2027 Best Liberal Arts Schools in Ohio
Liberal Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 30 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best liberal arts schools.
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Best Schools for Liberal Arts in Ohio
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the liberal arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts
Our analysis ranked Xavier University the best school in the country for a degree in liberal arts. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Xavier University in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $47,064 early in their careers. Xavier University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Xavier University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 12 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $32,604 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,784.
See the full liberal arts program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Columbus State Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. There were roughly 1,235 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbus State Community College in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $13,082.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Columbus State Community College
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. About 102 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $35,825 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,614 to complete this degree.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 185 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from University Of Akron Main Campus earn around $28,376 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,078 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for University Of Akron Main Campus
Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. There were roughly 1,999 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuyahoga Community College District in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $28,760 in their early career. Cuyahoga Community College District graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts program report for Cuyahoga Community College District
Sinclair Community College came in at #7 for liberal arts this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. About 237 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Sinclair Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $28,086 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,500.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Sinclair Community College
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College came in at #8 for liberal arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 319 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $36,647. Students borrow a median of $15,338 to complete this degree.
See the full liberal arts program report for Cincinnati State Technical And Community College
Antioch University Midwest came in at #9 for liberal arts this year. Set in the rural area of Yellow Springs, Antioch University Midwest is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 13 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Antioch University Midwest in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $46,487 in their early career. Antioch University Midwest graduates carry a median of $29,832 in student loans.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Antioch University Midwest
Lakeland Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Located in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 392 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Lakeland Community College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Lakeland Community College earn a median of $31,743 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Lakeland Community College
Lorain County Community College landed the #11 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public university. Lorain County Community College awarded about 713 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Lorain County Community College earn around $26,257 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,060.
Get the full liberal arts details for Lorain County Community College
University Of Toledo landed the #12 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. University Of Toledo graduates 58% of students within six years. About 125 liberal arts degrees were awarded at University Of Toledo in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $52,675 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $39,961 to complete this degree.
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Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates 61% of students within six years. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 31 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $26,004 in their early career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts details for Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Bowling Green State University Firelands placed #14 among the best liberal arts schools. Set in the rural area of Huron, Bowling Green State University Firelands is a mid-sized public institution. About 244 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Firelands in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Bowling Green State University Firelands earn a median of $23,388 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Bowling Green State University Firelands
College Of Mount St Joseph came in at #15 for liberal arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Cincinnati. College Of Mount St Joseph graduates 56% of students within six years. About 12 liberal arts degrees were awarded at College Of Mount St Joseph in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from College Of Mount St Joseph earn around $69,964 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,273 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from College Of Mount St Joseph
Edison State Community College landed the #16 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Piqua, Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Edison State Community College awarded about 185 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from Edison State Community College generally make around $33,756. Typical student debt for the program is $12,400.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Edison State Community College
Youngstown State University landed the #17 spot for liberal arts this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 95 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Youngstown State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Youngstown State University earn around $31,492 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
More information about a degree in liberal arts from Youngstown State University
Clark State Community College placed #18 among the best liberal arts schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Clark State Community College awarded about 291 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $24,049 in their early career. Clark State Community College graduates carry a median of $14,260 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Clark State Community College
North Central State College came in at #19 for liberal arts this year. Located in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public university. About 13 liberal arts degrees were awarded at North Central State College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts degree recipients from North Central State College generally make around $47,458. Typical student debt for the program is $12,236.
See the full liberal arts program report for North Central State College
Miami University Hamilton ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Hamilton. About 24% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 39 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Hamilton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts program make about $37,494 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Akron Wayne College came in at #21 for liberal arts this year. Set in the rural area of Orrville, University Of Akron Wayne College is a small public institution. University Of Akron Wayne College awarded about 19 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the liberal arts program at University Of Akron Wayne College
Washington State Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Marietta. About 22 liberal arts degrees were awarded at Washington State Community College in the most recent year. Liberal Arts graduates of Washington State Community College earn a median of $45,305 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,291.
See the full liberal arts program report for Washington State Community College
Zane State College landed the #23 spot for liberal arts this year. Zane State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Zanesville. There were roughly 69 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Zane State College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Zane State College earn a median of $35,764 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,500.
See the full liberal arts program report for Zane State College
Southern State Community College placed #24 among the best liberal arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Hillsboro. There were roughly 118 liberal arts students who graduated with this degree at Southern State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts degree from Southern State Community College earn around $29,137 in the first couple years of their career. Southern State Community College graduates carry a median of $10,993 in student loans.
Get the full liberal arts details for Southern State Community College
Ohio University Lancaster Campus came in at #25 for liberal arts this year. Ohio University Lancaster Campus is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Lancaster. About 11% of students finish within six years. Ohio University Lancaster Campus awarded about 18 liberal arts degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts graduates of Ohio University Lancaster Campus earn a median of $35,825 early in their careers. Ohio University Lancaster Campus graduates carry a median of $24,614 in student loans.
Read more about the liberal arts program at Ohio University Lancaster Campus
Rest of the Top 30 Liberal Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for liberal arts this year:
More Liberal Arts Rankings
View All Liberal Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 30 schools evaluated.
- 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.
