Education at Penn State vs Ohio State: Which Degree Is Worth More in 2026?

The Quick Comparison

	Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	Ohio State University-Main Campus
Type	Public	Public
Location	University Park, PA	Columbus, OH
Median Salary	$0/yr	$0/yr
Annual Net Cost	$32,598/yr	$18,292/yr
4-Year Total Cost	$130,392	$73,168
Completion Rate	86%	88%
Value Score	6/100	6/100

Cost Breakdown

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus costs $32,598 per year after financial aid, totaling approximately $130,392 over four years. Ohio State University-Main Campus comes in at $18,292 per year, or $73,168 total.

That's a difference of $57,224 over four years. Ohio State University-Main Campus is the more affordable option.

Earnings After Graduation

Education graduates from Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus earn a median of $0 per year within one year of graduation. Graduates from Ohio State University-Main Campus earn $0.

Both programs produce graduates with similar earnings. Over a 10-year career, that difference compounds significantly.

The Verdict

Based on the Value Score — which factors in cost, earnings, break-even time, and completion rate — Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus delivers better overall value for a Education degree.

However, the "right" choice depends on your specific financial situation, career goals, and personal fit. A school that's cheaper but has lower earnings might still be the better choice if you graduate debt-free, and a more expensive school might be worth it if it opens specific career doors in your field.

Use the links below to see the full scorecard for each program, or use the compare tool to add a third school to the mix.