OSU or MIAMI-OXFORD?

PennilessParent
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:42:27 +0000

Pretty hard to compare since they are so different (other than both being public). Both ranked in the middle on the USNews top 100 in the 2007 edition that we looked at last year. I don’t know how they stack up now, but I know OSU has been improving it’s reputation and rankings every year.

My simplified view is that MUO is small(ish), rural, postcard-pretty, liberal arts and sciences and uniform (white, upperclass, preppy). OSU is huge, urban(ish), attractive (but not as pretty as MUO), research-oriented and diverse.

We looked at both last year. I loved the look of MUO, but my DS favored OSU for the diversity, the range of academic opportunities and the overall feel of the place (he wanted a campus in a more urban environment). MUO is a lovely place, but it is in the middle of nowhere. OSU was also more generous in merit aid in our case, but that varies by person and your experience may vary.

In short, both are great schools. Go with your gut.