Best Online Colleges in Ohio 2024

Published: Jan 4, 2022
Updated: Nov 22, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Ohio ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.

Top 10 Online Colleges in Ohio

University of Cincinnati
Miami University
Xavier University
University of Akron
Hiram College
Youngstown State University
Muskingum University
Union Institute & University
Ursuline College
University of Cincinnati Clermont College

University of Cincinnati
Miami University
University of Akron
Xavier University
Youngstown State University
Hiram College
Union Institute & University
Muskingum University
Herzing University
University of Cincinnati Clermont College

Hiram College 93%
Miami University 88%
University of Cincinnati 86%
Muskingum University 86%
Xavier University 85%
Mount Vernon Nazarene University 85%
Ursuline College 85%
University of Akron 83%
Youngstown State University 81%
Notre Dame College 79%

University of Cincinnati Clermont College 20 to 1
University of Cincinnati 18 to 1
Youngstown State University 18 to 1
University of Akron 16 to 1
Miami University 15 to 1
Muskingum University 13 to 1
Mount Vernon Nazarene University 11 to 1
Notre Dame College 11 to 1
Xavier University 11 to 1
Hiram College 10 to 1

Xavier University $45,000
Ursuline College $36,816
Mount Vernon Nazarene University $34,168
Notre Dame College $31,950
Muskingum University $30,690
Hiram College $25,500
Ohio Christian University $23,050
Union Institute & University $17,141
Miami University $13,678
University of Cincinnati $10,656

Ursuline College $22,320
Union Institute & University $15,911
Miami University $13,396
University of Cincinnati $13,224
Xavier University $12,060
Ohio Christian University $11,160
Mount Vernon Nazarene University $10,674
Muskingum University $10,440
University of Akron $7,958
Hiram College $6,612

Herzing University
Notre Dame College
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Ohio Christian University
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
Ursuline College
Union Institute & University
Muskingum University
Youngstown State University
Hiram College

Ohio Christian University
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Ursuline College
Notre Dame College
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
Herzing University
Muskingum University
Union Institute & University
Hiram College
Youngstown State University

Notre Dame College 79%
Youngstown State University 81%
University of Akron 83%
Ursuline College 85%
Mount Vernon Nazarene University 85%
Xavier University 85%
Muskingum University 86%
University of Cincinnati 86%
Miami University 88%
Hiram College 93%

Union Institute & University 6 to 1
Ursuline College 7 to 1
Ohio Christian University 8 to 1
Hiram College 10 to 1
Mount Vernon Nazarene University 11 to 1
Notre Dame College 11 to 1
Xavier University 11 to 1
Muskingum University 13 to 1
Miami University 15 to 1
University of Akron 16 to 1

University of Cincinnati Clermont College $5,628
Youngstown State University $9,426
University of Akron $10,097
University of Cincinnati $10,656
Miami University $13,678
Union Institute & University $17,141
Ohio Christian University $23,050
Hiram College $25,500
Muskingum University $30,690
Notre Dame College $31,950

Youngstown State University $6,494
Hiram College $6,612
University of Akron $7,958
Muskingum University $10,440
Mount Vernon Nazarene University $10,674
Ohio Christian University $11,160
Xavier University $12,060
University of Cincinnati $13,224
Miami University $13,396
Union Institute & University $15,911

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

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

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2024

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Online Colleges in Ohio 2023

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Best Online Colleges in Ohio 2024

Top 10 Online Colleges in Ohio

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Ohio

What are Ohio’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Colleges in Ohio 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Cincinnati

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Career Outlook for degree at Miami University

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Career Outlook for degree at Xavier University

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Career Outlook for degree at University of Akron

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Career Outlook for degree at Hiram College

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Career Outlook for degree at Youngstown State University

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Career Outlook for degree at Muskingum University

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Career Outlook for degree at Union Institute & University

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Career Outlook for degree at Ursuline College

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Career Outlook for degree at University of Cincinnati Clermont College

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Career Outlook for degree at Ohio Christian University

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Career Outlook for degree at Mount Vernon Nazarene University

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