Ohio State maintains position as one of nation’s top public universities in new rankings

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Ohio State maintains position as one of nation's top public universities in new rankings

Undergraduate nursing, supply chain management programs rank in top 10 nationally

The Ohio State University has maintained its position among the top-ranked public universities in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Ohio State ranked 15th among public universities and 41st in the nation in the magazine's 2026 Best Collegesrankings released today. That's the same position as the 2025 rankings.

"This ranking confirms what we know about our university - that Ohio State's focus on academic excellence, investment in eminent faculty, and commitment to affordability and accessibility for every student puts us in the top tier of American public higher education," said President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. "I'm especially excited about the opportunities ahead to achieve an even higher level of excellence as outlined in our bold new strategic plan. An excellent Ohio State is good for students and families, it's good for our communities, and it's good for the strength and competitiveness of the workforce."

In addition to the overall rankings, the university continues to be rated among the top 10 in a variety of academic programs. The College of Nursing's Bachelor of Science in Nursingprogram is ranked first among public universities and 4th nationally.

In the Fisher College of Business, the undergraduate business program ranked 6th among public universities and 12th nationally. The supply chain management/logistics program ranks 4th among public universities and 5th nationally. The production operations management program ranks 9th among public universities and 12th nationally.

The undergraduate engineering degree program in the College of Engineering was ranked 15th among public universities and 28th in the nation.

Ohio State remains among the top universities for commitment to military-connected students, maintaining its position from the 2025 rankings. The new report ranks the university 15th among public institutions and 22nd nationally.

The university's new strategic plan sets a goal for Ohio State to become the top university in the nation for veterans. Carter, a U.S. Navy veteran, said Ohio State should be the first choice and gold standard for every veteran in America seeking postsecondary education, career transition and lifelong well-being.

Ohio State ranks 21st among public universities and 42nd nationally among the Most Innovative Schools. The category ranks innovative improvements in curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.

Now in its 41st year, the Best Colleges issue evaluates nearly 1,500 colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality. Ohio State is ranked in a peer group of more than 400 national universities.

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