Best colleges for NAIA athletes in Ohio
Colleges that compete in NAIA athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NAIA athletes in Ohio6 schools
6 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Ohio.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Competes in NAIA (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.
- 1
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon, OH · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- NAIA athletics
- 68% graduate
- 2
- 3
University of Northwestern Ohio
Lima, OH · Private nonprofitTop 24% for low debt
- NAIA athletics
- 54% graduate
- 4
Wilberforce University
Wilberforce, OH · Private nonprofitTop 5% for low net price
- NAIA athletics
- 12% graduate
- 5
- 6
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | About $22,000 | $25,000 | $49,555 | 68% |
| Shawnee State University | About $14,000 | $23,000 | $39,596 | 48% |
| University of Northwestern Ohio | About $22,000 | $17,084 | $50,968 | 54% |
| Wilberforce University | About $6,000 | $26,468 | $38,298 | 12% |
| Defiance College | About $26,000 | $26,813 | $49,351 | 31% |
| University of Rio Grande | About $24,000 | $17,750 | $41,478 | 36% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.