Why This Matters

  • 111 COLLEGES IN OHIO

    According to College Navigator, there are 41 public colleges, 63 private non-profit colleges, and seven private for-profit colleges in Ohio.

  • $12,060 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES

    According to College Board, the average cost to study at the undergraduate level in Ohio during the 2021-22 school year is $12,060.

  • $14,800 FINANCIAL AID PER U.S. STUDENT

    During the 2020-21 school year, the average amount awarded to U.S. students pursuing a bachelor’s degree was $14,800.

Our Research

This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar schools in Ohio. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The colleges on our list are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a reputable organization that examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of education programs in the central United States.

We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for on-campus students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

The Top 50 Colleges in Ohio

Best Colleges In Ohio
01
Intelligent Pick
The Ohio State University
01
Best Private Institution
Case Western Reserve University
01
Best for Part-time Students
Miami University
01
Best Student-to-Faculty Ratio
Kenyon College
01
Best Faith-based Institution
University of Dayton
01
Best Music Program
Oberlin College and Conservatory
01
Best Co-op Program
University of Cincinnati
01
Best for Job Placement
Denison University
01
Best for Online Students
Ohio University
01
Best Course Selection
Kent State University
01

Bowling Green State University
01

University of Findlay
01

College of Wooster
01

Ohio Northern University
01

Ohio Wesleyan University
01

Wittenberg University
01

John Carroll University
01

Cedarville University
01

Xavier University
01

Marietta College
01

Franciscan University of Steubenville

 

What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Ohio

Understanding post-graduation employment opportunities can be helpful when determining which state you should study in. Gain insight into the job market by researching the biggest industries in Ohio. According to an October 2021 survey, the top five industries in Ohio are trade, transportation, and utilities; goods-producing; education and health services; government; and professional and business services.

There are many high-earning jobs available to individuals in Ohio who hold a bachelor’s degree. The five fastest-growing careers in Ohio for this education level are medical and health services managers, logisticians, data scientists, information security analysts, and interpreters/translators.

To determine your future job outlook in Ohio, it’s important to know the key players when it comes to employment. Companies on the list of top 150 employers in Ohio include Ohio State University, GE Lighting, Procter & Gamble, University of Cincinnati, Tri Health, Cleveland Clinic Health System, and Nationwide Mutual Insurance.

What’s Next?

There is federal and state aid available to help with college tuition fees and other academic-related costs. Below you’ll find information to help you learn more about the financial aid opportunities available to you and how to apply.

  • Ohio Department of Higher Education. The Ohio Department of Higher Education manages all state-funded financial programs. Information about studying in Ohio, as well as a comprehensive list of state grants and scholarships, is available through their website.
  • Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who demonstrate financial need and are enrolled in a college degree program may be eligible for aid distributed by the U.S. Department of Education. Visit the Federal Student Aid website to determine your eligibility and apply using the free online FAFSA form.
  • CareerOneStop. Search through more than 8,000 financial aid opportunities, including scholarships and grants, via CareerOneStop. You can use the filter options to narrow your search by state and degree level. All scholarships listed include information about eligibility requirements, the monetary amount awarded, and application deadlines.