Best Online Colleges in Ohio

TBS Staff Writers
By
Updated on October 18, 2023
Find the best online colleges in Ohio in this list of accredited colleges and universities by affordability.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

According to U.S. News and World Report, Ohio ranks as the most affordable state in the country.

Not only does Ohio offer the most affordable housing in the country, it also maintains the 11th most affordable cost of living. The state’s tuition rates are close to the national average, making it an excellent location for students attending college.

Online colleges offer several benefits, including more flexibility and lower costs. Online programs typically include the same coursework as on–campus programs, and diplomas do not usually state whether a student earned their degree on campus or online. Online colleges in Ohio often allow students to create their own schedules, which can be helpful for learners who need to balance academics with job and family obligations. Distance learners also save money on housing, transportation, and other costs.

Ohio is a particularly rich state for online learning. Ohio’s Quality Matters Consortium, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring online course quality, is the largest system of its kind in the country. Ohio universities and colleges offer online degrees in diverse fields such as nursing, education, ministry, and psychology. With 14 online schools in Ohio, students interested in eLearning can find programs and coursework in nearly any field.

The Best Online Colleges in Ohio

#1 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

  • Location-markerCincinnati, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$9,476
  • Out-of-state$24,810
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$12,790
  • Out-of-state$24,532
  • Retention Rate88%
  • Acceptance Rate77%
  • Students Enrolled39,263
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment49%
  • AccreditationYes
#2 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Ohio State University-Main Campus

  • Location-markerColumbus, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$10,197
  • Out-of-state$31,174
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$11,560
  • Out-of-state$35,144
  • Retention Rate94%
  • Acceptance Rate54%
  • Students Enrolled61,391
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment34%
  • AccreditationYes
#3 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Ohio Christian University

  • Location-markerCircleville, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$13,533
  • Out-of-state$13,533
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$10,765
  • Out-of-state$10,765
  • Retention Rate61%
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled2,843
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment84%
  • AccreditationYes
#4 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Ohio University-Main Campus

  • Location-markerAthens, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$12,612
  • Out-of-state$22,406
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$9,444
  • Out-of-state$17,436
  • Retention Rate82%
  • Acceptance Rate82%
  • Students Enrolled27,367
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment48%
  • AccreditationYes
#5 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

  • Location-markerBowling Green, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$9,278
  • Out-of-state$17,267
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$8,017
  • Out-of-state$14,009
  • Retention Rate77%
  • Acceptance Rate72%
  • Students Enrolled17,733
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment33%
  • AccreditationYes
#6 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

University of Toledo

  • Location-markerToledo, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,449
  • Out-of-state$17,809
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$14,047
  • Out-of-state$24,649
  • Retention Rate76%
  • Acceptance Rate96%
  • Students Enrolled19,694
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment40%
  • AccreditationYes
#7 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

  • Location-markerMount Vernon, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$21,047
  • Out-of-state$21,047
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$8,964
  • Out-of-state$8,964
  • Retention Rate79%
  • Acceptance Rate73%
  • Students Enrolled2,205
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment41%
  • AccreditationYes
#8 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Kent State University at Kent

  • Location-markerKent, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$10,602
  • Out-of-state$19,478
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$11,766
  • Out-of-state$21,952
  • Retention Rate81%
  • Acceptance Rate86%
  • Students Enrolled27,716
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment54%
  • AccreditationYes
#9 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Union Institute & University

  • Location-markerCincinnati, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$13,080
  • Out-of-state$13,080
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$14,652
  • Out-of-state$14,652
  • Retention Rate100%
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled860
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment99%
  • AccreditationYes
#10 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Tiffin University

  • Location-markerTiffin, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$25,710
  • Out-of-state$25,710
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$12,600
  • Out-of-state$12,600
  • Retention Rate65%
  • Acceptance Rate69%
  • Students Enrolled2,926
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment51%
  • AccreditationYes
#11 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Malone University

  • Location-markerCanton, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$30,800
  • Out-of-state$30,800
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$10,980
  • Out-of-state$10,980
  • Retention Rate61%
  • Acceptance Rate71%
  • Students Enrolled1,524
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment44%
  • AccreditationYes
#12 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Franklin University

  • Location-markerColumbus, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$9,552
  • Out-of-state$9,552
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$16,080
  • Out-of-state$16,080
  • Retention Rate47%
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled6,031
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment80%
  • AccreditationYes
#13 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Youngstown State University

  • Location-markerYoungstown, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,705
  • Out-of-state$9,065
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$6,058
  • Out-of-state$9,058
  • Retention Rate73%
  • Acceptance Rate67%
  • Students Enrolled12,110
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment37%
  • AccreditationYes
#14 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Cleveland State University

  • Location-markerCleveland, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$10,745
  • Out-of-state$15,290
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$10,014
  • Out-of-state$17,134
  • Retention Rate74%
  • Acceptance Rate94%
  • Students Enrolled15,433
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment37%
  • AccreditationYes
#15 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

God's Bible School and College

  • Location-markerCincinnati, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$6,000
  • Out-of-state$6,000
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$7,920
  • Out-of-state$7,920
  • Retention Rate89%
  • Acceptance Rate53%
  • Students Enrolled347
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment84%
  • AccreditationYes
#16 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Notre Dame College

  • Location-markerCleveland, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$29,460
  • Out-of-state$29,460
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate60%
  • Acceptance Rate98%
  • Students Enrolled1,612
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment26%
  • AccreditationYes
#17 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Ashland University

  • Location-markerAshland, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$20,950
  • Out-of-state$20,950
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$6,540
  • Out-of-state$6,540
  • Retention Rate75%
  • Acceptance Rate71%
  • Students Enrolled5,091
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment51%
  • AccreditationYes
#18 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Mount Carmel College of Nursing

  • Location-markerColumbus, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$21,178
  • Out-of-state$21,178
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$11,865
  • Out-of-state$11,865
  • Retention Rate61%
  • Acceptance Rate74%
  • Students Enrolled946
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment43%
  • AccreditationYes
#19 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

University of Northwestern Ohio

  • Location-markerLima, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$10,566
  • Out-of-state$10,566
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$9,714
  • Out-of-state$9,714
  • Retention Rate49%
  • Acceptance RateN/A
  • Students Enrolled3,221
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment21%
  • AccreditationYes
#20 Best Online Colleges in Ohio

The University of Findlay

  • Location-markerFindlay, OH
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$34,200
  • Out-of-state$34,200
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$16,000
  • Out-of-state$16,000
  • Retention Rate76%
  • Acceptance Rate77%
  • Students Enrolled4,714
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment33%
  • AccreditationYes

Best Online Colleges

Ohio

2023


The Best Schools

Online Colleges in Ohio Ranking Guidelines

We selected the online schools in Ohio based on the quality of their programs, types of courses and degrees offered, and faculty strengths, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation, including a strong reputation for online degree programs.