The Ohio State University is Ohio's flagship public research institution, founded in 1870 as a land-grant university. With over 66,000 students across six campuses, the university ranks among the top 20 public universities nationally and operates as a comprehensive institution spanning 14 colleges offering 175 undergraduate majors and 240 graduate and professional degree programmes.
Beyond its academic mission, Ohio State extends its research and knowledge services across the state through 88 Extension offices in every county, delivering community engagement and applied research to rural and urban areas. This statewide presence reflects the institution's land-grant heritage - a commitment to making knowledge and expertise accessible beyond campus boundaries.
The Wexner Medical Center serves as the university's academic medical centre, providing clinical care, medical education, and conducting research with particular strength in cancer research and treatment. The centre operates as a top-rated facility within the broader research ecosystem of the university, which encompasses work across sciences, engineering, medicine, agriculture, and other domains.
The institution positions itself as a model 21st-century public research university combining traditional academic excellence with active community engagement and urban focus. Its structure - balancing residential undergraduate education, advanced research programmes, clinical care delivery, and statewide extension work - reflects a commitment to developing leaders whilst advancing knowledge in service of both local and global communities.