Best Community Colleges in Ohio 2024
The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in Ohio offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.
10 Best Community Colleges in Ohio
- Cuyahoga Community College
- Sinclair Community College
- Hocking College
- Eastern Gateway Community College
- Columbus State Community College
- Owens Community College
- Lorain County Community College
- BGSU Firelands
- North Central State College
- Southern State Community College
- Cuyahoga Community College
- Sinclair Community College
- BGSU Firelands
- Columbus State Community College
- Hocking College
- Eastern Gateway Community College
- Owens Community College
- North Central State College
- Lorain County Community College
- Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
- Eastern Gateway Community College 33 to 1
- Northwest State Community College 25 to 1
- Edison State Community College 24 to 1
- Stark State College 20 to 1
- Stautzenberger College 18 to 1
- Columbus State Community College 17 to 1
- Southern State Community College 17 to 1
- James A. Rhodes State College 17 to 1
- Owens Community College 16 to 1
- BGSU Firelands 16 to 1
- Stautzenberger College $16,699
- Davis College $14,130
- Chatfield College $14,080
- Marion Technical College $5,700
- Zane State College $5,670
- BGSU Firelands $5,637
- North Central State College $5,388
- Columbus State Community College $5,188
- Southern State Community College $5,132
- Central Ohio Technical College $5,016
- Clark State College
- Chatfield College
- Davis College
- Stautzenberger College
- Terra State Community College
- Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
- Edison State Community College
- Washington State Community College
- Belmont College
- Northwest State Community College
- Davis College
- Terra State Community College
- Stautzenberger College
- Clark State College
- Washington State Community College
- Edison State Community College
- Marion Technical College
- Belmont College
- Northwest State Community College
- Chatfield College
- Chatfield College 5 to 1
- Davis College 7 to 1
- Lakeland Community College 10 to 1
- Cuyahoga Community College 11 to 1
- Cincinnati State Technical and Community College 12 to 1
- Central Ohio Technical College 13 to 1
- Marion Technical College 13 to 1
- Belmont College 13 to 1
- Terra State Community College 13 to 1
- Clark State College 13 to 1
- Stark State College $3,036
- Belmont College $3,140
- Clark State College $3,416
- Edison State Community College $3,600
- Hocking College $3,816
- Sinclair Community College $3,889
- Lakeland Community College $3,927
- Eastern Gateway Community College $4,115
- Washington State Community College $4,128
- Lorain County Community College $4,187
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?
- 14 Research Universities
- 52 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 16 Graduate Schools
- 25 Public Colleges & Universities
- 41 Private Colleges & Universities
- 26 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 52 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 29 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 26 Community Colleges
- 14 Online Colleges
Ohio’s Best Overall
We’ve identified 26 community colleges in Ohio. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Ohio.
Best Community Colleges in Ohio
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
26%
Student body
27K
Career Outlook for degree at Cuyahoga Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,622Starting Salary: $30,900What is Cuyahoga Community College known for?
Cuyahoga Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
30%
Student body
34K
Career Outlook for degree at Sinclair Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,569Starting Salary: $32,100What is Sinclair Community College known for?
Sinclair Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
27%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Hocking College
Cost of Degree: $5,396Expenses: $14,310Starting Salary: $33,200Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Hocking College known for?
Hocking College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
31%
Student body
60K
Career Outlook for degree at Eastern Gateway Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,410Starting Salary: $30,400What is Eastern Gateway Community College known for?
Eastern Gateway Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
26%
Student body
42K
Career Outlook for degree at Columbus State Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,188Starting Salary: $35,500What is Columbus State Community College known for?
Columbus State Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
28%
Student body
11K
Career Outlook for degree at Owens Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,630Starting Salary: $34,400What is Owens Community College known for?
Owens Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
26%
Student body
13K
Career Outlook for degree at Lorain County Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,660Starting Salary: $33,800What is Lorain County Community College known for?
Lorain County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
12%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at BGSU Firelands
Cost of Degree: $6,036Starting Salary: $45,300What is BGSU Firelands known for?
BGSU Firelands’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
27%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at North Central State College
Cost of Degree: $5,786Starting Salary: $31,400What is North Central State College known for?
North Central State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
31%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Southern State Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,612Starting Salary: $31,100What is Southern State Community College known for?
Southern State Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
27%
Student body
5K
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
16%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for degree at Lakeland Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,477Starting Salary: $36,700What is Lakeland Community College known for?
Lakeland Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
54%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Zane State College
Cost of Degree: $5,706Starting Salary: $32,900What is Zane State College known for?
Zane State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
30%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at Central Ohio Technical College
Cost of Degree: $5,016Starting Salary: $35,400What is Central Ohio Technical College known for?
Central Ohio Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
20%
Student body
14K
Career Outlook for degree at Stark State College
Cost of Degree: $4,548Starting Salary: $37,100What is Stark State College known for?
Stark State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
30%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at Marion Technical College
Cost of Degree: $6,325Starting Salary: $32,900What is Marion Technical College known for?
Marion Technical College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
45%
Student body
6K
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
35%
Student body
1K
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
37%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Washington State Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,128Starting Salary: $31,300What is Washington State Community College known for?
Washington State Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
23%
Student body
6K
Career Outlook for degree at Edison State Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,251Starting Salary: $31,500What is Edison State Community College known for?
Edison State Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
17%
Student body
12K
Career Outlook for degree at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,274Starting Salary: $35,300What is Cincinnati State Technical and Community College known for?
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
26%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Terra State Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,588Expenses: $15,934Starting Salary: $32,600Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Terra State Community College known for?
Terra State Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$17K
Graduation
53%
Student body
1K
Tuition + fees
$14K
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at Davis College
Cost of Degree: $14,130Starting Salary: $25,100What is Davis College known for?
Davis College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Graduation
20%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at Chatfield College
Cost of Degree: $14,080Starting Salary: $26,000What is Chatfield College known for?
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
32%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for degree at Clark State College
Cost of Degree: $4,152Starting Salary: $32,100What is Clark State College known for?
Clark State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
If you are ready to move on to pursuing a bachelor’s degree at one of the inexpensive colleges in Ohio, check out these colleges.
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 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.
- BGSU Firelands
- Cuyahoga Community College
- Belmont College
- Hocking College
- Washington State Community College
- Stautzenberger College
- Sinclair Community College
- Owens Community College
- Columbus State Community College
- James A. Rhodes State College
- Northwest State Community College
- Lorain County Community College
- Antonelli College
- Eastern Gateway Community College
- Clark State College
- Marion Technical College
- Southern State Community College
- Bradford School
- Stark State College
- Central Ohio Technical College
- Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
- North Central State College
- Lakeland Community College
- Zane State College
- Edison State Community College
- Davis College
- Chatfield College
- Terra State Community College