Most affordable colleges with strong academics in Ohio
The lowest net prices among colleges with an Academic Excellence grade of B or better.
Most affordable colleges with strong academics in Ohio33 schools
33 schools qualify, ranked by net price. 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 a net price from federal data (the average yearly cost after grants, College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by net price, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Columbus, OH · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- Net price $10,420 a year
- 54% graduate
- 2
- 3
- 4
Mercy College of Ohio
Toledo, OH · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- Net price $17,989 a year
- 56% graduate
- 5
Otterbein University
Westerville, OH · Private nonprofit#18 in Ohio
- Net price $19,237 a year
- 68% graduate
- 6
Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science
Cincinnati, OH · Private nonprofit#10 in Ohio
- Net price $19,622 a year
- 73% graduate
- 7
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH · Private nonprofit#26 in Ohio
- Net price $20,897 a year
- 59% graduate
- 8
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- 10
Kettering College
Kettering, OH · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Net price $21,650 a year
- 65% graduate
- 11
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon, OH · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- Net price $22,421 a year
- 68% graduate
- 12
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- 14
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Steubenville, OH · Private nonprofit#13 in Ohio
- Net price $23,589 a year
- 75% graduate
- 15
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH · Private nonprofit#11 in Ohio
- Net price $24,468 a year
- 73% graduate
- 16
Ohio Northern University
Ada, OH · Private nonprofitTop 8% for earnings
- Net price $24,478 a year
- 75% graduate
- 17
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH · PublicTop 15% for graduation
- Net price $25,648 a year
- 75% graduate
- 18
The University of Findlay
Findlay, OH · Private nonprofit#53 in Ohio
- Net price $27,221 a year
- 58% graduate
- 19
Baldwin Wallace University
Berea, OH · Private nonprofit#22 in Ohio
- Net price $27,603 a year
- 67% graduate
- 20
Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland, OH · Private nonprofit#12 in Ohio
- Net price $28,226 a year
- 72% graduate
- 21
- 22
John Carroll University
University Heights, OH · Private nonprofitTop 12% for graduation
- Net price $28,746 a year
- 79% graduate
- 23
Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH · Private for-profit#17 in Ohio
- Net price $28,785 a year
- 57% graduate
- 24
Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland, OH · Private nonprofit#25 in Ohio
- Net price $29,208 a year
- 58% graduate
- 25
Columbus College of Art & Design
Columbus, OH · Private nonprofit#47 in Ohio
- Net price $29,439 a year
- 56% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing | $10,420 | $22,082 | $75,103 | 54% |
| Ursuline College | $16,164 | $26,250 | $56,878 | 67% |
| Ohio State University | $17,339 | $19,976 | $60,409 | 88% |
| Mercy College of Ohio | $17,989 | $20,834 | $65,409 | 56% |
| Otterbein University | $19,237 | $26,000 | $53,313 | 68% |
| Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science | $19,622 | $20,625 | $66,111 | 73% |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | $20,897 | $27,000 | $55,624 | 59% |
| Marietta College | $21,083 | $27,000 | $57,180 | 61% |
| Ohio University | $21,637 | $21,056 | $52,581 | 65% |
| Kettering College | $21,650 | $23,500 | $67,492 | 65% |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | $22,421 | $25,000 | $49,555 | 68% |
| Capital University | $22,576 | $26,889 | $54,143 | 60% |
| The College of Wooster | $23,458 | $26,500 | $59,629 | 74% |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | $23,589 | $23,384 | $50,030 | 75% |
| Cedarville University | $24,468 | $20,937 | $55,443 | 73% |
| Ohio Northern University | $24,478 | $27,000 | $80,928 | 75% |
| University of Cincinnati | $25,648 | $21,250 | $54,810 | 75% |
| The University of Findlay | $27,221 | $25,439 | $56,996 | 58% |
| Baldwin Wallace University | $27,603 | $27,000 | $54,122 | 67% |
| Cleveland Institute of Music | $28,226 | $24,968 | $32,641 | 72% |
| Miami University-Oxford | $28,384 | $23,000 | $55,076 | 80% |
| John Carroll University | $28,746 | $26,000 | $62,860 | 79% |
| Galen College of Nursing-Cincinnati | $28,785 | $24,166 | $61,480 | 57% |
| Cleveland Institute of Art | $29,208 | $27,000 | $42,509 | 58% |
| Columbus College of Art & Design | $29,439 | $27,000 | $40,664 | 56% |
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 63
- 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 47
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 17
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15