Best Community Colleges in Ohio 2025

Badge for BEST IN OHIO COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Published: May 3, 2021
Updated: Oct 7, 2024

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.

Key Takeaways

Many Ohio community colleges have established Ohio Transfer Pathways, which guarantee the transfer of credits to major public universities in the state, such as Ohio State University and Miami University, making it easier for students to complete their bachelor’s degrees.
Colleges like Columbus State Community College offer top-tier nursing, respiratory therapy, and medical technology programs, featuring clinical placements and partnerships with Ohio’s leading hospitals, giving students real-world healthcare experience and a direct route to employment in high-demand healthcare fields.
Many community colleges in Ohio offer specialized programs in advanced manufacturing, robotics, and engineering technology, providing hands-on training with industry-standard equipment and offering direct pathways to Ohio’s booming manufacturing and tech sectors.

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best community colleges in Ohio saw a fair amount of movement. BGSU Firelands, in particular, was able to gain two ranking positions as a result of the college expanding its Health Sciences Learning Center, featuring new simulation labs for nursing, radiologic technology, and healthcare administration students, offering hands-on learning opportunities. The college has also expanded its online and hybrid course offerings, providing more flexibility for students balancing work, life, and education.

Additionally, BGSU Firelands has strengthened its career services by establishing new internship partnerships with local industries and healthcare providers, giving students practical experience and direct job placement opportunities. These updates highlight BGSU Firelands’ commitment to practical, career-focused education and flexible learning options.

We’ve identified 26 community colleges in Ohio. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in Ohio.