FOOTBALL
Where Ohio State ranks academically among Big Ten schools in 2026
Dan AulbachColumbus Dispatch
Updated July 21, 2026, 7:18 a.m. ET
Ohio State football is among the best in the Big Ten on the field, but where does the university rank academically?
The Best National Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report has been released for 2026 and Ohio State is No. 41. That means the Buckeyes’ academic ranking is seventh among Big Ten schools. Northwestern earned the highest spot on the list at No. 7
Ohio State’s rival Michigan is ranked third in the Big Ten academically and No. 20 nationally. Sandwiched between the Wildcats and Wolverines? UCLA is second in the conference and No. 17 in the United States
Among the “Top Public Schools” list from U.S. News, Ohio State ranks No. 15
Ohio State athletes have done their part in the classroom, posting a multiyear average Academic Progress Rate of 991 since the 2021-22 academic year. The football team, meanwhile, is one of two Division I programs with a multiyear score of 1,000, according to a release from the school. Per the NCAA, a score close to 1,000 “indicates strong academic performance and retention.”
Nine Ohio State athletic programs had perfect multiyear scores: men’s and women’s cross country, men’s golf, field hockey, women’s gymnastics, women’s soccer, women’s tennis, women’s volleyball and football
Ohio State received the highest ranking of any in-state school on the U.S. News & World Report list
Big Ten programs ranked by academics
- Northwestern: No. 7
- UCLA: No. 17
- Michigan: No. 20
- Southern California: No. 28
- Illinois: No. 36 (tie)
- Wisconsin: No. 36 (tie)
- Ohio State: No. 41
- Rutgers: No. 42 (tied)
- Maryland: No. 42 (tie)
- Washington: No. 42 (tie)
- Purdue: No. 46 (tie)
- Penn State: No. 59 (tie)
- Minnesota: No. 59 (tie)
- Michigan State: No. 64 (tie)
- Indiana: No. 73 (tie)
- Iowa: No. 102 (tie)
- Oregon: No. 110 (tie)
- Nebraska: No. 158 (tie)
