2026 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Ohio
With all of the college options in Ohio, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **51** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 51 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Top 25 Colleges in Ohio
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Ohio. Located in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,659. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus students take on a median of $23,530 in debt.
A rank of #2 makes Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute one of the top colleges in Ohio. Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a public school based in Wooster, OH. In-state tuition and fees average $9,584, while out-of-state students pay about $36,362. Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,898. Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute students take on a median of $12,286 in debt.
Out of the 51 colleges in Ohio in this year's ranking, Ashland University landed the #3 spot. Ashland University is a private not-for-profit school based in Ashland, OH. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,210. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,852. The median student debt is $24,536.
Ohio State University Newark Campus came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Ohio. This public school is set in Newark, OH. Roughly 3% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,488, while out-of-state students pay about $36,266. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,282. Ohio State University Newark Campus students take on a median of $22,401 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of Toledo earned it the #5 place in Ohio. Set in Toledo, OH, University Of Toledo is a public institution. University Of Toledo posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,675. Graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans.
The Christ College Of Nursing And Health Sciences did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Cincinnati, OH, The Christ College Of Nursing And Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,568. Early-career graduates earn a median of $62,532. Typical student debt is $33,202.
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #7 spot in Ohio this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a public school based in Akron, OH. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,045. University Of Akron Main Campus students take on a median of $25,347 in debt.
Mercy College Of Ohio came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Toledo, OH, Mercy College Of Ohio is a private not-for-profit institution. Mercy College Of Ohio graduates 56% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $19,345 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,523 early in their careers. The median student debt is $32,128.
Franklin University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Columbus, OH, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 3%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,577. Median early-career earnings reach $57,471. The median student debt is $35,890.
The University Of Findlay landed the #10 spot in Ohio this year. Located in Findlay, OH, The University Of Findlay is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,164. The University Of Findlay graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,676. Graduates carry a median of $25,759 in student loans.
Kettering College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Kettering, OH. About 62% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,320 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,573. Graduates carry a median of $32,543 in student loans.
Ohio University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #12 position. Ohio University Main Campus is a public school based in Athens, OH. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Median early-career earnings reach $49,736. Typical student debt is $24,546.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College did well this year, earning the #13 position. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a public school based in Blue Ash, OH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, compared with $15,904 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,936. Typical student debt is $19,408.
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Batavia, OH, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,639, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. University Of Cincinnati Clermont College graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,106. Typical student debt is $19,525.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit institution. Franciscan University Of Steubenville graduates 75% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,100. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,020 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,029.
Ohio State University Marion Campus placed #16 among the best colleges in Ohio. Based in Marion, OH, Ohio State University Marion Campus is a public institution. Ohio State University Marion Campus graduates 11% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,488 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,266. Early-career graduates earn a median of $34,786. Graduates carry a median of $22,201 in student loans.
Ohio State University Mansfield Campus landed the #17 spot in Ohio this year. Set in Mansfield, OH, Ohio State University Mansfield Campus is a public institution. Ohio State University Mansfield Campus graduates 6% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,488 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,266. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,030. The median student debt is $22,011.
Good Samaritan College Of Nursing And Health Science came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Cincinnati, OH, Good Samaritan College Of Nursing And Health Science is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $15,470 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,409 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,968.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University placed #19 among the best colleges in Ohio. Located in Mount Vernon, OH, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,193. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,377. Typical student debt is $26,602.
Ohio State University Lima Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Ohio State University Lima Campus is a public school based in Lima, OH. Ohio State University Lima Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 14%. Students from in state pay about $9,488 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,266. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,153 early in their careers. The median student debt is $22,414.
University Of Northwestern Ohio came in at #21 in this year's ranking. University Of Northwestern Ohio is a private not-for-profit school based in Lima, OH. University Of Northwestern Ohio graduates 32% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,366 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $44,784. Students borrow a median of $23,805 to complete a degree here.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Cincinnati, OH, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Median early-career earnings reach $47,975. The median student debt is $17,730.
Columbus State Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Columbus State Community College is a public school based in Columbus, OH. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete a degree here.
Sinclair Community College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Sinclair Community College is a public school based in Dayton, OH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $35,348. Graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans.
Marion Technical College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Marion, OH, Marion Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,595, compared with $11,225 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $48,132. Students borrow a median of $11,828 to complete a degree here.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Colleges in Ohio
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
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Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
