University of Cincinnati campus
Cincinnati, United States
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University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati·university

#721-730

QS Rank

76%

Acceptance rate

$29,728

Tuition/yr

46,000

Enrollment

About University of Cincinnati

Public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Strong engineering, business, and education programs.

The University of Cincinnati (UC) is a public research university founded in 1819, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It enrolls over 53,000 students across its main Uptown campus and regional campuses, making it one of the largest universities in the Midwest. The Carnegie Commission classifies it as a Research Extensive University, and it ranks among America's top 25 public research universities.

UC is best known as the birthplace of cooperative education: its mandatory co-op program, ranked #4 nationally, places students in paid, full-time work terms with over 1,700 employers including Google, Nike, Tesla, and NASA. Engineering, business, design, nursing, and health sciences are among its strongest colleges. Co-op students earn an average of $11,220 per semester, and 98% of graduates are employed or enrolled in further study within a short time of finishing.

The main Uptown campus sits in a walkable urban neighborhood about 3 km from downtown Cincinnati, a mid-sized city on the Ohio River. Cincinnati has a relatively moderate cost of living compared to major US tech hubs. UC's QS World University Ranking for 2026 places it in the 721–730 band globally.

World University Rankings

QS World University Rankings (2026)#721-730

Campus & Location

Province

OH

Campus setting

Suburban

Cost of living: Housing: USD 900–1,400/mo. Food: USD 350–550/mo. Affordable Ohio city; strong co-op programme culture. P&G, Kroger, and Cintas headquarters.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.

For Nepali students

  • UC's mandatory co-op program authorizes paid work through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) on an F-1 visa, letting Nepali students earn US work experience and income before graduation, reducing loan burden and building a resume that supports OPT and H-1B pathways after completing their degree.
  • The International Outreach Award automatically considers all admitted international undergraduates and provides up to $15,000 per year toward the non-resident surcharge, with no separate application required; a student with a 3.0+ GPA who applies by the priority deadline can meaningfully reduce the roughly $29,700 annual tuition.
  • Engineering, IT, and health sciences programs align well with the academic backgrounds and career goals common among Nepali students, and the co-op structure means graduates enter the job market with an average of three to five paid work terms on their resume.
  • Cincinnati's cost of living is lower than cities like Boston or San Francisco, and the university's size (53,000 students) supports a diverse international community with approximately 2,977 international students, giving Nepali students access to South Asian student organizations and multicultural support services.

Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents

A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:

GPA 3.060%+ in NEB +2, B+ average in Cambridge A-levels, or Second Division in a TU bachelor's degree.
GPA 3.370%+ in NEB +2 or First Division in a TU bachelor's degree.
GPA 3.675%+ in NEB +2 or First Division with Distinction in a TU bachelor's degree.
IELTS 6.5The most common graduate minimum — achievable with 2–3 months of focused preparation. IELTS 7.0+ needed for the most competitive programs.

Use our GPA converter to translate your exact score to the 4.0 scale.

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Data last verified: 2026-06-19 · Source: https://www.uc.edu. Information may change — verify with University of Cincinnati’s official website before applying.