What are the admission requirements for online master’s degree programs in Ohio?–

Application materials for master’s degrees in online colleges are similar to the admission requirements for on-campus programs in Ohio. While specific admission criteria vary from institution to institution, it is important to prepare the following common requirements beforehand and pay attention to the deadlines of the schools in your list of top choices. Undergraduate transcripts. Writing sample. Personal statement. Letters of recommendation. Standardized Test Scores (GRE/GMAT) Several graduate programs nationwide have recently stopped requiring GRE/GMAT results for admittance. Due to concerns about the GRE/GMAT’s unreliability as a predictor of student retention or success. Because of its exclusion of minorities, some colleges and universities believe it should not be a prerequisite for either on-campus or online master’s programs. The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the occurrence of graduate schools not requiring standardized test scores.

Best Online Master’s Programs in Ohio 2024

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Updated: Nov 27, 2023

Ohio State University
University of Cincinnati
Miami University
Ohio University
Kent State University
University of Akron
Cleveland State University
University of Toledo
Xavier University
John Carroll University

University of Toledo 92%
Miami University 88%
Kent State University 88%
Ohio University 87%
University of Cincinnati 86%
Xavier University 85%
Cleveland State University 85%
Mount Vernon Nazarene University 85%
Ursuline College 85%
University of Akron 83%

Kent State University 19 to 1
University of Cincinnati 18 to 1
Youngstown State University 18 to 1
Ohio University 18 to 1
Ohio State University 17 to 1
University of Toledo 17 to 1
University of Akron 16 to 1
Cleveland State University 16 to 1
Miami University 15 to 1
John Carroll University 14 to 1

John Carroll University $47,290
Xavier University $45,000
Ursuline College $36,816
Defiance College $35,328
Lake Erie College $35,024
Mount St. Joseph University $34,900
Mount Vernon Nazarene University $34,168
Notre Dame College $31,950
Lourdes University $28,650
Ohio Christian University $23,050

Ursuline College $22,320
Union Institute & University $15,911
Lourdes University $15,779
University of Toledo $15,053
John Carroll University $14,699
Mount St. Joseph University $13,412
Miami University $13,396
University of Cincinnati $13,224
Lake Erie College $12,618
Ohio State University $12,092

University of Toledo
Miami University
Cleveland State University
Lourdes University
Defiance College
Mount St. Joseph University
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Ohio Christian University
Ursuline College
Lake Erie College

Ohio Christian University
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Defiance College
Lourdes University
Mount St. Joseph University
Ursuline College
Notre Dame College
Lake Erie College
Union Institute & University
Youngstown State University

Ohio State University 53%
Lake Erie College 54%
Mount St. Joseph University 54%
Lourdes University 60%
Defiance College 63%
Notre Dame College 79%
Youngstown State University 81%
John Carroll University 82%
University of Akron 83%
Ursuline College 85%

Union Institute & University 6 to 1
Ursuline College 7 to 1
Ohio Christian University 8 to 1
Defiance College 10 to 1
Mount St. Joseph University 10 to 1
Xavier University 11 to 1
Lake Erie College 11 to 1
Notre Dame College 11 to 1
Mount Vernon Nazarene University 11 to 1
Lourdes University 13 to 1

University of Toledo $9,391
Youngstown State University $9,426
University of Akron $10,097
University of Cincinnati $10,656
Kent State University $11,218
Ohio State University $11,525
Cleveland State University $12,144
Ohio University $13,352
Miami University $13,678
Union Institute & University $17,141

Youngstown State University $6,494
University of Akron $7,958
Defiance College $8,226
Ohio University $9,444
Cleveland State University $10,627
Mount Vernon Nazarene University $10,674
Ohio Christian University $11,160
Xavier University $12,060
Kent State University $12,071
Ohio State University $12,092

Table of Contents

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 programs. Faculty and alumni with influential ideas are the foundation of respectable online colleges that employers can trust.

Ohio is not one of the largest US state in terms of land area, but it is one of the most populous states, with nearly 11.8 million people. The Buckeye State is known for several things. It is home to several popular professional sports teams and has a vibrant art and music scene.

In terms of education, Ohio doesn’t come last. The state has different types of higher education learning environments, such as huge universities and smaller colleges. There are both large and medium-sized schools in each of the major cities. Additionally, there are both public and private universities.

There are many online master’s programs to pick from, with so many online colleges in Ohio. For academic rigor and all-around student development, the greatest colleges in Ohio compete with many other universities nationwide.

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 school, 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 Ohio.

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.

What are Ohio’s Colleges & Universities?

Ohio’s Best Overall

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

An online master’s degree in Ohio costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s degree will depend on the type of grad school you attend.

In 2018-2019, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,394. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $28,445.

An online master’s degree will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction.

But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses.

Many online master’s degree programs are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.

If this is your first time taking online courses, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently.

You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online programs, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

Application materials for master’s degrees in online colleges are similar to the admission requirements for on-campus programs in Ohio. While specific admission criteria vary from institution to institution, it is important to prepare the following common requirements beforehand and pay attention to the deadlines of the schools in your list of top choices.

Undergraduate transcripts
Writing sample
Personal statement
Letters of recommendation
Standardized Test Scores (GRE/GMAT)

Several graduate programs nationwide have recently stopped requiring GRE/GMAT results for admittance. Due to concerns about the GRE/GMAT’s unreliability as a predictor of student retention or success. Because of its exclusion of minorities, some colleges and universities believe it should not be a prerequisite for either on-campus or online master’s programs. The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the occurrence of graduate schools not requiring standardized test scores.

Obtaining the highest ROI is possible, thanks to low-cost and convenient online graduate programs. Master’s degrees are positioned right alongside bachelor’s, following associate degree programs, in the hierarchy of educational attainment with favorable ROIs. This underscores the value of pursuing a master’s degree as a prudent investment.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections reveal the upward trajectory of master’s degrees in terms of job prospects; and the trend is anticipated to continue. This trend is particularly pronounced in healthcare, encompassing roles such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Furthermore, occupations within STEM fields, education, and business management are also poised for sustained growth.

The steady expansion of job opportunities within the STEM sector, particularly in engineering, is indeed foreseeable. Pew Research Center data reveals that the STEM field experienced consistent growth, nearly 80%, from 1990 to 2018.

Specialized MBA programs, including those focused on finance, business administration, economics, and marketing, consistently yield substantial ROIs for master’s students.

It’s important to note that ROI can vary depending on several factors. The cost of tuition and living expenses, the likelihood of debt burden, the job market forecast in your area, and the location where you plan to work are all important considerations when evaluating the return on investment of a master’s degree program. Additionally, the program’s networking, internship, and job placement opportunities affect your professional success and return on investment.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college in Ohio, 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 employers in Ohio 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.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

How do we determine Ohio's best online Master's degree programs?

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.

young college student working on an online course

Best Online Master’s Program in Ohio 2023

How to Pick The Best Online Master’s Degree Major

Choosing the right online master’s degree major is a crucial decision impacting your career and personal development.

Determine your motivation for pursuing a master’s degree first. What are your goals for your master’s degree? Once you are aware of your motivations for pursuing a graduate degree, take some time to investigate several programs to determine which is best for you and your financial situation.

Program focus

Numerous concentrations are available in many master’s degrees that can help you hone your skills. For instance, MPH students can specialize in epidemiology, global health, or environmental health, and MBA students might specialize in marketing, operations, or management. Look for programs that let you concentrate or focus on learning about a specialized subject.

Accreditation

Before anything else, you need to consider the institution’s accreditation. This will give you the confidence and assurance that you’ll receive a quality education. Regional accreditation is the most prestigious accreditation that colleges and universities in the US can receive. Furthermore, regionally accredited online colleges have better financial aid opportunities for students enrolled.

Many of the best accredited online colleges also have programmatic accreditation tied to specific fields or professions. Programmatic accreditation is required in various professions before graduates can apply for licensing or certification. For instance, in the United States, many healthcare programs need accreditation by particular organizations before their graduates work as certified healthcare practitioners.

Flexibility and structure

While flexibility should be available with an online master’s program, it may vary by institution or program. Some online master’s degrees are completed entirely online, while others include online and in-person coursework. You can choose master’s programs that meet your demands depending on your desired structure.

To choose the ideal method for your schedule, learn whether your courses will be synchronous or asynchronous and how much you can work at your own pace.

Learning technology

To manage online learning, each college or university uses a different technology. Knowing the kinds of learning management systems (LMS) and other virtual tools you might use is useful.

Faculty credentials

It matters who finally instructs your classes. Spend time researching the online professors for each degree; depending on the institution, many professors also teach in-person classes. Consider how their experience or educational background will advance your learning.

Networking

Not all online master’s programs encourage peer networking, but if you’re interested, you should look for programs that offer that opportunity.

Industries Driving Growth in Ohio

With a wide range of sectors supporting it, Ohio is a thriving center of economic activity that has shaped the state’s history and will continue to do so. Manufacturing, healthcare, technology, logistics, agriculture, and other thriving industries are all present in the Buckeye State. These sectors offer security and expansion and serve as a haven for people looking to advance their careers.

Graduate programs specifically designed for Ohio’s driving industries can open up a world of possibilities and empower professionals to handle the constantly changing environment with knowledge, innovation, and impact.

According to IBIS World, Ohio’s top five thriving industries are Manufacturing, Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, Finance and Insurance, Healthcare and Social Assistance, and Retail Trade.

Ohio’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

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Best Online Master’s Programs in Ohio 2024

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in Ohio

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Ohio

What are Ohio’s Colleges & Universities?

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

How much does an online master’s degree in Ohio cost?

What can I expect from online courses in Ohio?

What are the admission requirements for online master’s degree programs in Ohio?

What are the best-paying master’s degrees in Ohio?

Will employers in Ohio respect my online degree?

What are the advantages of online classes in Ohio?

What are the disadvantages of online classes in Ohio?

Best Online Master’s Program in Ohio 2023

Career Outlook for degree at Ohio State University

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Career Outlook for degree at University of Cincinnati

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Career Outlook for degree at University of Akron

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Career Outlook for degree at Kent State University

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Career Outlook for degree at John Carroll University

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Career Outlook for degree at Xavier University

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Career Outlook for degree at Youngstown State 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 Ohio Christian University

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Career Outlook for degree at Mount Vernon Nazarene University

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Career Outlook for degree at Mount St. Joseph University

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Career Outlook for degree at Defiance College

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Career Outlook for degree at Lourdes University

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Career Outlook for degree at Cleveland State University

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Career Outlook for degree at Miami University

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Career Outlook for degree at University of Toledo

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How to Pick The Best Online Master’s Degree Major

Program focus

Accreditation