Colleges in Columbus: All 15 Schools

The Columbus area is home to some of the best colleges in Ohio. Whether you’re looking for a large state university experience, a smaller Christian school, or a flexible online program, there are many academic institutions for you to choose from.

With institutions like Ohio State University and Cedarville University, Columbus offers an array of programs at every level, catering to just about any academic interest or career goal.

Throughout this page, we dive into the colleges in Columbus and highlight what they can offer you. Additionally, we spotlight some scholarships and answer some of your most pressing questions. Keep reading to see why Columbus might be the college city for you.

Given the many different types of academic institutions in the Columbus area — big, small, public, and private — you are bound to find a school that aligns with your needs. Read on to learn more about the schools in and around Ohio’s capital. Here are some known for their academic prestige and variety of programs.

We’ve created a complete list of all four-year nonprofit colleges in Columbus and the surrounding area. You can use the table below to compare data on student population and the average net cost.

The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). All data is from 2022. Note that colleges with a total undergrad enrollment of fewer than 500 were not considered for this list.

College often comes with a hefty price tag — thankfully Columbus, Ohio, is home to a diverse catalog of private and public schools with tuition rates that reflect an equally diverse list of options. As a result, higher education in Columbus is accessible to a relatively broad spectrum of students.

While the cost of college can vary dramatically between public and private colleges, Ohio’s lower-than-average cost of living helps make Columbus a relatively affordable place to live and attend school. Ohio has the 12th-lowest cost of living in the United States, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

Finding scholarships is a practical way to help cut the cost of your college education. We spotlight three Ohio-based scholarship awards below.

The Ohio College Opportunity Grant is a need-based scholarship for Ohio residents pursuing an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or nursing diploma program.

This award is available to students pursuing their degrees at both public and private institutions, and applicants must demonstrate financial need. Funding varies by school but can exceed $4,000 per year.

The Ohio State University Land Grant Opportunity Scholarship is a merit-based award that’s available to those who are Pell Grant-eligible and enrolling as first-year students at the school.

Typically covering full tuition and fees, this generous scholarship is exclusively for Ohio residents. Students who apply for admission and file the FAFSA by February 1 are considered for this scholarship.

Ohio State University’s Morrill Scholarship Program is a merit-based award designed to fund the education of talented students dedicated to social justice causes while pursuing their undergraduate degree.

This award covers full tuition and is open to and is open to recent high school graduates pursuing their degree at the school’s Columbus campus.

In the Columbus area, the cheapest public institution is Ohio State University at Marion, with an annual net price of about $13,000 for resident students. The cheapest private school in the area is Franklin University, with an annual tuition of under $19,000.

Columbus is home to a wide array of academic institutions with 15 four-year nonprofit colleges and universities. From an elite and sizable public institution like Ohio State University to flexible online options from the private Franklin University, opportunities abound.

The biggest college in Columbus is Ohio State University, clocking in at over 60,000 students. While dwarfed by Ohio’s flagship institution, Franklin University is the city’s largest private school, with an enrollment of more than 8,000 students.