Study in Columbus, The United States

About Columbus

Columbus is the capital of the state of Ohio, in the Midwest of the United States, and lies in the centre of the state. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates its population at 933,263 in 2024, which makes it a large city by American standards. The Ohio State University describes the Columbus area as the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the Midwest.

Students choose Columbus for a big public research university set inside a large city, with jobs, internships and cultural life close to campus. Teaching is in English.

Studying in Columbus

Our directory lists two universities in Columbus.

The Ohio State University was established in 1870 and is a public land-grant university. Its largest campus is in Columbus; it also has regional campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Marion and Newark and an Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster. College Navigator, the U.S. Department of Education's college database, counts 61,443 students on the main campus, 46,815 of them undergraduates. The university has 18 colleges and schools and more than 200 majors, and says it has nearly 6,000 international students from over 100 countries.

Franklin University, founded in 1902, is a nonprofit university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with its main campus in downtown Columbus. It focuses on adult learners and working professionals and teaches many degrees online. College Navigator counts 9,457 students and no campus housing. Its Office of International Students and Programs supports students from over 60 countries, who study either as F-1 students in the United States or online from abroad.

Degree students from other countries usually need an F student visa. Once an SEVP-certified school has accepted you, its international student office sends the Form I-20 that you present when you apply for the visa, according to EducationUSA. The academic year usually runs from August to May.

Cost of living for students

Ohio State publishes estimated costs for international undergraduates for the 2026-27 academic year:

• Tuition, including instructional and general fees: $47,374
• Housing and food: $15,630
• Books, supplies and equipment: $1,020
• Health insurance: $4,108
• Miscellaneous personal expenses: $4,046

The tuition figure includes an annual International Undergraduate Student Fee of $3,103. International students are required to buy Ohio State student health insurance, and most first-year students on the Columbus campus must live on campus for their first two years. Franklin University has no campus housing, so its students rent privately.

Public transport is cheap. The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) charges $2.00 for a bus trip with free transfers for two hours, $4.50 for a day pass and $62.00 for a 31-day pass. With the Transit app or a COTA Smartcard, fares are capped at $4.50 per day or $62 per calendar month.

Getting around and daily life

Ohio State says students do not need a car on campus unless they commute: Columbus is walkable and bikeable, campus buses can be followed in the university's app, and the city has COTA buses, the CoGo bike share scheme and electric scooter rentals. COTA also runs CMAX, a rapid bus line.

The city's main airport is John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH), which lists more than 55 nonstop destinations. Ohio State's Student Life office provides airport shuttles for the major university breaks.

Columbus has cold winters and warm summers. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the airport give an average temperature of 29.6 °F (about -1 °C) in January and 75.4 °F (about 24 °C) in July.

Frequently asked questions

Which Columbus is this page about?

Columbus, the capital of the state of Ohio. Cities called Columbus in other U.S. states have their own pages.

Which universities are in Columbus?

Our directory lists The Ohio State University, a public university established in 1870, and Franklin University, a private nonprofit university founded in 1902.

How much does a year at Ohio State cost for an international student?

For 2026-27, Ohio State estimates $47,374 in tuition and fees and $15,630 for housing and food, plus books, health insurance ($4,108) and personal expenses.

How much is public transport in Columbus?

A COTA bus trip costs $2.00 and a 31-day pass $62.00; with the Transit app or a Smartcard you never pay more than $62 per calendar month.

Can I study online at Franklin University?

Yes. Franklin teaches many degrees online as well as at its downtown Columbus campus, and international students can study online from outside the United States or on an F-1 visa in Columbus.