by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Ohio, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights 245 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 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 best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Looking to pit your favorite graduate schools against each other? We built a tool called College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
No school ranked higher than Ohio State University Main Campus this year in Ohio. Based in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,088. Graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans.
Out of the 245 graduate schools in Ohio in this year's ranking, University Of Dayton landed the #2 spot. Based in Dayton, OH, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,140. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,077 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,033.
The strong outcomes at Case Western Reserve University earned it the #3 place 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. Students from in state pay about $66,608 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $74,459. The median student debt is $25,106.
Out of the 245 graduate schools in Ohio in this year's ranking, Miami University Oxford landed the #4 spot. Based in Oxford, OH, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Miami University Oxford posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,700. Typical student debt is $24,177.
The strong outcomes at Denison University earned it the #5 place in Ohio. This private not-for-profit school is set in Granville, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,000. Denison University graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,797. Typical student debt is $25,360.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Cincinnati, OH. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete a degree here.
Xavier University landed the #7 spot in Ohio this year. Based in Cincinnati, OH, Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,425. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,045. The median student debt is $26,614.
Kenyon College landed the #8 spot in Ohio this year. Kenyon College is a private not-for-profit school based in Gambier, OH. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $71,520. Kenyon College graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,976. The median student debt is $18,114.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Athens, OH, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Ohio University Main Campus students take on a median of $24,546 in debt.
John Carroll University placed #10 among the best graduate schools in Ohio. John Carroll University is a private not-for-profit school based in University Heights, OH. John Carroll University posts a six-year graduation rate of 79%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,500. Median early-career earnings reach $44,308. Graduates carry a median of $26,131 in student loans.
The College Of Wooster placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Ohio. Based in Wooster, OH, The College Of Wooster is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,640. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,382. Students borrow a median of $25,936 to complete a degree here.
Cedarville University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Ohio. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cedarville, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,150. Cedarville University graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,104. Cedarville University students take on a median of $22,110 in debt.
Ohio Northern University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Ada, OH, Ohio Northern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $39,600 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,878. The median student debt is $26,661.
Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Wooster, OH, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,584, compared with $36,362 for out-of-state students. Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,898. Students borrow a median of $12,286 to complete a degree here.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Bowling Green, OH, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,196. Bowling Green State University Main Campus students take on a median of $25,449 in debt.
Mount Carmel College Of Nursing ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Columbus, OH, Mount Carmel College Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,600. Mount Carmel College Of Nursing graduates report median early-career earnings of $88,238. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Oberlin College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Set in Oberlin, OH, Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,366. Oberlin College graduates report median early-career earnings of $25,146. Typical student debt is $24,759.
University Of Toledo did well this year, earning the #18 position. This public school is set in Toledo, OH. University Of Toledo graduates 58% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. University Of Toledo graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,675. Graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans.
Otterbein University landed the #19 spot in Ohio this year. Located in Westerville, OH, Otterbein University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $35,548 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $45,871. Otterbein University students take on a median of $25,282 in debt.
Marietta College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Marietta, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,652. Median early-career earnings reach $79,641. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
Wittenberg University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Springfield, OH, Wittenberg University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. In-state tuition and fees average $45,940. Median early-career earnings reach $40,093. Wittenberg University students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.
The University Of Findlay landed the #22 spot in Ohio this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Findlay, OH. The University Of Findlay graduates 58% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,164. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,676. Students borrow a median of $25,759 to complete a degree here.
Ohio State University Newark Campus placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Ohio. This public school is set in Newark, OH. Roughly 3% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,488, compared with $36,266 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,282 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,401.
Baldwin Wallace College landed the #24 spot in Ohio this year. Baldwin Wallace College is a private not-for-profit school based in Berea, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,832. Median early-career earnings reach $46,668. Baldwin Wallace College students take on a median of $27,307 in debt.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Ohio came in at #25 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Columbus, OH. Roughly 29% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,680. Median early-career earnings reach $83,188. Graduates carry a median of $39,146 in student loans.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.