Best Colleges in Ohio
Considering going to college in Ohio? Discover the best colleges in Ohio, plus the cost of college and admission rates of each school.Why Trust BestColleges
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Did you know that over 380,000 students attend college in Ohio? That’s because the Buckeye State is a great place to earn a degree.
Whether you’re looking for a liberal arts college in a small town or a major research university in a city, you can find your dream college experience in Ohio.
Check out our list of the top colleges in Ohio to learn more. Then, explore dozens of colleges in Ohio and learn about tuition costs so you can choose the right school for you.
Featured Online Programs
Top 10 Colleges in Ohio
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH4 yearCampus + Online
$10,615
$32,599
68%
94%
$11,560
$36,276
94%
61,369
Public
Yes
$10,615
$32,599
Columbus, OH4 yearCampus + Online
$10,615
$32,599
68%
94%
$11,560
$36,276
94%
61,369
Public
Yes
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH4 yearCampus
$57,654
$57,654
35%
N/A
$28,827
$28,827
83%
2,658
Private
Yes
$57,654
$57,654
Oberlin, OH4 yearCampus
$57,654
$57,654
35%
N/A
$28,827
$28,827
83%
2,658
Private
Yes
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH4 yearCampus + Online
$52,448
$52,448
30%
9%
$47,920
$47,920
93%
11,465
Private
Yes
$52,448
$52,448
Cleveland, OH4 yearCampus + Online
$52,448
$52,448
30%
9%
$47,920
$47,920
93%
11,465
Private
Yes
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH4 yearCampus
$54,720
$54,720
37%
77%
N/A
N/A
89%
1,615
Private
Yes
$54,720
$54,720
Gambier, OH4 yearCampus
$54,720
$54,720
37%
77%
N/A
N/A
89%
1,615
Private
Yes
Miami University
Oxford, OH4 yearCampus + Online
$12,637
$32,464
92%
15%
$12,554
$30,646
88%
18,880
Public
Yes
$12,637
$32,464
Oxford, OH4 yearCampus + Online
$12,637
$32,464
92%
15%
$12,554
$30,646
88%
18,880
Public
Yes
Denison University
Granville, OH4 yearCampus
$55,420
$55,420
28%
16%
N/A
N/A
85%
2,258
Private
Yes
$55,420
$55,420
Granville, OH4 yearCampus
$55,420
$55,420
28%
16%
N/A
N/A
85%
2,258
Private
Yes
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH4 yearCampus + Online
$9,723
$25,057
76%
90%
$13,224
$24,966
88%
40,826
Public
Yes
$9,723
$25,057
Cincinnati, OH4 yearCampus + Online
$9,723
$25,057
76%
90%
$13,224
$24,966
88%
40,826
Public
Yes
The College of Wooster
Wooster, OH4 yearCampus
$53,550
$53,550
65%
100%
N/A
N/A
87%
1,924
Private
Yes
$53,550
$53,550
Wooster, OH4 yearCampus
$53,550
$53,550
65%
100%
N/A
N/A
87%
1,924
Private
Yes
Ohio Northern University
Ada, OH4 yearCampus
$33,470
$33,470
65%
28%
$29,250
$29,250
84%
2,817
Private
Yes
$33,470
$33,470
Ada, OH4 yearCampus
$33,470
$33,470
65%
28%
$29,250
$29,250
84%
2,817
Private
Yes
Ohio University
Athens, OH4 yearCampus + Online
$12,612
$22,406
87%
87%
$9,444
$17,436
81%
25,714
Public
Yes
$12,612
$22,406
Athens, OH4 yearCampus + Online
$12,612
$22,406
87%
87%
$9,444
$17,436
81%
25,714
Public
Yes
List of All Colleges in Ohio
We’ve created a complete list of all four-year nonprofit universities in Ohio. You can use the table below to compare data on student population, average net cost, acceptance rate, and number of applicants.
The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) from the 2022-23 academic year. Note that schools with fewer than 500 undergraduates were not included in this list.
School | Total Student Enrollment | Avg. Annual Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Number of Applicants |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ashland University | 4,174 | $20,342 | 72% | 4,565 |
Baldwin Wallace University | 3,220 | $28,705 | 77% | 4,229 |
Bluffton University | 745 | $21,247 | 96% | 1,105 |
Bowling Green State University | 16,920 | $20,485 | 79% | 17,447 |
Capital University | 2,617 | $24,439 | 72% | 4,370 |
Case Western Reserve University | 12,201 | $38,279 | 27% | 38,701 |
Cedarville University | 4,960 | $25,462 | 65% | 5,435 |
Central State University | 5,434 | $10,194 | 89% | 3,814 |
Cleveland Institute of Art | 584 | $33,395 | 70% | 693 |
Cleveland State University | 14,385 | $15,719 | 85% | 11,570 |
Columbus College of Art and Design | 972 | $29,238 | 91% | 776 |
Denison University | 2,416 | $38,267 | 22% | 12,220 |
Franciscan University of Steubenville | 3,656 | $25,310 | 67% | 2,456 |
Franklin University | 8,044 | $18,989 | 100% | N/A |
Heidelberg University | 1,086 | $20,053 | 71% | 1,801 |
Hiram College | 1,018 | $19,384 | 93% | 1,896 |
John Carroll University | 2,922 | $30,496 | 82% | 4,310 |
Kent State University | 25,854 | $19,046 | 88% | 20,369 |
Kenyon College | 1,885 | $43,044 | 34% | 8,116 |
Kettering College | 832 | $16,398 | 34% | 587 |
Lake Erie College | 906 | $22,678 | 54% | 1,085 |
Lourdes University | 1,136 | $22,634 | 60% | 1,082 |
Malone University | 1,199 | $21,571 | 78% | 1,395 |
Marietta College | 1,198 | $22,895 | 83% | 2,467 |
Miami University | 19,107 | $23,031 | 88% | 30,367 |
Miami University Hamilton | 2,268 | $10,580 | 100% | N/A |
Miami University Middletown | 1,269 | $13,405 | 100% | N/A |
Mount Carmel College of Nursing | 766 | $15,006 | 63% | 82 |
Mount St. Joseph University | 2,027 | $17,506 | 54% | 2,127 |
Mount Vernon Nazarene University | 1,941 | $23,391 | 85% | 1,070 |
Muskingum University | 2,117 | $19,682 | 86% | 2,690 |
Notre Dame College | 1,444 | $20,151 | 79% | 3,116 |
Oberlin College | 2,992 | $46,462 | 35% | 11,066 |
Ohio Christian University | 1,600 | $20,490 | 100% | N/A |
Ohio Dominican University | 1,276 | $21,881 | 52% | 2,186 |
Ohio Northern University | 3,015 | $27,398 | 54% | 6,625 |
Ohio State University | 60,540 | $19,582 | 53% | 65,189 |
Ohio State University at Lima | 818 | $13,086 | 100% | N/A |
Ohio State University at Marion | 900 | $13,377 | 100% | N/A |
Ohio University | 24,145 | $20,207 | 87% | 24,978 |
Ohio Wesleyan University | 1,410 | $27,311 | 52% | 5,324 |
Otterbein University | 2,458 | $22,661 | 84% | 3,762 |
Shawnee State University | 3,297 | $13,313 | 100% | N/A |
The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences | 866 | $18,370 | 71% | 380 |
The College of Wooster | 1,967 | $28,976 | 56% | 7,251 |
Tiffin University | 3,044 | $25,636 | 83% | 4,195 |
University of Akron | 13,465 | $14,667 | 83% | 12,282 |
University of Cincinnati | 41,155 | $20,149 | 86% | 29,025 |
University of Dayton | 11,674 | $30,590 | 74% | 18,864 |
University of Findlay | 4,869 | $24,069 | 86% | 3,609 |
University of Mount Union | 2,130 | $23,259 | 76% | 3,521 |
University of Toledo | 15,545 | $17,654 | 92% | 12,575 |
Ursuline College | 950 | $14,502 | 85% | 610 |
Walsh University | 2,309 | $20,032 | 73% | 2,659 |
Wilberforce University | 656 | $14,070 | 45% | 4,100 |
Wilmington College | 1,046 | $24,528 | 88% | 1,963 |
Wittenberg University | 1,299 | $22,912 | 94% | 2,998 |
Wright State University | 9,678 | $15,650 | 95% | 7,162 |
Wright State University Lake Campus | 1,294 | $11,585 | 100% | 660 |
Xavier University | 6,114 | $31,619 | 85% | 14,836 |
Youngstown State University | 11,071 | $11,900 | 81% | 7,481 |
What Is the Cost of College in Ohio?
Institution Type | Average Tuition & Required Fees |
---|---|
Public 4-Year (In-State) | $10,049 |
Public 4-Year (Out-of-State) | $26,213 |
Private 4-Year | $35,352 |
Public 2-Year (In-State) | $4,416 |
Public 2-Year (Out-of-State) | $7,888 |
Cost of Living in Ohio
Ohio has a lower cost of living than the national average. According to data from 2023, the cost of living in Ohio is 94% of the national cost of living. And housing costs are just 80% of the national average.
The state’s affordable cost of living benefits college students. Lower housing costs, for example, can mean borrowing fewer loans to cover living expenses.
College students also benefit from Ohio’s economy, which is the seventh largest among U.S. states. A strong economy can help graduates transition into the job market and put their degrees to work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Ohio
How many colleges are in Ohio?
Ohio has over 60 four-year nonprofit colleges and universities. These schools enroll more than 380,000 students. Ohio’s largest college is Ohio State University, which enrolls over 60,000 students on its main campus.
What is the No. 1 ranked college in Ohio?
Ohio State University is often considered a top college in Ohio. The state’s flagship public institution charges a net price of just under $20,000 per year. Ohio State reports that it receives over 65,000 applications every year, admitting around half of applicants.
Other top-ranked colleges in Ohio include liberal arts colleges like Oberlin and Denison and private institutions like Case Western Reserve University.
What is the hardest college to get into in Ohio?
Ohio’s most selective college is Denison University, a liberal arts college with around 2,400 students. In fall 2022, Denison received over 12,000 applications and admitted just 22% of applicants. Case Western Reserve also reports selective admissions, with a 27% acceptance rate in fall 2022, according to NCES.
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