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

best_online_colleges_ohio_edsmart

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

1

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

Average Net Price
$17,953
Retention Rate
93%
Graduation Rate
80%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$51,438
2

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

Average Net Price
$24,791
Retention Rate
89%
Graduation Rate
81%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$49,773
3

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

Average Net Price
$21,804
Retention Rate
86%
Graduation Rate
70%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$48,310
4

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

Average Net Price
$26,310
Retention Rate
84%
Graduation Rate
69%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$54,758
5

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

Average Net Price
$20,070
Retention Rate
79%
Graduation Rate
68%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$48,991
6

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

Average Net Price
$18,340
Retention Rate
78%
Graduation Rate
63%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$40,179
7

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

Average Net Price
$20,551
Retention Rate
70%
Graduation Rate
65%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$47,722
8

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

Average Net Price
$20,879
Retention Rate
77%
Graduation Rate
64%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$41,281
9

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

Average Net Price
$17,142
Retention Rate
75%
Graduation Rate
51%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$44,162
10

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

Average Net Price
$15,639
Retention Rate
69%
Graduation Rate
53%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$44,625
11

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

Average Net Price
$23,247
Retention Rate
70%
Graduation Rate
67%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$43,046
12

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

Average Net Price
$15,502
Retention Rate
50%
Graduation Rate
45%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$49,189
13

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

Average Net Price
$5,628
Retention Rate
73%
Graduation Rate
23%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$33,821
14

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

Average Net Price
$19,930
Retention Rate
68%
Graduation Rate
56%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$40,536
15

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

Average Net Price
$7,826
Retention Rate
22%
Graduation Rate
21%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$35,314
16

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

Average Net Price
$8,674
Retention Rate
0%
Graduation Rate
27%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$32,341
17

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

Average Net Price
$25,756
Retention Rate
60%
Graduation Rate
42%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$42,475
18

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

Average Net Price
$20,879
Retention Rate
61%
Graduation Rate
30%
Median Earnings (6 years)
$34,457

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:

  1. Nurse Practitioners
  2. Statisticians
  3. Medical and Health Services Managers
  4. Physician Assistants
  5. Logisticians
  6. Information Security Analysts
  7. Data Scientists
  8. Physical Therapist Assistants
  9. Interpreters and Translators
  10. 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:

  1. Business: This field can lead to jobs in healthcare management or logistics.
  2. Nursing: A nursing degree can open doors to many healthcare roles.
  3. Computer Science: This is great for those interested in data or cybersecurity jobs.
  4. Math: Math degrees are useful for statistician and data scientist roles.
  5. Healthcare Administration: This prepares students to manage medical facilities.
  6. Biology: This can lead to jobs in epidemiology or other science fields.
  7. Foreign Languages: Studying languages can prepare someone to be an interpreter.
  8. 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 CategoryMonthly 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:

ScholarshipAmount
STEM Award$4,324 (4-year) / $2,226 (2-year)
Top 5% ProgramUp to $5,000/year for 4 years
Tri-State Area Award$20,000 total
National Guard Benefit100% 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.

Related Online Programs That Might Interest You

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Take the next step toward your future with online learning.

Discover schools with the programs and courses you’re interested in, and start learning today.
crossmenuchevron-down