# Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State (Affordable)
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-ohio

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price in Ohio

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

When it comes to choosing a college, affordability is often at the top of the list for many families. In Ohio, a number of colleges stand out for their low net prices, making higher education more accessible to students. For instance, you can find options with net prices as low as $3,925, helping to ease the financial burden on families.

What sets these affordable colleges apart is not just their tuition costs but their overall outcomes. The data reveals a range of factors, including average earnings for graduates, graduation rates, and student debt levels. While some schools have lower net prices, they may not provide the same return on investment in terms of post-graduation earnings or completion rates. The list below highlights schools that balance affordability with meaningful outcomes.

Take the University of Akron Wayne College with a net price of $6,032 and average earnings of $46,600. Compare that to Ohio University-Eastern Campus, which has an even lower net price of $3,925 but slightly higher average earnings of $52,581. This contrast underscores the importance of not just looking at cost but also considering potential earnings and graduation rates when making a decision.

## Key Findings

- University of Akron Wayne College has a net price of $6,032 and average earnings of $46,600.
- Ohio University-Eastern Campus has the lowest net price at $3,925 and average earnings of $52,581.
- Cuyahoga Community College District has a graduation rate of 30% and a debt level of $8,150.
- The average earnings across the top 5 affordable colleges in Ohio is $44,346.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Cuyahoga Community College District](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuyahoga-community-college-district) | Cleveland, OH | 30% | $35,654 | $4,266 | $8,150 | 0.23x |
| 2 | [North Central State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-central-state-college) | Mansfield, OH | 35% | $38,158 | $4,687 | $8,252 | 0.22x |
| 3 | [Cincinnati State Technical and Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cincinnati-state-technical-and-community-college) | Cincinnati, OH | 18% | $40,137 | $4,968 | $14,715 | 0.37x |
| 4 | [University of Akron Wayne College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-akron-wayne-college) | Orrville, OH | 19% | $46,600 | $6,032 | $23,250 | 0.5x |
| 5 | [Ohio University-Eastern Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ohio-university-eastern-campus) | Saint Clairsville, OH | 20% | $52,581 | $3,925 | $21,056 | 0.4x |
| 6 | [Sinclair Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sinclair-community-college) | Dayton, OH | 36% | $37,558 | $5,992 | $12,000 | 0.32x |
| 7 | [Stark State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stark-state-college) | North Canton, OH | 23% | $34,661 | $5,986 | $13,786 | 0.4x |
| 8 | [Lorain County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lorain-county-community-college) | Elyria, OH | 32% | $38,837 | $3,967 | $13,680 | 0.35x |
| 9 | [Ohio University-Zanesville Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ohio-university-zanesville-campus) | Zanesville, OH | 20% | $52,581 | $5,746 | $21,056 | 0.4x |
| 10 | [Belmont College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/belmont-college) | St Clairsville, OH | 41% | $35,329 | $6,995 | $8,747 | 0.25x |
| 11 | [Ohio University-Southern Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ohio-university-southern-campus) | Ironton, OH | 20% | $52,581 | $5,993 | $21,056 | 0.4x |
| 12 | [Lakeland Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lakeland-community-college) | Kirtland, OH | 23% | $39,612 | $7,606 | $14,751 | 0.37x |
| 13 | [Edison State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/edison-state-community-college) | Piqua, OH | 38% | $41,360 | $7,142 | $16,250 | 0.39x |
| 14 | [Zane State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/zane-state-college) | Zanesville, OH | 49% | $35,006 | $8,062 | $6,834 | 0.2x |
| 15 | [Southern State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-state-community-college) | Hillsboro, OH | 31% | $35,463 | $9,674 | $11,457 | 0.32x |
| 16 | [Central Ohio Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-ohio-technical-college) | Newark, OH | 27% | $39,168 | $9,948 | $12,072 | 0.31x |
| 17 | [Columbus State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/columbus-state-community-college) | Columbus, OH | 28% | $39,435 | $8,400 | $8,749 | 0.22x |
| 18 | [Gods Bible School and College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/gods-bible-school-and-college) | Cincinnati, OH | 45% | $37,722 | $9,329 | $4,522 | 0.12x |
| 19 | [Mount Carmel College of Nursing](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mount-carmel-college-of-nursing) | Columbus, OH | 64% | $75,103 | $10,420 | $22,082 | 0.29x |
| 20 | [Owens Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/owens-community-college) | Perrysburg, OH | 33% | $37,275 | $10,369 | $16,667 | 0.45x |
| 21 | [Marion Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/marion-technical-college) | Marion, OH | 28% | $41,495 | $7,417 | $8,300 | 0.2x |
| 22 | [Youngstown State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/youngstown-state-university) | Youngstown, OH | 52% | $41,544 | $12,767 | $24,000 | 0.58x |
| 23 | [James A. Rhodes State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/james-a-rhodes-state-college) | Lima, OH | 39% | $41,855 | $8,757 | $12,000 | 0.29x |
| 24 | [Washington State College of Ohio](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-state-college-of-ohio) | Marietta, OH | 32% | $37,988 | $7,714 | $11,000 | 0.29x |
| 25 | [Central State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-state-university) | Wilberforce, OH | 24% | $33,267 | $13,096 | $30,739 | 0.92x |
| 26 | [Wright State University-Lake Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wright-state-university-lake-campus) | Celina, OH | 42% | $49,500 | $11,081 | $22,750 | 0.46x |
| 27 | [Miami University-Middletown](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/miami-university-middletown) | Middletown, OH | 28% | $55,076 | $10,809 | $23,000 | 0.42x |
| 28 | [Kent State University at Stark](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kent-state-university-at-stark) | North Canton, OH | 37% | $45,388 | $10,897 | $24,500 | 0.54x |
| 29 | [Kent State University at Trumbull](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kent-state-university-at-trumbull) | Warren, OH | 30% | $45,388 | $11,135 | $24,500 | 0.54x |
| 30 | [Miami University-Hamilton](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/miami-university-hamilton) | Hamilton, OH | 23% | $55,076 | $11,286 | $23,000 | 0.42x |
| 31 | [Cleveland State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cleveland-state-university) | Cleveland, OH | 50% | $52,131 | $14,764 | $21,797 | 0.42x |
| 32 | [Ohio State University-Marion Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ohio-state-university-marion-campus) | Marion, OH | 26% | $60,409 | $11,488 | $19,976 | 0.33x |
| 33 | [University of Akron Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-akron-main-campus) | Akron, OH | 50% | $46,600 | $13,946 | $23,250 | 0.5x |
| 34 | [Collins Career Technical Center](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/collins-career-technical-center) | Chesapeake, OH | 58% | $47,329 | $9,468 | $13,887 | 0.29x |
| 35 | [Kent State University at Geauga](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kent-state-university-at-geauga) | Burton, OH | 23% | $45,388 | $12,044 | $24,500 | 0.54x |
| 36 | [Kent State University at Tuscarawas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kent-state-university-at-tuscarawas) | New Philadelphia, OH | 37% | $45,388 | $12,542 | $24,500 | 0.54x |
| 37 | [Clark State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clark-state-college) | Springfield, OH | 23% | $39,584 | $12,135 | $14,490 | 0.37x |
| 38 | [Polaris Career Center](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/polaris-career-center) | Middleburg Heights, OH | 80% | $38,718 | $9,931 | $6,365 | 0.16x |
| 39 | [Kent State University at Ashtabula](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kent-state-university-at-ashtabula) | Ashtabula, OH | 25% | $45,388 | $12,205 | $24,500 | 0.54x |
| 40 | [Northwest State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-state-community-college) | Archbold, OH | 46% | $40,004 | $13,555 | $9,750 | 0.24x |
| 41 | [Ohio State University-Lima Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ohio-state-university-lima-campus) | Lima, OH | 21% | $60,409 | $12,940 | $19,976 | 0.33x |
| 42 | [Shawnee State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/shawnee-state-university) | Portsmouth, OH | 45% | $39,596 | $14,381 | $23,000 | 0.58x |
| 43 | [Wright State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wright-state-university-main-campus) | Dayton, OH | 44% | $49,500 | $15,415 | $22,750 | 0.46x |
| 44 | [Hocking College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hocking-college) | Nelsonville, OH | 32% | $37,791 | $13,704 | $11,584 | 0.31x |
| 45 | [Ursuline College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ursuline-college) | Pepper Pike, OH | 61% | $56,878 | $16,164 | $26,250 | 0.46x |
| 46 | [Kent State University at East Liverpool](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kent-state-university-at-east-liverpool) | East Liverpool, OH | 17% | $45,388 | $13,392 | $24,500 | 0.54x |
| 47 | [University of Toledo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-toledo) | Toledo, OH | 56% | $50,632 | $17,249 | $22,250 | 0.44x |
| 48 | [Kent State University at Salem](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kent-state-university-at-salem) | Salem, OH | 30% | $45,388 | $13,799 | $24,500 | 0.54x |
| 49 | [Auburn Career Center](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/auburn-career-center) | Concord Twp, OH | 71% | $37,032 | $12,051 | $6,365 | 0.17x |
| 50 | [Bryant & Stratton College-Parma](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bryant-stratton-college-parma) | Parma, OH | 20% | $32,568 | $12,849 | $21,549 | 0.66x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-ohio

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.