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 **38** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 38 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:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
No school ranked higher than Case Western Reserve University this year in Ohio. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cleveland, OH. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students 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.
You'll be in good company at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Columbus, OH, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,088. The median student debt is $22,053.
Out of the 38 graduate schools in Ohio in this year's ranking, University Of Dayton landed the #3 spot. Located in Dayton, OH, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Dayton posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,077. University Of Dayton students take on a median of $25,033 in debt.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Ohio. Based 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. Median early-career earnings reach $58,659. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Miami University Oxford, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Oxford, OH, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,700. The median student debt is $24,177.
Xavier University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Cincinnati, OH, Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $49,425 in tuition and fees. Xavier University graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,045. Xavier University students take on a median of $26,614 in debt.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Athens, OH, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete a degree here.
John Carroll University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in University Heights, OH, John Carroll University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,308 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,131.
Mount Carmel College Of Nursing placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Ohio. This private not-for-profit school is set in Columbus, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,600. Early-career graduates earn a median of $88,238. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
Cedarville University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Cedarville, OH, Cedarville University is a private not-for-profit institution. Cedarville University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,150. Median early-career earnings reach $57,104. Graduates carry a median of $22,110 in student loans.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #11 position. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public school based in Bowling Green, OH. Bowling Green State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,196. Typical student debt is $25,449.
The University Of Findlay ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Findlay, OH, The University Of Findlay is a private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $41,164. Median early-career earnings reach $57,676. The University Of Findlay students take on a median of $25,759 in debt.
University Of Toledo landed the #13 spot in Ohio this year. Set 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 average $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. Students borrow a median of $24,923 to complete a degree here.
Capital University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Columbus, OH, Capital University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $43,234. Capital University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,516. The median student debt is $28,269.
Ashland University did well this year, earning the #15 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Ashland, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees average $31,210. Ashland University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,852. Ashland University students take on a median of $24,536 in debt.
Otterbein University did well this year, earning the #16 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Westerville, OH. About 68% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,548. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,871. Typical student debt is $25,282.
Ohio Northern University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Ada, OH, Ohio Northern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,600. Ohio Northern University graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,878. Ohio Northern University students take on a median of $26,661 in debt.
Cleveland State University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Cleveland State University is a public school based in Cleveland, OH. About 51% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,648. Students borrow a median of $26,336 to complete a degree here.
Franklin University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Columbus, OH, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Franklin University posts a six-year graduation rate of 3%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,577. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,471. The median student debt is $35,890.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,776. The median student debt is $25,174.
Baldwin Wallace College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Berea, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $39,832. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,668. Typical student debt is $27,307.
Walsh University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in North Canton, OH. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,030. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,629. Typical student debt is $28,064.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Ohio. Located in Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,100. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,020. Graduates carry a median of $25,029 in student loans.
Kettering College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Located in Kettering, OH, Kettering College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,320. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $75,573. Kettering College students take on a median of $32,543 in debt.
Bluffton University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Bluffton, OH, Bluffton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $37,362 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,821. Graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced 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.