Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Ohio
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division I athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Ohio13 schools
13 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Ohio.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Competes in NCAA Division I (the school's athletics association, from federal and association data).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
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- 4
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH · PublicTop 15% for graduation
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 75% graduate
- 5
- 6
- 7
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Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH · Public#35 in Ohio
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 64% graduate
- 9
- 10
- 11
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH · PublicTop 25% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 50% graduate
- 12
- 13
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University | $17,339 | $19,976 | $60,409 | 88% |
| University of Dayton | $29,533 | $23,250 | $75,537 | 80% |
| Miami University-Oxford | $28,384 | $23,000 | $55,076 | 80% |
| University of Cincinnati | $25,648 | $21,250 | $54,810 | 75% |
| Xavier University | $32,997 | $23,250 | $64,873 | 69% |
| Ohio University | $21,637 | $21,056 | $52,581 | 65% |
| University of Toledo | $17,249 | $22,250 | $50,632 | 57% |
| Bowling Green State University | $24,022 | $25,000 | $47,896 | 64% |
| Kent State University at Kent | $20,787 | $24,500 | $45,388 | 64% |
| University of Akron Main Campus | $13,946 | $23,250 | $46,600 | 52% |
| Youngstown State University | $12,767 | $24,000 | $41,544 | 50% |
| Cleveland State University | $14,764 | $21,797 | $52,131 | 51% |
| Wright State University | $15,415 | $22,750 | $49,500 | 42% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 10
- Arizona 5
- Arkansas 5
- California 26
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 6
- District of Columbia 4
- Florida 14
- Georgia 6
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 13
- Indiana 11
- Iowa 4
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 8
- Louisiana 12
- Maryland 9
- Massachusetts 9
- Michigan 7
- Mississippi 6
- Missouri 6
- Nebraska 3
- New Jersey 8
- New York 23
- North Carolina 19
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 4
- Pennsylvania 15
- Rhode Island 4
- South Carolina 12
- Tennessee 12
- Texas 26
- Utah 7
- Virginia 14
- Washington 5
- Wisconsin 4