Why This Matters
-
118 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES IN OHIO
According to College Navigator, the four-year colleges in Ohio include 44 public and 74 private non-profit options.
-
$12,565 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
For the 2022-23 school year, the average in-state tuition for public four-year colleges in Ohio is $12,565, according to College Board.
-
$15,330 AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID
In the U.S., full-time undergraduate students attending college in 2021-22 received an average of $15,330 per year in financial aid.
Our Research
This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar colleges in Ohio. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality. 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, such as U.S. News & World Report, 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) — this organization examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of postsecondary education programs in the central United States.
We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission standards, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the resources and services provided for on-campus students. Then, we used this information to calculate the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Online College Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The Top 50 Colleges in Ohio
Discover More Options
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. As of May 2022, the five largest industries in Ohio are office and administrative support occupations, transportation and material moving, production, food preparation and serving, and sales.
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 also 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, Procter & Gamble, Tri Health, JP Morgan, and GE Aerospace.
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 resources to help you learn more about financial aid opportunities and how to apply:
- Ohio Department of Higher Education. This agency manages all state-funded financial programs for college students. Information about studying in Ohio, as well as a comprehensive list of state grants and scholarships, is available through their website.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, FAFSA is the main form students use to apply for financial aid for college. To determine if you’re eligible for aid, submit a completed FAFSA form online.
- CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder. This tool will show you available scholarships, grants, and loans and can be filtered by state and degree type. It includes information such as dollar amounts, how to apply, qualifications, deadlines, and contact details.