by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Ohio, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **19** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 19 graduate schools using more than 20 objective factors 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Case Western Reserve University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Ohio. Set in Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Median early-career earnings reach $74,459. The median student debt is $25,106.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Ohio. Located in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $58,088. Ohio State University Main Campus students take on a median of $22,053 in debt.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Dayton one of the top graduate schools in Ohio. Set in Dayton, OH, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Dayton posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. In-state tuition and fees average $49,140. University Of Dayton graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,077. Graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Ohio. Set in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,659. The median student debt is $23,530.
You'll be in good company at Miami University Oxford, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Oxford, OH, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Median early-career earnings reach $49,700. The median student debt is $24,177.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Athens, OH, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,546.
University Of Toledo ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Toledo, OH, University Of Toledo is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. University Of Toledo graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,675. University Of Toledo students take on a median of $24,923 in debt.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #8 spot in Ohio this year. Set in Kent, OH, Kent State University At Kent is a public institution. Kent State University At Kent posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,776 early in their careers. Kent State University At Kent students take on a median of $25,174 in debt.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in Bowling Green, OH. Bowling Green State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,196 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,449 to complete a degree here.
Franklin University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set in Columbus, OH, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 3% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,577. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,471 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $35,890.
The University Of Findlay came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Findlay, OH, The University Of Findlay is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Students from in state pay about $41,164 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,676. Students borrow a median of $25,759 to complete a degree here.
Cleveland State University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Cleveland, OH, Cleveland State University is a public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $49,648. Students borrow a median of $26,336 to complete a degree here.
Ashland University landed the #13 spot in Ohio this year. Located in Ashland, OH, Ashland University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees average $31,210. Median early-career earnings reach $48,852. Typical student debt is $24,536.
Wright State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #14 position. This public school is set in Dayton, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,077 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,836.
Youngstown State University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Youngstown, OH, Youngstown State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,025. Youngstown State University students take on a median of $26,373 in debt.
University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Akron, OH, University Of Akron Main Campus is a public institution. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates 52% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,045 early in their careers. University Of Akron Main Campus students take on a median of $25,347 in debt.
Antioch University Midwest ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Yellow Springs, OH, Antioch University Midwest is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $17,073 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,856 early in their careers. Antioch University Midwest students take on a median of $33,752 in debt.
Tiffin University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Tiffin University is a private not-for-profit school based in Tiffin, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,790. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,326 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,977 to complete a degree here.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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.