Community Colleges in Ohio: All 70+ Schools

The Ohio Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation reports that some of the state’s fastest-growing professions include registered nurse, software developer, and management analyst. The state median salary for these jobs exceeds $60,000.

These and other well-paying jobs require at least an associate degree. Community colleges in Ohio feature degrees and certificates, letting you enter the workforce in two years or fewer.

Other advantages of attending a two-year school include paying an affordable tuition rate and transferring your credit to a bachelor’s-completion program.

The following three community colleges in Ohio feature degree and certificate programs, robust student services, and opportunities for extracurricular involvement. We chose these schools based on factors like number of applicants, academic rigor, and reputation.

We’ve created a complete list of all nonprofit community colleges in Ohio. We also included four-year colleges that primarily award associate degrees. You can use the table below to compare data on student population and average net cost.

The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). All data is from 2022. Schools with fewer than 100 undergraduates enrolled were not included in this list.

Community colleges in Ohio offer a per-credit tuition rate much lower than the state’s four-year public institutions. Expect to pay supplemental nonresident tuition if you live out of state. You can reduce your cost of attendance (COA) by applying for scholarships, living with roommates, or learning online.

The answer depends on your educational and professional goals. You may need a certificate or associate degree to qualify for a promotion or raise. Community colleges in Ohio can also let you explore many majors while charging you less tuition than a public four-year school.

Contact schools’ admissions departments to learn more about what they offer. As a student, you can work with academic and career advisors to make the most of your education.

Charging only $149 per credit, the Apollo Career Center in Lima ranks as the cheapest community college in Ohio, according to the NCES. Keep in mind that fees, textbooks, housing, and transportation affect your COA. You may still need some financial aid to attend Apollo Career Center or a comparable school.

A 2023 Council for Community and Economic Research report ranks Ohio as the twelfth most affordable state in the nation. You can expect lower-than-average rent and utilities throughout the Buckeye State. Plus, Ohio features many institutions of higher learning, including 70-plus community colleges.