Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio 2023

Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio 2023

By James Barham

Published: May 3, 2021
Updated: Mar 13, 2023

Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in Ohio. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio 2022

Ohio State University

68%

University of Cincinnati

60%

Miami University

53%

Ohio University

51%

Kent State University

47%

University of Akron

46%

Cleveland State University

45%

Bowling Green State University

45%

University of Toledo

42%

Wilberforce University

40%

University of Toledo

97%

Wright State University

96%

Cleveland State University

91%

Miami University

89%

Ohio University

89%

Kent State University

87%

University of Akron

85%

University of Cincinnati

85%

Bowling Green State University

79%

Youngstown State University

78%

Ohio State University at Newark

29 to 1

University of Northwestern Ohio

23 to 1

University of Cincinnati Clermont College

23 to 1

Kent State University at Ashtabula

22 to 1

Kent State University at Stark

22 to 1

Kent State University at Salem

21 to 1

University of Toledo

21 to 1

Miami University Middletown

21 to 1

Kent State University

21 to 1

Ohio State University at Lima

20 to 1

Union Institute & University

$17,141

Antioch University Midwest

$14,976

Miami University

$13,253

Wilberforce University

$13,250

Ohio University

$12,840

University of Akron

$11,880

Cleveland State University

$11,610

University of Northwestern Ohio

$11,550

Ohio State University

$11,018

Kent State University

$11,000

Antioch University Midwest

$18,072

Union Institute & University

$15,911

University of Toledo

$14,758

Wright State University

$14,298

University of Cincinnati

$13,224

Central State University

$13,200

Wilberforce University

$12,830

Miami University

$12,806

Kent State University

$11,766

Kent State University at Stark

$11,766

Ohio State University at Lima

14%

Ohio State University at Marion

14%

Ohio University – Chillicothe

16%

University of Northwestern Ohio

16%

Kent State University at Ashtabula

17%

Kent State University at Salem

17%

Ohio State University at Mansfield

17%

Kent State University at Stark

18%

Ohio University Southern Campus

18%

Ohio State University at Newark

19%

Wilberforce University

39%

Ohio State University

57%

Central State University

59%

Youngstown State University

78%

Bowling Green State University

79%

University of Cincinnati

85%

University of Akron

85%

Kent State University

87%

Ohio University

89%

Miami University

89%

Union Institute & University

7 to 1

Wilberforce University

10 to 1

Shawnee State University

14 to 1

Wright State University

14 to 1

Miami University Hamilton

15 to 1

Cleveland State University

15 to 1

Miami University

16 to 1

Ohio University

16 to 1

University of Akron

16 to 1

Ohio University Southern Campus

17 to 1

Central State University

$4,842

University of Cincinnati Clermont College

$5,230

Miami University Hamilton

$5,747

Miami University Middletown

$5,747

Ohio University Southern Campus

$5,774

Ohio University – Chillicothe

$5,774

Kent State University at Salem

$6,651

Kent State University at Ashtabula

$6,651

Kent State University at Stark

$6,651

Ohio State University at Lima

$8,295

Youngstown State University

$6,453

Miami University Hamilton

$7,406

Miami University Middletown

$7,406

Bowling Green State University

$8,017

Ohio University

$9,444

University of Northwestern Ohio

$9,778

Shawnee State University

$10,156

Cleveland State University

$10,419

University of Akron

$10,610

Ohio State University at Lima

$11,496

Key Takeaways

The most prominent university in Ohio is the Ohio State University, with over 55,000 students and five regional campuses. Ohio is also one of the most preferred states by international students to study for four-year degrees.
The most affordable college in Ohio has an average cost of $9,000 per year. The cheapest colleges on the list are Ohio University Southern Campus, Kent State University, and the University of Cincinnati Clermont College, with an average tuition fee of $6,000.
The most affordable colleges in Ohio included on the list have not only low published tuition fees but also offer high-quality education, financial aid opportunities, and access to various educational alternatives. Students have on-campus and online options that deliver the same academic quality.

Ohio’s Inexpensive Colleges: Are They Worth It

Numerous accredited institutions in Ohio are reasonably-priced and can satisfy your academic demands and career aspirations. And because Ohio’s cost of living is below the national average, more and more international students are transferring to the state.

Ohio can be a great transitional state for international students looking to explore, save money, and become accustomed to American culture while studying for a longer-term academic program commitment in their intended field of study.

Average Cost of College Education in Ohio

In general, the average tuition fee for colleges in Ohio is $9,000. The most affordable colleges, on the other hand, have an average tuition of $6,000. These rates can substantially decrease or increase depending on each student’s enrollment status.

A proven way to afford college is by applying for financial aid. Examples of the cheapest schools that offer great financial aid packages include:

Ohio State University
Central State University
Kent State University
Cincinnati Clermont College
Ohio University Regional Campuses
Wright State University
Shawnee State University
Youngstown State University
Bowling Green State University

However, tuition and other fees are not the only things students need to consider when studying for college. Other things you should consider are housing and transportation. Luckily, the cost of living in Ohio is very affordable.

According to the Education Data Initiative, the cost of room and board at four-year universities ranges from $8,556 to $12,870 annually. Although living off-campus in Ohio can be less expensive, you’ll still need to set aside money for rent, food, gas, and utility costs.

In Ohio, a typical college student might anticipate spending between $1,000 and $1,800 on transportation costs. Additionally, it has been suggested that college students set up at least $1,000 annually for transportation and travel.

Highest-Paid Jobs in Ohio

To ensure that you have the best chance of landing a high-paying job after college, you need to have a degree that leads to in-demand and high-paying career opportunities. But remember, not all cities have the same demand for specific professionals.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports these as some of the top high-paying jobs in Ohio:

Chief Executives
Computer Network Architects
General and Operations Managers
Ophthalmologists, Except for Pediatric
Radiologists
Psychiatrists
Surgeons, All Other
Natural Sciences Managers
Purchasing Managers
Marketing and Sales Managers

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

Ohio's Most Affordable Colleges and Universities Badge — Download Badge

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

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.

There are 29 colleges and universities in Ohio with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in Ohio is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.

Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio 2022

These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.

Build your own college ranking

Ohio’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Image Attributions

Image Source for Ohio State University at Marion