by our College Data Analytics TeamOhio State University Main Campus ranks #1 of 104 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Ohio ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 67% six-year graduation rate and $69,748 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Ohio, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **104** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 104 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.
Ohio State University Main Campus leads the 104 ranked colleges in Ohio, followed by University Of Dayton (#2) and Case Western Reserve University (#3). Here are the top-ranked colleges:
No school ranked higher than Ohio State University Main Campus this year in Ohio. Set in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,088 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete a degree here.
University Of Dayton came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Ohio. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dayton, OH. About 80% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,140. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,077. University Of Dayton students take on a median of $25,033 in debt.
The strong outcomes at Case Western Reserve University earned it the #3 place in Ohio. Located in Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $66,608. Early-career graduates earn a median of $74,459. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Miami University Oxford, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in Oxford, OH. About 80% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,700. Graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans.
Out of the 104 colleges in Ohio in this year's ranking, Kenyon College landed the #5 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Gambier, OH. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $71,520 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,976 early in their careers. The median student debt is $18,114.
Denison University landed the #6 spot in Ohio this year. Denison University is a private not-for-profit school based in Granville, OH. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $67,000 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $39,797. The median student debt is $25,360.
Xavier University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Cincinnati, OH, Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,425. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,045. Xavier University students take on a median of $26,614 in debt.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #8 spot in Ohio this year. This public school is set in Cincinnati, OH. About 74% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,659. Typical student debt is $23,530.
John Carroll University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. John Carroll University is a private not-for-profit school based in University Heights, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,500. Median early-career earnings reach $44,308. John Carroll University students take on a median of $26,131 in debt.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Athens, OH, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Ohio University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,736. The median student debt is $24,546.
The College Of Wooster ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. The College Of Wooster is a private not-for-profit school based in Wooster, OH. About 74% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,640. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,382 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,936 to complete a degree here.
Cedarville University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Cedarville, OH, Cedarville University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $37,150. Median early-career earnings reach $57,104. Graduates carry a median of $22,110 in student loans.
Ohio Northern University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Ohio Northern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Ada, OH. About 72% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $39,600 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,878 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,661.
Oberlin College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Oberlin, OH, Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Oberlin College graduates 81% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $67,366 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $25,146. The median student debt is $24,759.
Mount Carmel College Of Nursing ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Columbus, OH. Mount Carmel College Of Nursing posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,600. Graduates go on to earn a median of $88,238 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #16 among the best colleges in Ohio. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public school based in Bowling Green, OH. About 61% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Median early-career earnings reach $45,196. Typical student debt is $25,449.
University Of Toledo ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Toledo, OH, University Of Toledo is a public institution. University Of Toledo graduates 58% of students within six years. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,923 to complete a degree here.
Otterbein University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Otterbein University is a private not-for-profit school based in Westerville, OH. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $35,548 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,871. Typical student debt is $25,282.
Marietta College did well this year, earning the #19 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Marietta, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees average $39,652. Early-career graduates earn a median of $79,641. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Baldwin Wallace College landed the #20 spot in Ohio this year. Set in Berea, OH, Baldwin Wallace College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,832. Median early-career earnings reach $46,668. Baldwin Wallace College students take on a median of $27,307 in debt.
University Of Mount Union did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Alliance, OH, University Of Mount Union is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Mount Union posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,600. Median early-career earnings reach $52,058. University Of Mount Union students take on a median of $26,988 in debt.
Wittenberg University placed #22 among the best colleges in Ohio. Set in Springfield, OH, Wittenberg University is a private not-for-profit institution. Wittenberg University posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Students from in state pay about $45,940 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,093. Typical student debt is $27,000.
The University Of Findlay came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based in Findlay, OH, The University Of Findlay is a private not-for-profit institution. The University Of Findlay posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. Students from in state pay about $41,164 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,676. The University Of Findlay students take on a median of $25,759 in debt.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Kent State University At Kent is a public school based in Kent, OH. Kent State University At Kent posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Kent State University At Kent graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,776. Typical student debt is $25,174.
Franklin University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Based in Columbus, OH, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 3% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,577. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,471. Students borrow a median of $35,890 to complete a degree here.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 104 in Ohio. Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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.