Colleges with the lowest student debt in Ohio
Colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.
Colleges with the lowest student debt in Ohio33 schools
33 schools qualify, ranked by median debt. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Ohio.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by median debt, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
The Modern College of Design
Kettering, OH · Private for-profitTop 11% for low debt
- Median debt $12,000
- 69% graduate
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science
Cincinnati, OH · Private nonprofit#10 in Ohio
- Median debt $20,625
- 73% graduate
- 6
Mercy College of Ohio
Toledo, OH · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Median debt $20,834
- 56% graduate
- 7
- 8
- 9
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH · PublicTop 15% for graduation
- Median debt $21,250
- 75% graduate
- 10
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Columbus, OH · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- Median debt $22,082
- 54% graduate
- 11
- 12Tie
- 12Tie
- 14
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Steubenville, OH · Private nonprofit#13 in Ohio
- Median debt $23,384
- 75% graduate
- 15
Kettering College
Kettering, OH · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Median debt $23,500
- 65% graduate
- 16
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Ohio
- Median debt $24,000
- 87% graduate
- 17
Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH · Private for-profit#17 in Ohio
- Median debt $24,166
- 57% graduate
- 18
Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland, OH · Private nonprofit#12 in Ohio
- Median debt $24,968
- 72% graduate
- 19
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon, OH · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Median debt $25,000
- 68% graduate
- 20
- 21Tie
Denison University
Granville, OH · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Ohio
- Median debt $26,000
- 79% graduate
- 21Tie
- 21Tie
John Carroll University
University Heights, OH · Private nonprofitTop 12% for graduation
- Median debt $26,000
- 79% graduate
- 21Tie
- 25
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Modern College of Design | $39,359 | $12,000 | $42,187 | 69% |
| Felbry College | $57,632 | $17,000 | — | 91% |
| Kenyon College | $38,512 | $18,527 | $71,830 | 82% |
| Ohio State University | $17,339 | $19,976 | $60,409 | 88% |
| Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science | $19,622 | $20,625 | $66,111 | 73% |
| Mercy College of Ohio | $17,989 | $20,834 | $65,409 | 56% |
| Cedarville University | $24,468 | $20,937 | $55,443 | 73% |
| Ohio University | $21,637 | $21,056 | $52,581 | 65% |
| University of Cincinnati | $25,648 | $21,250 | $54,810 | 75% |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | $10,420 | $22,082 | $75,103 | 54% |
| Miami University-Oxford | $28,384 | $23,000 | $55,076 | 80% |
| University of Dayton | $29,533 | $23,250 | $75,537 | 80% |
| Xavier University | $32,997 | $23,250 | $64,873 | 69% |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | $23,589 | $23,384 | $50,030 | 75% |
| Kettering College | $21,650 | $23,500 | $67,492 | 65% |
| Case Western Reserve University | $41,190 | $24,000 | $87,989 | 87% |
| Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati | $28,785 | $24,166 | $61,480 | 57% |
| Cleveland Institute of Music | $28,226 | $24,968 | $32,641 | 72% |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | $22,421 | $25,000 | $49,555 | 68% |
| The University of Findlay | $27,221 | $25,439 | $56,996 | 58% |
| Denison University | $40,007 | $26,000 | $67,753 | 79% |
| Oberlin College | $38,645 | $26,000 | $58,343 | 81% |
| John Carroll University | $28,746 | $26,000 | $62,860 | 79% |
| Otterbein University | $19,237 | $26,000 | $53,313 | 68% |
| Ursuline College | $16,164 | $26,250 | $56,878 | 67% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 61
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 18
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 21
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15