Best Accredited Online Colleges in Ohio 2025
Online education in Ohio offers a promising path for students seeking quality higher learning opportunities.
The state's digital programs provide access to top-notch education from respected institutions, often at a more affordable price point than traditional on-campus options. These online offerings cater to both in-state residents and out-of-state applicants, opening doors to Ohio's robust job market.
The flexibility of online learning allows students to balance their studies with work and personal commitments. This approach to education aligns well with Ohio's position as the seventh-largest state economy in the United States, creating a synergy between academic pursuits and career advancement opportunities.
Key Takeaways
- Online colleges in Ohio offer quality education with potential cost savings.
- Digital programs provide flexibility for students balancing work and studies.
- Ohio's strong economy presents diverse job prospects for online graduates.
Related Online Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.Rankings
EDsmart has dug through the data trenches to bring you an easy-to-read, easy-to-digest ranking of the best online colleges in Ohio.
Schools are ranked based on four data points in three categories:
- Affordability (financial aid, net price)
- Student Satisfaction (retention rate)
- Student Outcome (4-year graduation rate)
- Salary After Attending (6 years after leaving the school)
Each data point is ranked with equal weight. Schools received a weighted overall ranking score for each point mentioned above, with 100 being the highest score possible.
In the case of tie-in scoring, the average net price was the determining factor for which school received the higher rank–the lower the net price, the higher the ranking.
All data was gathered from the College Scorecard website and is accurate at the time of this writing.
Best Accredited Online Colleges in Ohio 2025
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Location: Columbus, OH
Admission Rate: 53%
Average SAT Score: 1386
Undergraduate Enrollment: 45,140
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $28,133
In-state Tuition and Fees: $12,485
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $36,722
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $19,976
Median Earnings (10 years): $60,409
Miami University-Oxford
Location: Oxford, OH
Admission Rate: 88%
Average SAT Score: 1312
Undergraduate Enrollment: 16,721
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $35,642
In-state Tuition and Fees: $17,264
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $38,293
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $23,000
Median Earnings (10 years): $55,076
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Admission Rate: 86%
Average SAT Score: 1252
Undergraduate Enrollment: 27,880
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $27,473
In-state Tuition and Fees: $13,176
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $28,540
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $21,250
Median Earnings (10 years): $54,810
Xavier University
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Admission Rate: 85%
Average SAT Score: 1238
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,837
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $59,338
In-state Tuition and Fees: $45,000
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $45,000
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $23,250
Median Earnings (10 years): $64,873
Ohio University-Main Campus
Location: Athens, OH
Admission Rate: 87%
Average SAT Score: 1188
Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,611
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $28,182
In-state Tuition and Fees: $13,352
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $23,720
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $21,056
Median Earnings (10 years): $52,581
Kent State University at Kent
Location: Kent, OH
Admission Rate: 88%
Average SAT Score: 1093
Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,179
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $27,976
In-state Tuition and Fees: $12,464
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $21,570
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $24,500
Median Earnings (10 years): $45,388
Ashland University
Location: Ashland, OH
Admission Rate: 72%
Average SAT Score: 1151
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,332
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $36,822
In-state Tuition and Fees: $24,140
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $24,140
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $25,000
Median Earnings (10 years): $52,928
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Location: Bowling Green, OH
Admission Rate: 79%
Average SAT Score: 1116
Undergraduate Enrollment: 12,223
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $27,721
In-state Tuition and Fees: $13,639
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $22,212
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $25,000
Median Earnings (10 years): $47,896
University of Toledo
Location: Toledo, OH
Admission Rate: 92%
Average SAT Score: 1199
Undergraduate Enrollment: 10,787
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $25,294
In-state Tuition and Fees: $12,020
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $21,380
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $22,250
Median Earnings (10 years): $50,632
Cleveland State University
Location: Cleveland, OH
Admission Rate: 85%
Average SAT Score: 1020
Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,502
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $25,191
In-state Tuition and Fees: $12,254
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $17,469
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $21,797
Median Earnings (10 years): $52,131
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Location: Mount Vernon, OH
Admission Rate: 85%
Average SAT Score: 1119
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,481
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $46,543
In-state Tuition and Fees: $34,168
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $34,168
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $25,000
Median Earnings (10 years): $49,555
Franklin University
Location: Columbus, OH
Admission Rate: Data unavailable
Average SAT Score: Data unavailable
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,117
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $25,199
In-state Tuition and Fees: $9,577
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $9,577
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $20,836
Median Earnings (10 years): $51,892
Sinclair Community College
Location: Dayton, OH
Admission Rate: Data unavailable
Average SAT Score: Data unavailable
Undergraduate Enrollment: 12,623
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $10,184
In-state Tuition and Fees: $3,435
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $8,316
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $12,000
Median Earnings (10 years): $37,558
Muskingum University
Location: New Concord, OH
Admission Rate: 86%
Average SAT Score: 1024
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,436
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $43,742
In-state Tuition and Fees: $30,690
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $30,690
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $25,369
Median Earnings (10 years): $48,440
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Admission Rate: Data unavailable
Average SAT Score: Data unavailable
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,501
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $13,779
In-state Tuition and Fees: $5,274
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $9,558
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $14,715
Median Earnings (10 years): $40,137
Clark State College
Location: Springfield, OH
Admission Rate: Data unavailable
Average SAT Score: Data unavailable
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,117
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $12,712
In-state Tuition and Fees: $4,152
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $7,568
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $14,490
Median Earnings (10 years): $39,584
Tiffin University
Location: Tiffin, OH
Admission Rate: 83%
Average SAT Score: Data unavailable
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,985
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $44,369
In-state Tuition and Fees: $30,120
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $30,120
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $27,000
Median Earnings (10 years): $35,942
Ohio Christian University
Location: Circleville, OH
Admission Rate: Data unavailable
Average SAT Score: Data unavailable
Undergraduate Enrollment: 929
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Average Cost of Attendance: $33,152
In-state Tuition and Fees: $23,050
Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $23,050
Median Total Debt After Graduation: $29,579
Median Earnings (10 years): $39,813
Further Reading: Cheapest Online Colleges
10 Growing Career Paths in Ohio
Ohio's job market is changing rapidly. Many jobs in technology and healthcare are seeing big growth. Here's a look at some careers that are on the rise in Ohio:
- Nurse Practitioners
- Statisticians
- Medical and Health Services Managers
- Physician Assistants
- Logisticians
- Information Security Analysts
- Data Scientists
- Physical Therapist Assistants
- Interpreters and Translators
- Epidemiologists
These jobs are expected to grow a lot in the next few years. They offer good pay too. For example, nurse practitioners in Ohio earn about $122,870 per year. Data scientists and statisticians also make good money, with yearly pay around $90,000 to $100,000.
Healthcare jobs are big in Ohio. Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and medical managers are all needed. These jobs pay well and are growing fast.
Tech jobs are also booming. Information security analysts protect computer networks. Data scientists work with big sets of numbers. Both of these jobs are in high demand.
Other growing fields include logistics, physical therapy, and language services. These careers offer different ways to help people and businesses.
Fields of Study for Ohio's Job Market
Students in Ohio have many options to prepare for these growing jobs. Here are some areas of study to think about:
- Business: This field can lead to jobs in healthcare management or logistics.
- Nursing: A nursing degree can open doors to many healthcare roles.
- Computer Science: This is great for those interested in data or cybersecurity jobs.
- Math: Math degrees are useful for statistician and data scientist roles.
- Healthcare Administration: This prepares students to manage medical facilities.
- Biology: This can lead to jobs in epidemiology or other science fields.
- Foreign Languages: Studying languages can prepare someone to be an interpreter.
- Physical Therapy: This degree leads directly to jobs as physical therapist assistants.
These fields of study match up well with Ohio's top jobs. They give students skills that employers in Ohio need. By choosing one of these majors, students can set themselves up for success in Ohio's changing job market.
Living Expenses in Ohio
Living in Ohio can be budget-friendly for college students. The state offers lower costs for many essential expenses compared to national averages. A single adult without children might expect to spend around these amounts each month:
| Expense Category | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Housing | $774 |
| Food | $347 |
| Transportation | $826 |
| Healthcare | $255 |
These figures show that Ohio provides affordable options for basic needs. Students can find reasonable prices for apartments, groceries, and medical care. Transportation costs are a bit higher, but overall, Ohio remains a cost-effective choice for higher education.
Money-Saving Options for Online Learning in Ohio
Financial Perks for Non-Residents Studying in Ohio
Ohio offers many ways to cut college costs. Online students can tap into numerous scholarships. These can make higher education more budget-friendly.
Many awards aim to boost Ohio's talent pool. For example, a STEM scholarship helps tech-minded students. In 2021-22, it gave four-year college students about $4,324. Two-year college students got around $2,226.
Some schools have big awards too. Ohio State University covers all costs for some high-achieving, low-income students. They pick at least two students from each Ohio county each year.
Another program rewards top high school graduates. It gives up to $5,000 yearly for four years to students in the top 5% of their class. The goal is to keep bright minds in Ohio.
There's also help for tri-state area students. A $20,000 award from a local foundation supports those heading to certain schools in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Students must show financial need and write an essay.
Ohio values its service members too. Current and former National Guard members can get full tuition coverage. This applies to many degree types, including associate, bachelor's, and nursing programs.
Ohio also helps out-of-state students save money. It has deals with Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Students from these states can pay less at some Ohio schools. Big names like Ohio University and the University of Cincinnati take part.
To get these perks, students should check each program's rules. Look at:
- Who can apply
- What you need to do
- When to send in your application
Be sure to read all instructions carefully. Don't miss out on free money for school!
Here's a quick look at some Ohio scholarship amounts:
| Scholarship | Amount |
|---|---|
| STEM Award | $4,324 (4-year) / $2,226 (2-year) |
| Top 5% Program | Up to $5,000/year for 4 years |
| Tri-State Area Award | $20,000 total |
| National Guard Benefit | 100% tuition coverage |
Remember, these numbers can change. Always check for the most up-to-date info when you apply.
Common Questions About Online College in Ohio
What is the most affordable online college option in Ohio?
Eastern Gateway Community College offers the lowest-cost online associate degree programs in Ohio. For the 2023-2024 academic year, tuition at EGCC was $4,385 per semester. This makes it a budget-friendly choice for students seeking online education in the state.
Which online colleges in Ohio have high acceptance rates?
Several four-year schools in Ohio boast high acceptance rates, making them more accessible for prospective students. Some of these institutions include:
- Art Academy of Cincinnati
- Bluffton University
- Columbus College of Art & Design
- University of Toledo
- Wright State University
What are the typical costs for online college in Ohio?
Online program costs in Ohio often mirror on-campus tuition rates. For the 2021-22 academic year, average in-state tuition at public four-year schools was $10,456. Private institutions averaged $36,136.
Some benefits of online learning include:
- Potential savings on housing and transportation
- Reduced fees for on-campus services
- Possible discounts for online programs
Can I attend Ohio online colleges for free?
While fully free online college is rare, Ohio does offer a program called College Credit Plus. This initiative allows public high school students to earn college credits at no cost before they graduate. It's a great way for students to get a head start on their college education and save money.
Is Ohio residency required for online college attendance?
Many online colleges in Ohio welcome out-of-state students who meet admission criteria. Tuition policies vary:
- Some schools charge out-of-state rates
- Others offer discounted online tuition
- Reciprocity agreements may allow for in-state tuition in some cases
It's best to check with individual schools about their policies for non-resident online students.