by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Ohio, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **56** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 56 graduate schools 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Case Western Reserve University tops our 2027 ranking of the best graduate schools in Ohio. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cleveland, OH. Case Western Reserve University posts a six-year graduation rate of 87%. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Case Western Reserve University graduates report median early-career earnings of $74,459. Typical student debt is $25,106.
The strong outcomes at Ohio State University Main Campus earned it the #2 place in Ohio. Located in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,088. Typical student debt is $22,053.
University Of Dayton came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Ohio. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dayton, OH. 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. University Of Dayton students take on a median of $25,033 in debt.
The strong outcomes at Miami University Oxford earned it the #4 place in Ohio. Miami University Oxford is a public school based in Oxford, OH. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $49,700. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete a degree here.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Ohio. Located in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,659. The median student debt is $23,530.
Xavier University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Xavier University is a private not-for-profit school based in Cincinnati, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. In-state tuition and fees run about $49,425. Median early-career earnings reach $55,045. The median student debt is $26,614.
John Carroll University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. John Carroll University is a private not-for-profit school based in University Heights, OH. About 79% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,500. Median early-career earnings reach $44,308. Graduates carry a median of $26,131 in student loans.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Ohio University Main Campus is a public school based in Athens, OH. About 65% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $49,736. Typical student debt is $24,546.
Cedarville University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cedarville, OH. About 72% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $37,150 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,104. Students borrow a median of $22,110 to complete a degree here.
Mount Carmel College Of Nursing did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Columbus, OH, Mount Carmel College Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $27,600. Mount Carmel College Of Nursing graduates report median early-career earnings of $88,238. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot in Ohio this year. Located in Bowling Green, OH, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. Bowling Green State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. 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.
Capital University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Columbus, OH, Capital University is a private not-for-profit institution. Capital University graduates 60% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,234. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,516. The median student debt is $28,269.
Northeast Ohio Medical University placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Ohio. This public school is set in Rootstown, OH. Northeast Ohio Medical University graduates report median early-career earnings of $76,023.
The University Of Findlay came in at #14 in this year's ranking. The University Of Findlay is a private not-for-profit school based in Findlay, OH. The University Of Findlay graduates 58% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,164. Median early-career earnings reach $57,676. The University Of Findlay students take on a median of $25,759 in debt.
Baldwin Wallace College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,832. Baldwin Wallace College graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,668. Baldwin Wallace College students take on a median of $27,307 in debt.
University Of Toledo did well this year, earning the #16 position. Set in Toledo, OH, University Of Toledo is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,675 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans.
Ashland University landed the #17 spot in Ohio this year. Ashland University is a private not-for-profit school based in Ashland, OH. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,210. Median early-career earnings reach $48,852. Ashland University students take on a median of $24,536 in debt.
Otterbein University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Westerville, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. In-state tuition and fees run about $35,548. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,871. The median student debt is $25,282.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Steubenville, OH. Franciscan University Of Steubenville graduates 75% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $34,100 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,020. The median student debt is $25,029.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Kent, OH, Kent State University At Kent is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,776. Typical student debt is $25,174.
Franklin University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Columbus, OH, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Franklin University posts a six-year graduation rate of 3%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,577. Median early-career earnings reach $57,471. Students borrow a median of $35,890 to complete a degree here.
Walsh University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Walsh University is a private not-for-profit school based in North Canton, OH. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $33,030. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,629. The median student debt is $28,064.
Mercy College Of Ohio placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Ohio. Based 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,345. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,523. Graduates carry a median of $32,128 in student loans.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Set in Dayton, OH, Wright State University Main Campus is a public institution. Wright State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,077 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,836.
Cleveland State University landed the #25 spot in Ohio this year. Based in Cleveland, OH, Cleveland State University is a public institution. Cleveland State University graduates 51% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,648 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,336.
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 (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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.