completed at a school outside of the United States, note that foreign language documents must be translated into English by the issuing institution, an authorized translator or a teacher of the language. Any additional requirements will be posted to your Applicant Center, so be sure to check your application status regularly after you've applied.
Additional requirements if you have earned fewer than 30 semester (45 quarter) hours (earned post high school graduation)
High school transcripts
If you have fewer than 30 semester (45 quarter) hours at the time of application, your high school transcript is required. Request that your high school send your official high school transcript to Ohio State, electronically if possible. Faxed transcripts are not accepted.
High school transcripts are not required if you are applying to the Associate of Applied Science degree program at ATI.
High school transcripts are not required if you graduated from high school before April 1, 1984, and are applying to a regional campus.
Official ACT or SAT scores
Ohio State has adopted a TEST-OPTIONAL policy for 2022 and 2023 applicants. Please read the Testing FAQs.
If you have fewer than 30 semester (45 quarter) hours at the time of application, you must submit an official ACT or SATscore sent directly from the testing agency.
If you are a homeschooled student applying to a regional campus, you must have your ACT or SAT score sent to Ohio State directly from the testing agency.
Scores are not required from applicants applying to a regional campus or from applicants who will have been out of high school for two or more years by their term of enrollment.
Is the essay required? The essay is not required for either the ACT or SAT.
Additional test scores
If English is not your native language, submit one of the following scores:
TOEFL (internet-based test or internet-based test Home Edition*): 79 or higher
IELTS or IELTS Indicator*: 6.5 or higher
ACT: 21 or higher on the English section
SAT: 27 or higher on the Reading Test
Duolingo*: 105 or higher
You are exempt from this requirement if you have completed three full years of school at a U.S. regionally accredited high school or if you are a citizen of, or have received a bachelor’s degree from, Australia, Belize, British Caribbean, British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Scotland, the United States or Wales.
Ohio State has an intensive English program for students who wish to improve their language skills called the American Language Program. A separate application is required for this program. Ohio State does not offer conditional admission to students who enroll in the American Language Program.
*To accommodate applicants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Ohio State University will accept Duolingo, the IELTS Indicator and the TOEFL internet-based test Home Edition from any international student applying for spring 2022 or autumn 2022 admission. All Duolingo test takers are required to take an English placement exam upon arrival to campus. TOEFL Home Edition and IELTS Indicator test takers are required to take an English placement exam upon arrival unless they qualify for a TOEFL or IELTS score exemption.
Transfer credit
Course credit will transfer to Ohio State if the course was taken at a regionally accredited institution, the course was non-remedial, and you received a C- or better. In a few cases, a D or D+ may transfer; download Transfer Credit Policy and see page 7 for information.
In many cases, credit for equivalent courses is received when transfer credit is awarded. Visit transferology.com for details about the transferability of course credit to and from Ohio and regional institutions.
Ohio State offers credit for Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and DSST Exams. Visit go.osu.edu/creditbyexam for more information.
Military transfer credit will be accepted according to the American Council on Education’s recommendation, as listed on the Joint Services Transcript. Individual colleges determine how this credit is applied. Get admissions information for veterans.
Don't forget financial aid
The FAFSA is available on October 1 each year, and filing by Ohio State’s priority date of February 1 will provide you maximum aid consideration. Every student is highly encouraged to file the FAFSA to be considered for the most financial aid, including scholarships, grants, loans and Federal Work-Study. Get important dates and simple steps for applying for aid.
Note: Federal student aid does not automatically transfer between institutions. If you are admitted, be prepared to cancel federal aid disbursements at your previous school and update your FAFSA to include The Ohio State University.

How much does Ohio State cost? Click for tuition and fees.
Learn about housing for transfer students.
Interested in a professional program? If you already meet certain prerequisites, you may be able to apply directly to one of these undergraduate professional programs:
Dental Hygiene (BS)
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (BS)
Health and Wellness Innovation in Healthcare (BS)
Nursing (BSN and RN-BSN)
Public Health (BS)