Ohio State Housing Costs

$3,070 Other Living Expenses Typical Cost

What Are the Living Expenses at Ohio State?

There are additional costs associated with college other than tuition. Find out below exactly how much you will be spending to attend Ohio State University-Main Campus.

On this page you will find:

Living Expenses Outline
Room & Board Trends and Total Expenses
Meal Plans and Housing Requirements
References

Living Expenses at Ohio State

This school bundles housing and dining options together into one package. The on-campus cost for any typical student was about $14,738 in 2026. All told, the average on-campus student at Ohio State University-Main Campus paid roughly $21,908 in 2026 once room, board, books and other living expenses are included.

The following table outlines average expected costs for both on-campus and off-campus housing, meals and other expenses at Ohio State University-Main Campus.

Expense	On Campus	Off Campus
Room and Board	$17,808	$17,108
— Housing	$14,738
— Meals	$3,070
Other Living Expenses	$3,070	$3,294
Books and Supplies	$1,030	$1,030
Total	$21,908	$21,432

Room & Board Over Four Years? Projected Four-Year Total: $94,267

Tuition is not the only college cost that climbs each year — room and board does too. Looking at the trend gives you a realistic picture of what you will actually spend by graduation.

Over four years you could pay about $94,267 in room, board and other essentials.

See how housing and dining costs have changed over recent years and where they are trending at Ohio State University-Main Campus.

Year	Room & Board
Three Years Ago	$16,074
Two Years Ago	$16,688
One Year Ago	$17,342
Most Recent Year (2026)	$17,808
One Year From Now *	$18,448
Two Years From Now *	$19,111
Three Years From Now *	$19,798
Four Years From Now *	$20,510

* estimated

Most recently, on-campus costs increased an average of 3.6% per year. Carrying that rate forward one year puts on-campus living costs near $22,548 in housing, food and other costs their first year.

At this pace, a senior would spend approximately $24,610 in year four — and a two-year student about $23,211 by the end of a two-year program.

Over the entire degree (assuming you graduate on time), the total comes to about $94,267 over four years — compared with roughly $45,759 for two years on campus.