OSU nears record enrollment, international students plummet
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Ohio State's fall 2026 enrollment of 68,183 is nearly a record. Photo: Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images
Ohio State University enrollment is up and nearly as high as it's ever been, but the school's makeup reflects a change in focus toward Ohio students amid tightening immigration policies.
Why it matters: OSU is one of the largest college campuses in the country, representing around 7% of Columbus' population.
- It's in an era of change under new president Ravi V. Bellamkonda.
Driving the news: The university released its annual enrollment census this week, breaking down the fall 2026 student body.
By the numbers: Total enrollment is 68,183, just shy of OSU's 2019 record.
- Enrollment of 62,010 on the main campus is a record high.
- Regional campus enrollment shot up 4% from last year.
The freshman class at the main campus increased by nearly 5% to 8,585.
- Of those first-year students, 70% are Ohio residents representing all 88 counties.
What they're saying: In his first State of the University address, Bellamkonda said he believes Ohio State "will become the finest public university in the country" and emphasized the importance of in-state students.
- He described wanting the undergraduate program to be "anchored" on the school's "Access to excellence" push, which has resulted in about 80% of first-year students receiving financial aid.
- That includes the Regional Campus Commitment program, announced last year, which covers tuition and fees for qualifying Ohio students with family incomes under $100,000.
Zoom out: The school's largest out-of-state populations come from New York, Illinois and New Jersey.
- China (2,558 students) dominates international numbers, followed by India (745) and South Korea (313).
International enrollment at the main campus is down nearly 13%, dropping for the second year in a row.
- In 2024, international students represented 7.6% of undergraduates and 10.2% of main campus.
- In 2026, those shares are down to 5.8% and 8.4%, with around 1,000 fewer total international students.
The big picture: International student populations are plummeting around the country amid stricter immigration policies and students losing their visas.