2027 Best Value General Education Schools in Ohio
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/education-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for general education students.
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2027 Best Value General Education Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Education Schools
North Central State College tops our 2027 list of the best value general education schools in Ohio. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,786 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,374 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,236 to complete the general education program here. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from North Central State College generally make around $47,458. Set against $12,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stark State College earned it the #2 place for general education. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $15,957 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $42,724. Set against $15,957 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. General Education graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. General Education graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $60,633 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
A rank of #4 makes Central State University one of the best values for general education. Set in the rural area of Wilberforce, Central State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,058, with out-of-state students paying around $10,058. Students borrow a median of $31,318 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Central State University earn a median of $27,388 early in their careers. Set against $31,318 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general education will find it at Cleveland State University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,336 in student loans. General Education graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $77,366 early in their careers. Set against $26,336 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Wright State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $25,836. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $49,077. That is a strong return on a $25,836 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Mount St Joseph landed the #7 spot for general education value this year. College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,150. Students borrow a median of $28,273 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $69,964. That is a strong return on a $28,273 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Muskingum University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Muskingum University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of New Concord. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,701. General Education graduates carry a median of $26,932 in student loans. General Education graduates of Muskingum University earn a median of $39,918 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,932 median debt. Muskingum University admits about 82% of applicants.
Bluffton University placed #9 among the best values for general education. Bluffton University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bluffton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,362. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $41,821. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Walsh University placed #10 among the best values for general education. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Walsh University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,030. General Education graduates carry a median of $28,064 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $53,629. That is a strong return on a $28,064 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Lake Erie College landed the #11 spot for general education value this year. Lake Erie College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Painesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,634. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Lake Erie College earn a median of $65,474 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,250 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Wilmington College landed the #12 spot for general education value this year. Wilmington College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Wilmington. Students from in state pay about $32,082 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $37,015. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Franklin University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $9,577 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $35,890 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Franklin University earn a median of $57,471 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,890 median debt.
The University Of Findlay landed the #14 spot for general education value this year. The University Of Findlay is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Findlay. In-state tuition and fees average $41,164. Students borrow a median of $25,759 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $49,309. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Findlay admits about 83% of applicants.
John Carroll University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,500. General Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from John Carroll University generally make around $37,978. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. John Carroll University admits about 81% of applicants.
Denison University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,000. Students borrow a median of $25,360 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $39,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 17%.
More General Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
