OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate majors, as well as a Personalized Study Program where students can design a nontraditional education. The university also offers a variety of graduate programs through such highly ranked schools as the College of Education and Human Ecology, Max M. Fisher College of Business and College of Medicine. Students can participate in more than 1,000 on-campus clubs and organizations, including more than 60 fraternities and sororities, or volunteer through the Pay It Forward program. Sports are a big part of campus life, with the Ohio State Buckeyes competing in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference. All freshmen must live on campus, unless they are from Central Ohio and can commute. Students can also study abroad in more than 75 countries through OSU.

Purdue University's West Lafayette, Indiana, campus is the main campus in the Purdue University system, which encompasses four other campuses throughout the state. About 20 percent of students are affiliated with Greek life, and Purdue offers a wide range of activities and organizations. Performance groups include the "All American" Marching Band, six jazz bands and two symphony orchestras. The Boilermakers, Purdues athletic teams, compete in the Division I Big Ten Conference and are well known for their dominant mens and womens basketball teams. The Boilermaker Special, Purdues official mascot, is a railroad locomotive cared for and maintained by the student-run Purdue Reamer Club. Although no students are required to live in university housing, about one-third of undergraduates live on campus.Purdue is made up of 13 schools and colleges, many of which serve both undergraduate and graduate students. Professional and graduate programs include the well-ranked College of Engineering, Krannert School of Management, College of Education and College of Pharmacy. Purdues esteemed School of Aeronautics and Astronautics within the College of Engineering has acquired the nickname "Cradle of Astronauts." One popular university tradition: many students mark the beginning and end of their time at Purdue by running through any of the five campus fountains. Notable alumni include legendary college basketball coach and player John Wooden, popcorn entrepreneur Orville Redenbacher and the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong.