The Ohio State University AI Policy for College Applications
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L0 (unchanged)
Disclosure: D0 (unchanged)
Enforcement: E1 → E0 (Unknown policy)
This school updated their AI admissions policy between our September 2025 and February 2026 reviews.
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at The Ohio State University?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: No explicit policy (No explicit policy)
- •Graduate and Professional Admissions: Brainstorming only
Last verified: 2026-02-17 • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Grammar and spell-checking tools
- Getting human feedback on drafts
✗Avoid
- Submitting AI-generated paragraphs as your own
💡No explicit policy doesn't mean AI is allowed — err on the side of caution
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“No AI-specific admissions essay policy found on undergraduate admissions website”
— Application Information: Step-by-Step - Columbus Campus First-Years(Verified: Feb 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
Graduate and Professional Admissions
“You are responsible for developing your own ideas in your statement of purpose, admissions essay and CV.”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: statements of purpose, admissions essays, CVs
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | No explicit policy | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
| Graduate and Professional Admissions | Brainstorming only | No disclosure required | E0 • No enforcement stated |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (11)
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply
- https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus/apply-step-by-step
- https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/freshmen-columbus
- https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/transfer/apply-step-by-step
- https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply/parents-FAQ
- https://gpadmissions.osu.edu/grad/prepare-required-materials.html
- https://gpadmissions.osu.edu/prof/prepare-required-materials.html
- https://gpadmissions.osu.edu/grad/steps-to-apply.html
- https://ai.osu.edu/resources-buckeyes/responsible-use
- https://oaa.osu.edu/artificial-intelligence-and-academic-integrity
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L0 | D0 | E0 | High |
| 2025-09-19 | L0 | D0 | E1 | High |
Additional Context
Ohio State has no explicit AI policy for undergraduate admissions essays. The undergraduate admissions pages (apply step-by-step, FAQ, transfer) make no mention of AI. For graduate and professional admissions, the 'Prepare Required Materials' page states applicants are responsible for developing their own ideas and advises checking with the specific program about AI use, which functions as a cautious L3-level policy delegating final authority to individual programs. The university has a major AI Fluency initiative (class of 2029 onward) but this is curricular, not admissions-related. General academic integrity policies reference fairness and honesty but do not specifically address AI in admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Ohio State University allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to The Ohio State University?
How does The Ohio State University check for AI?
Which The Ohio State University programs have different AI policies?
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