OSU earned the inaugural Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The award is given to colleges and universities that demonstrate outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The university was featured in the December 2012 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, along with other winners of the award. It has repeatedly earned the award since then.

The magazine selected OSU based on the institution's initiatives that involve several aspects of diversity, including gender, race, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities and members of the LGBT community.