Online Degree Programs In Ohio

Ohioans face a big challenge. While the economy is growing rapidly, there are not enough people with a college degree to meet the needs of its employers. According to a report released by the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, about 47 percent of jobs present today could be phased out in the next several years due to advances in technology. A report from the Lumina Foundation reveals that only 43.2 percent of adults hold a quality undergraduate credential. By 2025, the requirement of the Ohio workforce will be for 1.7 million more people with an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree. Are you up for the challenge?

Perhaps you want to earn a bachelor’s degree to advance in your career but it’s not possible for you to leave your job to attend college on campus; or you’re fresh out of high school and want to work part-time or pursue diverse interests; or you missed out on completing your degree; or you’re at a stage in life where you feel you want to start a brand-new career or just learn something new. Wherever your interests lie, you might consider earning a graduate or undergraduate degree through distance education in Ohio.

With the plethora of top-rate higher education institutes in Ohio, along with the nation’s largest online tutoring collaborative (at no charge!), the online education avenue is certainly one to consider for distance learners from across the country who seek the growing job opportunities in this state. These institutes can offer students and professionals an excellent opportunity to earn online degrees and compete in the state’s rapidly changing, technology-charged employment scene while still maintaining a work-life-study balance.

While more than 90 private colleges operate in the state, Ohio’s public institutions include the following:

  • 14 universities with 24 regional branch campuses
  • 23 community colleges

Many of these public and private colleges offer academically rigorous online degree programs ranging from associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels that are on par with a quality on-campus degree program.

Online degrees can help make higher education more accessible (and often, although not always, more affordable) to even the busiest students. According to a report by the Ohio Higher Education Funding Commission, the need for more workers with a college credential has led state colleges and universities to launch or expand their distance education offerings, while national and regional online schools continue to increase program options that cater to Ohio students. This trend hopes to meet the needs of the state’s workforce and in turn, impact its economy.

By 2020, according to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, in Ohio:

  • 64 percent of all jobs will require post-secondary education
  • 34 percent of jobs will require some college, an associate degree, or a postsecondary vocational certificate
  • 21 percent of jobs will require a bachelor’s degree
  • 10 percent will require a master’s degree or better

By the year 2022, 47 percent of the net job growth in the state is expected to be in occupations typically associated with some form of postsecondary education, according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. About 28 percent of the job growth will be in occupations typically associated with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Those who continue to invest in their education once in the workforce — an increasingly feasible option thanks to online programs — could fare even better. Students who graduate from Ohio colleges are likely to have more job opportunities in the state’s booming industries not to mention the improved quality of life typically associated with the higher pay that comes from earning a college degree. College graduates generally earn about 77 percent more than high school graduates, according to findings by the Economic Policy Institute.

If you’re looking for top online colleges in Ohio to pursue a graduate or undergraduate degree, we’ve tried to make it easier for you by taking data from the National Center for Education Statistics and setting up a methodology that focuses on factors likely to be important to you. We focused on metrics like accredited two- and four-year degree colleges, flexibility, graduation rates, tuition, student services and many more. For a complete list of criteria used for selecting online colleges check out our methodology at the end of the page.

Using our methodology we present you with what we believe are the 10 best online colleges in Ohio, particularly for students who want to enroll in distance education degree programs.

1
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH
https://www.uc.edu
Average in-state tuition
$9,322
No. of online programs
52
% of students in distance education
44%
Avg. amount of Aid
$6,933
Admissions Rate
73%
Graduation Rate
68%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
2
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, OH
https://www.osu.edu/
Average in-state tuition
$9,852
No. of online programs
14
% of students in distance education
33%
Avg. amount of Aid
$9,838
Admissions Rate
52%
Graduation Rate
84%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
3
Kent State University at Kent
Kent, OH
https://www.kent.edu
Average in-state tuition
$10,312
No. of online programs
18
% of students in distance education
54%
Avg. amount of Aid
$7,110
Admissions Rate
85%
Graduation Rate
60%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
4
Ohio University-Main Campus
Athens, OH
https://www.ohio.edu
Average in-state tuition
$12,192
No. of online programs
31
% of students in distance education
46%
Avg. amount of Aid
$6,186
Admissions Rate
78%
Graduation Rate
64%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
5
Ashland University
Ashland, OH
https://www.ashland.edu0
Average in-state tuition
$20,322
No. of online programs
8
% of students in distance education
69%
Avg. amount of Aid
$10,168
Admissions Rate
68%
Graduation Rate
61%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
6
University of Toledo
Toledo, OH
https://www.utoledo.edu/
Average in-state tuition
$8,173
No. of online programs
25
% of students in distance education
40%
Avg. amount of Aid
$8,450
Admissions Rate
94%
Graduation Rate
47%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
7
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH
https://www.bgsu.edu
Average in-state tuition
$9,096
No. of online programs
28
% of students in distance education
33%
Avg. amount of Aid
$7,502
Admissions Rate
72%
Graduation Rate
56%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
8
Baldwin Wallace University
Berea, OH
https://www.bw.edu0
Average in-state tuition
$32,586
No. of online programs
4
% of students in distance education
10%
Avg. amount of Aid
$19,967
Admissions Rate
74%
Graduation Rate
64%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
9
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH
https://www.cedarville.edu0
Average in-state tuition
$30,070
No. of online programs
4
% of students in distance education
35%
Avg. amount of Aid
$15,734
Admissions Rate
79%
Graduation Rate
72%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
10
Miami University-Oxford
Oxford, OH
https://miamioh.edu
Average in-state tuition
$12,052
No. of online programs
4
% of students in distance education
21%
Avg. amount of Aid
$11,059
Admissions Rate
75%
Graduation Rate
80%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
11
The University of Findlay
Findlay, OH
Average in-state tuition
$33,250
No. of online programs
6
% of students in distance education
32%
Avg. amount of Aid
$19,912
Admissions Rate
74.292316580012
Graduation Rate
61
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
12
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH
Average in-state tuition
$38,300
No. of online programs
20
% of students in distance education
30%
Avg. amount of Aid
$20,749
Admissions Rate
73.794701986755
Graduation Rate
73
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
13
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH
Average in-state tuition
$42,900
No. of online programs
6
% of students in distance education
9%
Avg. amount of Aid
$22,456
Admissions Rate
71.541713809325
Graduation Rate
79
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
14
Wright State University-Main Campus
Dayton, OH
Average in-state tuition
$8,861
No. of online programs
12
% of students in distance education
31%
Avg. amount of Aid
$6,244
Admissions Rate
94.896907216495
Graduation Rate
39
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
15
Muskingum University
New Concord, OH
Average in-state tuition
$27,500
No. of online programs
1
% of students in distance education
23%
Avg. amount of Aid
$20,226
Admissions Rate
72.183908045977
Graduation Rate
51
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
16
Tiffin University
Tiffin, OH
Average in-state tuition
$24,600
No. of online programs
52
% of students in distance education
55%
Avg. amount of Aid
$13,771
Admissions Rate
69.22303243651
Graduation Rate
29
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
17
University of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH
Average in-state tuition
$8,618
No. of online programs
7
% of students in distance education
33%
Avg. amount of Aid
$7,000
Admissions Rate
68.927150671308
Graduation Rate
39
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
18
Malone University
Canton, OH
Average in-state tuition
$29,900
No. of online programs
9
% of students in distance education
38%
Avg. amount of Aid
$20,365
Admissions Rate
69.691025012261
Graduation Rate
57
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
No
19
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon, OH
Average in-state tuition
$19,222
No. of online programs
19
% of students in distance education
31%
Avg. amount of Aid
$16,975
Admissions Rate
75.753328661528
Graduation Rate
59
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
20
Walsh University
North Canton, OH
Average in-state tuition
$28,480
No. of online programs
11
% of students in distance education
30%
Avg. amount of Aid
$19,553
Admissions Rate
77.796610169492
Graduation Rate
59
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

We’ve used information from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics to come up with the most popular online degree programs in the state. Whether you’re interested in pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice, Business Management or currently working as a registered nurse and want to compete for higher-paying jobs by earning a master’s or bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), you can complete any of these degrees online through fully online or hybrid formats, depending on the profession of your choice.

When you’re considering an online program, do check whether the college or the specific degree program is accredited to make sure that you are enrolling in a program that meets quality standards.

Program Name
No. of online programs
Business Administration and Management Degree, General
58
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse Degree
27
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies Degree 
23
Health/Healthcare Administration/Management Degree
23
Marketing/Marketing Management Degree, General
17
Accounting Degree
17
Criminal Justice /Law Enforcement Administration Degree
14
Legal Assistant/Paralegal Degree
12
Criminal Justice /Safety Studies Degree
10
Humanities/Humanistic Studies Degree
9

Ohio was one of the early adopters and currently one of the largest subscribers to Quality Matters (QM), a nonprofit, quality assurance organization that helps educational institutes deliver high-quality online/blended programs through a process of assessment, improvement and certification of quality. Over 65 higher education institutes have joined the Ohio Quality Matters Consortium making it the largest statewide system in the country for QM. QM provides the necessary tools, resources, and training to empower faculty and institutes to design quality online classes that align with student educational goals. The process that has been put in place assures that online students receive quality education making online programs in Ohio a popular choice.

In 2012, colleges and university presidents in the state came together to develop funding recommendations for Ohio’s two-year and four-year institutions. Four-year institutes adopted the following principles designed to incentivize degree completion based on the following:

  • increasing student enrollment
  • higher student success
  • higher student degree completion rate

This performance-based model for higher education institutes aims to attract the best and brightest students and awards colleges and universities that help keep graduates in-state for employment or continuing education. Not only does this help to significantly improve the online education experience and increase employment opportunities for students, it also provides Ohio with a stronger workforce!

Those interested in distance education in Ohio may want to explore OhioLearns, an online platform containing a searchable catalog of degrees and certificate programs from Ohio’s private and public two- and four-year colleges and universities. With the plethora of choices for online degrees, prospective students would do well to carefully consider an accredited college or degree program, along with the market value of the degree — the potential salaries aligned with certain occupations.

While the flexibility of distance education makes it easier for students to complete their degrees online (and potentially contribute to the state’s economic growth), online programs are not the only way the state supports web-based learning. A program called the Ohio eTutoring Collaborative offers undergraduate college students web-based tutoring services at no charge. The program extends services to more than 600,000 students each year. While this program is open to students attending traditional and online colleges in Ohio, it is truly groundbreaking for the latter group, which does not necessarily have access to campus-based services. When choosing online colleges, students may want to check whether the college is a member institute of the Ohio eTutoring Collaborative.

Distance learners would also do well to check out the faculty of a college’s online programs such as their experience in teaching online courses, the student-to-faculty ratio, whether the faculty offers one-on-one interaction or has adopted a student-centered instruction model. You may want to look at the requirement for coursework and how it compares with campus-based degree programs.

Overall, about 455,000 jobs are estimated to be added between 2012 and 2022 in the state, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The top two industries expected to add the most jobs are education and healthcare services with healthcare occupations predicted to be in demand as the aging population increases. The largest sectors are manufacturing and financial services.

Some of the higher-paying occupations include registered nurses; elementary school teachers, except special education; accountants and auditors; general and operations managers; and secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education.

Occupation
Number of Workers
Median Salary
Office and Administrative Support Occupations721,700$36,640
Production Occupations509,690$36,610
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations501,990$20,660
Sales and Related Occupations500,900$28,310
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations488,950$31,390
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations363,390$62,040
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations323,560$54,020
Business and Financial Operations Occupations298,800$65,230
Management Occupations245,030$97,920
Healthcare Support Occupations229,320$26,720
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations214,930$45,270
Construction and Extraction Occupations187,600$49,240
Fast Food and Counter Workers175,500$19,810
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations155,470$26,570
Computer and Mathematical Occupations155,290$78,880
Retail Salespersons148,470$23,640
Registered Nurses125,470$65,790
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand118,130$30,010
Cashiers117,440$21,400
Protective Service Occupations117,130$42,730

Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov.

Is it possible to find funding for your online bachelor’s or master’s degree program? It is important for every student to know that funding may be available through grants and scholarships (if you qualify). 

There are hundreds of financial aid options and each has its own factors of eligibility ranging from the financial need of the student, academic merit, athletic performance or military status. Some scholarships are awarded based on areas of study (such as STEM subjects or nursing). Other scholarships may be specific to women, or limited to those who live in a particular county. Some accredited online schools are known to be military-friendly and can offer financial aid to veterans who qualify. Many more factors like these make exploring scholarships financial aid options worth the time.

Grants, loans, scholarships and work-study programs may provide partial or full assistance in paying for tuition, text books and out-of-pocket expenses. While loans have to be paid back, grants and scholarships are awards that generally do not have to be repaid.

The same federal financial aid programs available to students of other states are available to Ohio residents as well. In addition to federal student aid programs, Ohio state and institution-specific scholarships are available to online students as well, provided you fit the qualifying criteria. 

We would invite students to explore as many options as they can. Campus students as well as distance learners (both in-state and out-of-state) can apply for grants and scholarships that apply to your situation. 

State

Institution-Specific Scholarships

Scholarship Listing

Take a look at more scholarships and financial aid options for students residing in Ohio that may help you save on tuition if you qualify. 

Ohio War Orphans Scholarship
No. of Awards
797
Deadline
May 15
Max. Award Amount
N/A
Renewable
Yes
Criteria
Applicant must be an Ohio resident between the ages of 16 and 25 attending a participating Ohio college or university. Applicant must be the child of a veteran who served at least 90 days active duty during a period of war and must now be either disabled or deceased.
More
Ohio College Opportunity Grant
No. of Awards
78334
Deadline
October 1
Max. Award Amount
1,872
Renewable
Yes
Criteria
Applicant must be an Ohio resident who demonstrates the highest levels of financial need with an expected family contribution of $2,190 or less and a maximum household income of $75,000 as determined by the FAFSA results. Applicant must be enrolled at an eligible Ohio or Pennsylvania institution.
More
Appalachian Regional Grant
No. of Awards
703
Deadline
August 1
Max. Award Amount
500
Renewable
Yes
Criteria
Applicant must live in Appalachian County as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
More
Kirtland Kiwanis Memorial Scholarship
No. of Awards
6
Deadline
April 1
Max. Award Amount
N/A
Renewable
Yes
Criteria
Applicant must be a resident in the Kirtland (Ohio) School District and have a minimum 2.5 GPA, and maintain this GPA during the school year. Request application with self-addressed, stamped envelope.
More
Alice Powers Scholarship
No. of Awards
5
Deadline
February 15
Max. Award Amount
5,000
Renewable
Yes
Criteria
Applicant must be a resident of Mahoning or Trumbull County, Ohio and be nominated by a counselor or teacher. Selection is based upon academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and counselor and teacher recommendations.
More

Source: Scholarship directory data is copyrighted material which is reproduced on this website by permission of CollegeXpress, a division of Carnegie Dartlet. Copyright © 2020 by CollegeXpress.

To be eligible for admission in any college in Ohio you need to successfully complete minimum-level university preparatory courses in English, math, natural science, social science, foreign language, visual or performing arts. The state of Ohio does not have a minimum requirement for admission based on high school class rank or GPA.

You may need to take a SAT or ACT exam, but the state of Ohio does not have minimum score requirements for either of these exams.

Criteria for admission can differ from college to college and from major to major.

Methodology

To be included in our ranking of the best colleges for online degree programs, all colleges had to meet the following five criteria:

  1. Be an accredited U.S. institution
  2. Offer either 2- or 4-year degree programs
  3. Have at least 1 percent of students taking at least some of their classes via distance education
  4. Be active in the 2015-16 school year
  5. Report data for all 15 specific ranking variables included in our methodology

We then ranked the remaining 2,169 colleges and universities and scored each on a 100-point scale on these specific. Our data points include:

  • The in-state tuition and fees for full-time undergraduates, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal, state, local, institutional or other sources of grant aid, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • The average amount of federal, state, local, institutional or other sources of grant aid awarded to undergraduate students, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • Full-time Retention rate, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • Percent of students participating fully or partially in distance education to total enrollment, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • Graduation rate within six years, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • No. of degree programs offered via distance education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • Percent of students working and not enrolled 6 years after entry, College Scorecard, 2013-14
  • Open admissions policy for all or most entering first-time undergraduate-level students, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • Flexibility and student services, based on whether the school offers the following services, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
    • Dual credit
    • Credit for life experience
    • Advanced Placement credit
    • Academic and career counseling
    • Job placement services for graduates
    • Offers credit for military training

Sources:

  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
  • Most Recent Cohorts (All Data Elements): 2013-14, College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, accessed October, 2017, https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
  • Executive Summary, Demonstrating the Collective Economic Value of North Carolina’s Higher Education Institutes, February 2015, http://www.northcarolina.edu/sites/default/files/documents/nche_1213_execsum_final_formatted_dated_feb2015.pdf
  • Interview with Robin Thompson, MS, President of TT&K Inc.
  • May 2016 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, North Carolina, Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nc.htm
  • Most Recent Cohorts (All Data Elements): 2013-14, College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, accessed October, 2017, https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
  • North Carolina Employment Projections 2014 to 2024, North Carolina Department of Commerce, Updated April 2017, http://www.nccommerce.com/Portals/47/XML/Summary/2014-2024%20NC%20Employment%20Projections%20Summary.pdf
  • North Carolina’s Largest Private Employers, North Carolina Department of Commerce, https://www.nccommerce.com/Portals/47/Data/Manufacturing-and-Nonmanufacturing-Employers.pdf, accessed December 2017
  • North Carolina’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Strategic Plan, North Carolina State Board of Education, http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/docs/stem/overview/education-strategic-plan.pdf, accessed December 2017
  • North Carolina Workforce Needs, Labor and Economic Analysis, North Carolina Department of Commerce, https://www.ncga.state.nc.us/documentsites/committees/BCCI-6578/2015-16%20Session/Meeting%20Documents/March%201,%202016/LEAD%20workforce%20subcommittee%203%201%20final.pdf, accessed December 2017
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, http://www.sacscoc.org/, accessed December 2017
Methodologies and Sources