Ohio Colleges come in more shapes than the rankings sites let on: 109 degree-granting colleges, of which 42 are open admission (no one is turned away) and 64 more do not require test scores. The lowest real net price in the state is Ohio University-Eastern Campus at about $3,925 a year – net price, not the sticker. Every number on this page is federal College Scorecard data – not marketing, not a paid ranking.
Ohio Colleges at a Glance
- Degree-granting colleges: 109 (of 257 Scorecard institutions incl. trade schools)
- Open admission (everyone gets in): 42
- Test scores not required: 64 more
- Public community colleges: 81
- Four-year colleges: 73
On this page
What Paying for Ohio Colleges Actually Looks Like
If you are starting to look at ohio colleges, the first thing worth knowing is that there are a lot of them. Ohio has 257 operating colleges, which is more than most families realize and more than any one person can sensibly research. That number includes big universities, small private schools, community colleges, and specialized training programs. It sounds overwhelming, but it is actually good news: the sheer range means the odds are decent that something on that list fits your student, your budget, and how far from home you want to be.
One thing that eases a lot of stress is that admission is not a wall everywhere. Among ohio colleges, 42 have open admission, which means they do not reject applicants who meet basic requirements. Another 64 do not require test scores at all. If your student had a rough semester, or test day did not go well, or you simply do not want the whole family organized around a single exam, there are real options here. That does not mean every program at every school works that way, so check the specific college’s own admissions page before you assume anything.
Cost is usually the part that keeps parents up at night, and it is worth separating sticker price from what families actually pay. Ohio has 81 public community colleges, which tend to be the least expensive place to start and often transfer credits into four-year programs. The lowest average net price among ohio colleges belongs to Ohio University-Eastern Campus, at roughly $3,925 per year. Net price is an average across students who received aid, so it is a useful starting signal rather than a quote. What your family pays depends on income, aid, and the specific year, and only the college’s own net price calculator can get close to your real number.
Size is another honest tradeoff, not a right answer. Ohio State University-Main Campus is the largest four-year college in the state, and big schools bring things smaller ones cannot: more majors, more research, more people to meet. They also ask a student to be more self-directed. Smaller campuses often mean knowing your professors and being noticed when you struggle, with fewer program choices. Some students thrive in a crowd and some disappear in one, and you probably already have a sense of which yours is.
Use this page to narrow, not to decide. Pull three or four ohio colleges that look plausible, then go straight to each school’s own site for current tuition, deadlines, aid policies, and program details, and call the admissions office with your actual questions. Visit if you can. Nobody, including this page, can promise your student will be admitted or how much aid they will receive. What you can do is get the real numbers from the source, compare them side by side, and make the decision with clear eyes.
Ohio Colleges With Open Admission
Open admission means exactly what it sounds like: meet the basic requirements (usually a diploma or GED) and you are in. No essays sweated over, no rejection letter. These ohio colleges are where the “will I get in anywhere?” worry ends – and several lead to the same careers as far more selective schools.
| College | City | Type | Avg net price/yr | Grad rate |
| Franklin University | Columbus | Nonprofit 4-year | $25,243 | 49% |
| University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College | Blue Ash | Public 2-year | $16,508 | 25% |
| University of Cincinnati-Clermont College | Batavia | Public 2-year | $13,803 | 31% |
| Lakeland Community College | Kirtland | Public 2-year | $7,606 | 21% |
| Kent State University at Stark | North Canton | Public 2-year | $10,897 | 29% |
| University of Northwestern Ohio | Lima | Nonprofit 2-year | $21,807 | 52% |
| Ohio State University-Newark Campus | Newark | Public 2-year | $14,767 | 35% |
| Shawnee State University | Portsmouth | Public 4-year | $14,381 | 40% |
| Miami University-Hamilton | Hamilton | Public 4-year | $11,286 | 23% |
| Central Ohio Technical College | Newark | Public 2-year | $9,948 | 31% |
| Kent State University at Tuscarawas | New Philadelphia | Public 2-year | $12,542 | 38% |
| Kent State University at Trumbull | Warren | Public 2-year | $11,135 | 22% |
| Kent State University at Geauga | Burton | Public 2-year | $12,044 | 25% |
| Washington State College of Ohio | Marietta | Public 2-year | $7,714 | 39% |
| Marion Technical College | Marion | Public 2-year | $7,417 | 29% |
27 more open-admission colleges omitted for length – the Scorecard link at the bottom lists every one.
Test-Optional Ohio Colleges
These schools do not require SAT or ACT scores. That does not make them easy – grades and coursework still matter – but a bad test day will not close the door. Combined with the open-admission list above, most ohio colleges are reachable without a test score.
| College | City | Admission rate | Avg net price/yr |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | Columbus | 61% | $17,339 |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Cincinnati | 85% | $25,648 |
| Ohio University-Main Campus | Athens | 85% | $21,637 |
| Kent State University at Kent | Kent | 86% | $20,787 |
| Miami University-Oxford | Oxford | 75% | $28,384 |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | Bowling Green | 81% | $24,022 |
| University of Toledo | Toledo | 92% | $17,249 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | Akron | 60% | $13,946 |
| Cleveland State University | Cleveland | 91% | $14,764 |
| Youngstown State University | Youngstown | 84% | $12,767 |
| University of Dayton | Dayton | 65% | $29,533 |
| Wright State University-Main Campus | Dayton | 96% | $15,415 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland | 37% | $41,190 |
| Xavier University | Cincinnati | 86% | $32,997 |
| Cedarville University | Cedarville | 65% | $24,468 |
49 more listed in the full table below.
What about trade and certificate schools? Ohio also has 131 open-admission institutions that award certificates rather than degrees – welding, cosmetology, medical assisting, HVAC and similar. Many are excellent and lead straight to licensed work; many are for-profit, and outcomes vary widely between them. They are kept out of the college tables on this page so the comparison stays apples-to-apples, and covered properly in our trade school guides, where the pay data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Cheapest Ohio Colleges by Real Net Price
Sticker price is a fiction most families never pay. Net price is what students actually paid on average after grants and scholarships – the honest number, straight from the federal data. These are the ten lowest degree-granting colleges in Ohio. For-profit certificate academies often post lower prices than anything here, but they award certificates rather than degrees, so they are covered separately below rather than mixed into this comparison:
| College | City | Type | Avg net price/yr | Grad rate | Median earnings (10 yr) |
| Ohio University-Eastern Campus | Saint Clairsville | Public 4-year | $3,925 | 40% | $52,581 |
| North Central State College | Mansfield | Public 2-year | $4,687 | 30% | $38,158 |
| Wilberforce University | Wilberforce | Nonprofit 4-year | $5,567 | 32% | $38,298 |
| Ohio University-Lancaster Campus | Lancaster | Public 4-year | $5,650 | 33% | $52,581 |
| Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | Zanesville | Public 2-year | $5,746 | 41% | $52,581 |
| Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus | Chillicothe | Public 2-year | $5,755 | 35% | $52,581 |
| Ohio University-Southern Campus | Ironton | Public 2-year | $5,993 | 39% | $52,581 |
| University of Akron Wayne College | Orrville | Public 4-year | $6,032 | 11% | $46,600 |
| Belmont College | St Clairsville | Public 2-year | $6,995 | 43% | $35,329 |
| Marion Technical College | Marion | Public 2-year | $7,417 | 29% | $41,495 |
Pair any of these with the awards on our Ohio scholarships page and the real cost drops again.
Community Colleges in Ohio
Two years at a community college and a transfer is the cheapest path through the ohio colleges system for most families – same bachelor’s degree at the end, a fraction of the debt. Ohio has 81 public community and technical colleges:
| College | City | Avg net price/yr |
| Columbus State Community College | Columbus | $8,400 |
| Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland | $4,266 |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | $5,992 |
| Stark State College | North Canton | $5,986 |
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati | $4,968 |
| Lorain County Community College | Elyria | $3,967 |
| Owens Community College | Perrysburg | $10,369 |
| University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College | Blue Ash | $16,508 |
| Clark State College | Springfield | $12,135 |
| University of Cincinnati-Clermont College | Batavia | $13,803 |
| Lakeland Community College | Kirtland | $7,606 |
| Kent State University at Stark | North Canton | $10,897 |
| Ohio State University-Newark Campus | Newark | $14,767 |
| Central Ohio Technical College | Newark | $9,948 |
| Kent State University at Tuscarawas | New Philadelphia | $12,542 |
66 more not shown.
Ohio Colleges Compared: The Four-Year Table
Every four-year college, largest first, with the five numbers that matter: how hard it is to get in, the SAT middle band (25th to 75th percentile of admitted students – below the low number does not mean rejected), the real net price, how many finish, and what graduates earn ten years after starting.
| College | Admit rate | SAT mid-50% | Net price/yr | Grad rate | Earnings (10 yr) |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 61% | 1310–1480 | $17,339 | 82% | $60,409 |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 85% | 1160–1370 | $25,648 | 73% | $54,810 |
| Ohio University-Main Campus | 85% | 1090–1290 | $21,637 | 69% | $52,581 |
| Kent State University at Kent | 86% | 1010–1240 | $20,787 | 64% | $45,388 |
| Miami University-Oxford | 75% | 1220–1390 | $28,384 | 82% | $55,076 |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 81% | 1000–1210 | $24,022 | 65% | $47,896 |
| University of Toledo | 92% | 1100–1300 | $17,249 | 55% | $50,632 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | 60% | 900–1190 | $13,946 | 51% | $46,600 |
| Cleveland State University | 91% | n/a | $14,764 | 56% | $52,131 |
| Youngstown State University | 84% | 1010–1230 | $12,767 | 52% | $41,544 |
| University of Dayton | 65% | 1200–1380 | $29,533 | 80% | $75,537 |
| Wright State University-Main Campus | 96% | n/a | $15,415 | 48% | $49,500 |
| Case Western Reserve University | 37% | 1430–1540 | $41,190 | 86% | $87,989 |
| Franklin University | n/a | n/a | $25,243 | 49% | $51,892 |
| Xavier University | 86% | 1103–1310 | $32,997 | 73% | $64,873 |
| Cedarville University | 65% | 1130–1360 | $24,468 | 74% | $55,443 |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | 58% | 1110–1350 | $23,589 | 75% | $50,030 |
| Oberlin College | 34% | 1360–1520 | $38,645 | 83% | $58,343 |
| Baldwin Wallace University | 76% | 1060–1290 | $27,603 | 65% | $54,122 |
| Central State University | 99% | n/a | $13,096 | 28% | $33,267 |
| Ohio Northern University | 74% | 1175–1400 | $24,478 | 74% | $80,928 |
| Denison University | 17% | 1320–1490 | $40,007 | 83% | $67,753 |
| John Carroll University | 81% | 1180–1330 | $28,746 | 76% | $62,860 |
| Shawnee State University | n/a | n/a | $14,381 | 40% | $39,596 |
| The University of Findlay | 83% | n/a | $27,221 | 59% | $56,996 |
| Ashland University | 76% | 1035–1208 | $21,988 | 59% | $52,928 |
| Otterbein University | 85% | n/a | $19,237 | 67% | $53,313 |
| Tiffin University | 80% | 910–1110 | $26,500 | 50% | $35,942 |
| Miami University-Hamilton | n/a | n/a | $11,286 | 23% | $55,076 |
| University of Mount Union | 78% | 910–1240 | $23,280 | 63% | $53,217 |
| Kenyon College | 31% | 1358–1503 | $38,512 | 87% | $71,830 |
| The College of Wooster | 60% | 1220–1460 | $23,458 | 76% | $59,629 |
| Capital University | 70% | 910–1180 | $22,576 | 63% | $54,143 |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | 56% | n/a | $20,897 | 64% | $55,624 |
| Walsh University | 71% | 1040–1280 | $20,493 | 63% | $59,764 |
38 smaller four-year colleges omitted for length; the Scorecard link below covers all of them.
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What Each of the Ohio Colleges Is Strongest In
The federal data shows what share of each college’s degrees come from each field – so instead of a marketing brochure, here is where each school actually concentrates. A college is listed when at least a quarter of its degrees come from one field:
| College | Focus | Concentration |
| Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science | Health-focused | 100% of degrees |
| Kettering College | Health-focused | 100% of degrees |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | Health-focused | 100% of degrees |
| Mercy College of Ohio | Health-focused | 99% of degrees |
| The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Health-focused | 97% of degrees |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Parma | Health-focused | 76% of degrees |
| Cleveland Institute of Art | Arts-focused | 73% of degrees |
| Columbus College of Art & Design | Arts-focused | 72% of degrees |
| Ursuline College | Health-focused | 68% of degrees |
| Kent State University at East Liverpool | Health-focused | 62% of degrees |
| Central Ohio Technical College | Health-focused | 61% of degrees |
| Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | Health-focused | 56% of degrees |
| Franklin University | Business-focused | 54% of degrees |
| University of Cincinnati-Clermont College | Health-focused | 54% of degrees |
| Kent State University at Ashtabula | Health-focused | 49% of degrees |
Common Questions
Which ohio colleges accept everyone?
42 colleges in Ohio are open admission – the first table on this page lists them. A diploma or GED is typically the only academic requirement.
What is the cheapest college in Ohio?
By average net price – what students actually paid – it is Ohio University-Eastern Campus at about $3,925 per year in the current federal data. State grants and outside scholarships can push your own cost below that; see the Ohio scholarships page.
Do ohio colleges require the SAT or ACT?
Not all of them. 64 schools beyond the open-admission list do not require scores. Policies change year to year, so confirm on the college’s own admissions page before you skip the test.
The fastest way to use this ohio colleges guide is backwards: pick the net price your family can live with first, then see which schools fit it.
Bookmark this page – the ohio colleges data refreshes with every annual federal release, so the numbers stay honest instead of aging quietly.
When you compare ohio colleges, weigh the graduation rate as hard as the price: a cheap school you never finish is the most expensive kind.
Most families overestimate what ohio colleges cost, because sticker prices make headlines and net prices do not.
No table can rank ohio colleges for you – the right one depends on your major, your commute, and your budget, and only you know those.
Guidance counselors can pull the same federal numbers behind this ohio colleges page, so bring it to your next meeting and ask what they would add.
Out-of-state readers can compare ohio colleges against their own state’s page – the same six tables exist for all fifty states.
Print the shortlist you build from these ohio colleges tables and take it on campus visits; the numbers make better questions than any brochure.
If a school you expected is missing from these ohio colleges tables, it may be too small for the row caps here – the Scorecard link below has every institution.
Treat this ohio colleges page as the starting map, not the finish line: the college’s own net price calculator is always the final word on your cost.
Ready to cut the price of any college on this page?
Sources & How to Verify
Every figure above comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (retrieved August 2026; the Scorecard updates annually and this page is regenerated with each release). Prices are averages – your own net price depends on your family income. Verify any college directly:
- College Scorecard: collegescorecard.ed.gov — look up any school’s current numbers
- Federal Student Aid: studentaid.gov — FAFSA, grants, and aid rules
- The college’s own net price calculator: every school is required to publish one — it is the closest thing to your real number
You May Also Like
Related Guides
- Ohio Scholarships (the sibling page)
- Scholarships by State (50-State Guide)
- College Decisions
- College Survival Guide
- Browse All Scholarships
Informational only — not admissions, legal, tax, or financial advice. Spot Scholarships is an independent educational resource. All figures are federal College Scorecard data and change with each annual release; admission policies, prices, and test requirements can change sooner, so always confirm current details with the college itself. Nothing on this page guarantees admission, aid, or an award.