Best Christian Colleges in Ohio 2023

Published: May 3, 2021
Updated: Sep 8, 2023

For prospective college students looking for schools that align with their Christian faith and demonstrate academic excellence, here are the best Christian colleges and universities in Ohio.

10 Best Christian Colleges in Ohio

University of Dayton
Wilberforce University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Wittenberg University
Xavier University
Ashland University
John Carroll University
Ohio Northern University
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Muskingum University

Wittenberg University 92%
John Carroll University 88%
Mount Vernon Nazarene University 87%
Muskingum University 86%
Heidelberg University 86%
Xavier University 84%
University of Findlay 84%
Otterbein University 83%
Notre Dame College 82%
Ursuline College 82%

Ashland University 16 to 1
Cedarville University 15 to 1
Ohio Dominican University 15 to 1
Franciscan University of Steubenville 15 to 1
University of Dayton 15 to 1
Walsh University 15 to 1
Mount Vernon Nazarene University 14 to 1
Heidelberg University 14 to 1
University of Findlay 14 to 1
John Carroll University 13 to 1

Ohio Wesleyan University $48,832
John Carroll University $45,514
University of Dayton $44,890
Xavier University $42,460
Wittenberg University $42,288
Capital University $39,338
University of Findlay $37,188
Ursuline College $35,720
Ohio Northern University $35,380
Defiance College $34,804

Ohio Northern University $29,250
Ursuline College $22,320
University of Dayton $18,090
University of Findlay $17,106
John Carroll University $16,082
Lourdes University $14,670
Otterbein University $14,042
Bluffton University $13,440
Walsh University $13,410
Mount St. Joseph University $13,120

Ohio Christian University
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Lourdes University
Mount St. Joseph University
Ohio Dominican University
Defiance College
Heidelberg University
Ursuline College
Malone University
Walsh University

Wilberforce University 39%
Ohio Dominican University 54%
Defiance College 62%
Cedarville University 62%
Mount St. Joseph University 63%
Franciscan University of Steubenville 68%
Ohio Northern University 69%
Ashland University 70%
Capital University 74%
Ohio Wesleyan University 74%

Ursuline College 8 to 1
Ohio Christian University 8 to 1
Ohio Wesleyan University 10 to 1
Wilberforce University 10 to 1
Wittenberg University 11 to 1
Mount St. Joseph University 11 to 1
Ohio Northern University 11 to 1
Xavier University 11 to 1
Otterbein University 11 to 1
Capital University 12 to 1

Wilberforce University $13,250
Ohio Christian University $22,506
Ashland University $23,090
Lourdes University $27,072
Muskingum University $30,090
Franciscan University of Steubenville $30,180
Notre Dame College $31,350
Walsh University $32,315
Mount Vernon Nazarene University $32,864
Mount St. Joseph University $33,250

Ashland University $6,972
Defiance College $8,100
Wittenberg University $8,352
Cedarville University $9,864
Muskingum University $10,350
Ohio Christian University $10,416
Mount Vernon Nazarene University $10,674
Ohio Dominican University $11,340
Malone University $11,700
Xavier University $12,060

Key Takeaways

The cost of living in Ohio is relatively lower than the national average. This makes Ohio a good choice for prospective college students looking for a Christian college in the state.
Attending a Christian college in Ohio will help students to deepen their faith while getting a college education. Students will develop their Christian worldview, helping to define their purpose and passion in life.
Students seeking a Bible college or Christian university education have more choices in Ohio than in almost any other state.

Table of Contents

Exploring Ohio’s Christian Colleges

There are so many Christian Colleges in Ohio for students who want to enroll in these types of institutions. The Roman Catholic church alone in Ohio sponsors 14 schools that serve more than 20,000 students. From a master’s degree to an undergraduate Christian degree program, you can find virtually every possible major in Ohio.

Christian campuses in Ohio range from the expansive University of Dayton campus which holds more than 10,000 students, down to the tiny Rosedale Bible College with a meager enrollment of fewer than 100.

For students seeking financial value, Bible colleges in Ohio have a lot to offer. For those who prefer an online school, Ohio Christian University has a variety of fully-accredited degrees both online and on-campus.

Why Enrolling in a Christian College Matters

There are different factors to consider in researching colleges: what you want to study, the career you’re drawn to pursue, or the type of college you want to attend, among others. Should you go to a secular college? Or is a Christian college a better option?

Throughout your whole college experience, leaning on your faith helps you feel supported and stable, especially when other aspects of your life are slowly changing. Here are some compelling reasons why a Christian college is a good choice.

You can combine your purpose and your passion. College is a time when you explore your identity—the time to find out what you want out of life.

In a Christian college, you will come across many students with similar belief systems. The support you get from your peers will help you keep your faith as you work to achieve academic success and discover your life’s purpose.

Because there is an emphasis on Scripture, students learn to interpret the Bible not only for academic purposes, but also for building your spiritual life.

During college, students begin to discover who they truly are. A Christian college will support you as you start to develop your understanding of the world through a lens of faith. It provides you with a framework for integrating academics with Christian ethics and the social issues that challenge the world around you.

You combine your faith with learning. In secular education, God and the Bible are not part of the curriculum. In Christian colleges, on the other hand, you won’t have to choose between exploring your faith and studying academics.

For example, when you take science or history courses at a Christian college, much of the material is taught from a Christian perspective. This perspective will strengthen your understanding of the Bible, thus deepening your faith.

You will build a strong community. The people and relationships you build during college will often stay with you for the rest of your life. Even better, most of the students and professors share your values and beliefs. You will join a community of people who learn, worship together, and follow God’s words to help make the world a better place.

You can diversify your social group. Students from many ethnic and racial groups come together at a Christian college to integrate their studies with their spiritual lives. Regardless of these differences, your faith and love for God will provide you unity and commonality as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Colleges and Universities in Ohio

Ohio offers over 120 colleges and universities for students to earn their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree. The largest school in the state, Ohio State University, a public institution, serves almost 55,000 students. This university has five regional campuses, which have graduated alumni like writer Harlan Ellison and Wikipedia cofounder Larry Sanger. The majority of Ohio’s schools, however, are private.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Tuition at these schools varies greatly, with costs as low as $7,000 at God’s Bible School and College, and as high as $56,000 at Kenyon University. The state is also home to nearly 40 higher education institutes with religious affiliations, offering plenty of options for students aiming to blend their faith with higher education. Although tuition costs in Ohio are higher than the national average, Ohio provides several loan forgiveness programs to those pursuing careers as public defenders and prosecutors, dentists, nurses, primary care physicians, and mental health providers. Many of these programs require individuals to work in shortage areas around the state for a certain time period in order to qualify.

If you’re someone with a wide variety of interests, Ohio might just be the place for you. In The Buckeye State, individuals can visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, take a trip through Amish Country, attend a professional sporting event, and hike waterfalls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It seems this state has something for everyone, including those pursuing a higher education degree.

Learn more about the numerous excellent degree paths and career prospects available in Ohio.

What are Ohio’s Colleges & Universities?

Ohio’s Best Overall

The following list of the best Christian schools consists entirely of colleges and universities that offer four-year undergraduate degrees. We’ve identified 26 Christian colleges in Ohio. In order to be included in this ranking list of best Christian colleges and universities, a school must self-identify as Christian, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor degree programs.

How do we determine Ohio's best Christian colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Best Christian Colleges in Ohio 2022

Build Your Own College Rankings

Ohio’s Best Christian Colleges in Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

Best Christian Colleges in Ohio 2023

10 Best Christian Colleges in Ohio

Key Takeaways

Exploring Ohio’s Christian Colleges

Why Enrolling in a Christian College Matters

Colleges and Universities in Ohio

What are Ohio’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Christian Colleges in Ohio 2022

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Xavier University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Notre Dame College’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Muskingum University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Ursuline College’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Ohio Christian University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Defiance College’s Online Degrees

Ohio’s Best Christian Colleges in Your Area of Interest