Graduate and Undergraduate Business Schools in Ohio
| 1 – Best Programs |
| 2 – Undergraduate |
| 3 – Graduate |
| 4 – Job Outlook |
What’s round on both ends and high in the middle? Ohio! Okay, we definitely don’t recommend using that joke in an interview. Still, we suggest taking a look at some of the very good options for obtaining business degrees in Ohio.
Statistics from the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) show 72 public and non-profit schools in the state granting undergraduate and graduate business degrees. Of these, 42 offer accredited undergraduate business programs, while 27 have graduate business programs that are accredited. The accreditation is from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and/or International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). The schools on our list are all public or non-profit and regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Accreditation is a requirement for our lists because of the importance of looking at schools that have been evaluated and certified by external institutions. Accreditation ensures that the school’s programs have clear goals and proven outcomes and that the institution adheres to national and international standards. Accredited schools also provide opportunities for real-world interaction with businesses, which gives students a broader educational experience.
You will find key information below to help you choose the ideal school for you based on many essential factors, such as tuition, financial aid, entrance exam scores, acceptance rates, and more. The four sections that follow cover undergraduate programs for business degrees, graduate business schools, and the job prospects for business school graduates in Ohio.
Best Business Schools in Ohio
Best business schools in Ohio according to US News data.
- Ohio State University – #31 in Best Business Schools US News, #9 in Top Part-time MBAs, #17 in Top Public Schools, #15 in Best Undergraduate Business School Programs, #56 in Best National Universities, #28 in Best Colleges for Veterans, #18 Most Innovative Schools Ranking, #1 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs
- Case Western Reserve University – #55 in Best Business Schools, #30 in Top Part-time MBA’s, #35 in Best Undergraduate Business School Programs, #42 in Best Value Schools, #42 in Best National Universities, #32 in Most Innovative Schools
- University of Cincinnati – #89 in Best Business Schools, #97 in Top Part-time MBA’s, #87 in Best Undergraduate Business School Programs, #75 in Top Public Schools, #35 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, #48 Best Online Graduate Business Programs, #61 in Best Online MBA Programs
- University of Dayton – #179 in Top Part-time MBA, #172 in Best Undergraduate Business School Programs, #53 in Best Value Schools
42 Undergraduate Business Schools in Ohio
Ohio is one of the most affordable places to get a business degree in the country. Its average tuition cost is slightly over $18,000, with a nice distribution of inexpensive and moderately priced schools and no very pricey schools to bring up the average. The most expensive schools in the state are Case Western Reserve University at just over $46,000 and the University of Dayton just below $41,000. The state boasts no fewer than 10 schools with undergraduate tuition costs under $5,000, and these offer average financial aid of around $3,600 as well. Clearly, if attending business school on a budget is a priority for you, Ohio should be on your list.
Acceptance rates in Ohio are as favorable as tuition costs. Of the 29 schools for which we have acceptance rate data, only Case Western Reserve University is below half, at 35%. Two more schools have acceptance rates in the 51-59% range, while the others are pretty evenly distributed from 60% to as high as 96% at the University of Akron (main campus). In fact, there are four schools with acceptance rates of 90% or more.
Graduation rates for undergraduate programs in Ohio are a bit on the low side given the relatively low tuition costs and high acceptance rates, with an overall average of around 53.5% for the 32 schools for which we have data. There are 14 schools with graduation rates under 50%, 6 schools between 50% and 60%, and 12 schools above the latter figure. John Carroll University has the best combination of acceptance rate (83%) and graduation rate (76%) on our list.
The table below shows all the important data about our undergraduate business schools, including annual in-state tuition costs, average aid, acceptance rates, median SAT and ACT scores of accepted students, and graduation rates. Click any column header to sort the table based on its contents.
| School | City | Tuition | Aid | Median SAT | Median ACT | Accept. Rate | Grad. Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland University | Ashland | $20,392 | $10,681 | 956-1173 | 20-25 | 72.5% | 62.1% |
| Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green | $11,057 | $7,176 | 900-1150 | 19-24 | 76.1% | 53.3% |
| Capital University | Columbus | $33,492 | $22,100 | 950-1180 | 22-28 | 69.2% | 59.3% |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland | $46,006 | $27,415 | 1280-1490 | 30-34 | 35.4% | 81.8% |
| Cedarville University | Cedarville | $28,110 | $13,826 | 1080-1310 | 23-29 | 69.1% | 72.3% |
| Central Ohio Technical College | Newark | $4,296 | $3,771 | ||||
| Cleveland State University | Cleveland | $9,768 | $6,263 | 890-1160 | 19-25 | 87.5% | 40.9% |
| Columbus State Community College | Columbus | $3,808 | $3,886 | ||||
| Defiance College | Defiance | $31,680 | $17,005 | 790-1010 | 18-23 | 58.2% | 41.8% |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | Steubenville | $25,680 | $9,774 | 1040-1300 | 22-28 | 78.8% | 75.3% |
| Heidelberg University | Tiffin | $29,200 | $17,708 | 850-1080 | 19-25 | 79.3% | 48.8% |
| Hocking College | Nelsonville | $4,390 | $4,879 | ||||
| James A Rhodes State College | Lima | $3,845 | $3,161 | ||||
| John Carroll University | University Heights | $38,490 | $23,005 | 990-1200 | 22-27 | 83.0% | 76.4% |
| Kent State University at Kent | Kent | $10,012 | $6,749 | 950-1160 | 21-25 | 85.4% | 54.8% |
| Lake Erie College | Painesville | $29,960 | $19,434 | 840-1020 | 18-22 | 63.1% | 44.5% |
| Lourdes University | Sylvania | $20,620 | $9,976 | 860-1100 | 18-24 | 89.3% | 28.3% |
| Malone University | Canton | $29,422 | $17,029 | 830-1060 | 19-25 | 72.8% | 53.3% |
| Miami University-Oxford | Oxford | $14,736 | $9,439 | 1130-1350 | 26-31 | 65.4% | 78.4% |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Mount Vernon | $26,950 | $15,040 | 920-1180 | 20-25 | 74.2% | 57.3% |
| North Central State College | Mansfield | $3,591 | $3,325 | ||||
| Northwest State Community College | Archbold | $3,858 | $3,053 | ||||
| Ohio Dominican University | Columbus | $31,080 | $18,060 | 870-1040 | 19-24 | 52.2% | 36.8% |
| Ohio Northern University | Ada | $29,820 | $19,016 | 1030-1235 | 23-28 | 64.1% | 73.8% |
| Ohio University-Main Campus | Athens | $11,744 | $5,909 | 990-1200 | 21-26 | 74.9% | 63.8% |
| Owens Community College | Perrysburg | $4,643 | $3,329 | ||||
| Shawnee State University | Portsmouth | $7,365 | $10,650 | 0 | 18-24 | 73.6% | 30.5% |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | $3,604 | $2,969 | ||||
| Stark State College | North Canton | $3,686 | $3,851 | ||||
| The University of Findlay | Findlay | $32,402 | $19,140 | 940-1040 | 20-25 | 73.0% | 63.4% |
| Tiffin University | Tiffin | $23,125 | $11,733 | 75.6% | 45.1% | ||
| University of Akron | Akron | $10,270 | $5,920 | 910-1180 | 19-26 | 95.9% | 42.8% |
| University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati | $11,000 | $6,703 | 1030-1290 | 23-28 | 76.4% | 66.8% |
| University of Dayton | Dayton | $40,940 | $20,990 | 1020-1240 | 24-29 | 60.3% | 75.3% |
| University of Northwestern Ohio | Lima | $10,440 | $6,443 | 33.0% | |||
| University of Rio Grande | Rio Grande | $23,860 | $7,222 | 20.1% | |||
| University of Toledo | Toledo | $9,547 | $7,617 | 920-1210 | 20-26 | 94.3% | 43.4% |
| Ursuline College | Pepper Pike | $29,940 | $15,157 | 890-1110 | 19-24 | 89.6% | 51.8% |
| Wright State University | Dayton | $8,730 | $6,379 | 930-1210 | 18-25 | 95.2% | 35.4% |
| Xavier University | Cincinnati | $36,150 | $19,361 | 1010-1190 | 23-28 | 68.6% | 71.8% |
| Youngstown State University | Youngstown | $8,317 | $6,237 | 850-1090 | 18-25 | 67.5% | 31.2% |
26 Graduate Business Schools in Ohio
If you’re looking to supplement real-world experience with a graduate business program or augment your freshly minted bachelor’s degree, Ohio offers 27 accredited options for obtaining an MBA or equivalent. Like their undergraduate counterparts, these are among the more affordable options in the country. The overall average cost of tuition and fees is a very reasonable $28,000; however, this number includes two pricy outliers: Ohio State University ($62,000) and Case Western Reserve University ($90,000). When these are excluded, the average falls to $24,000, with no other school above $38,000.
We have average admission GMAT scores for 16 of the 27 accredited graduate business schools in Ohio, which fall in a pretty tight range: 441 (University of Toledo) to 655 (Ohio State University). About half of our graduate schools provided information on full-time faculty with doctorate degrees, with rates falling into a fairly typical range of about 68% to nearly 100%.
If you want to get a business degree while continuing to work full time, there are several online MBA programs in Ohio that will let you keep your day job while studying at your own pace. Some well-respected, accredited programs can be found at Cleveland State University, the College of Business at Ohio University, and the Carl H. Lindner School of Business at the University of Cincinnati. Most online programs offer the same basic curriculum and courses as their offline equivalents.
The table below shows graduate business school tuition costs, average accepted applicant GMAT scores, the percentage of faculty with a doctorate, and student-to-faculty ratios. Click any column header to sort the table based on its contents.
| School | City | Tuition | Avg. GMAT | Faculty with Doct. Degree | Student/ Faculty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland University | Ashland | $29,500 | |||
| Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green | $17,493 | 71% | 3.07 | |
| Capital University | Columbus | $19,500 | |||
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland | $89,900 | 635 | 88% | 12.81 |
| Cedarville University | Cedarville | $21,456 | |||
| Cleveland State University | Cleveland | $27,312 | 625 | 75% | 3.63 |
| Heidelberg University | Tiffin | $20,300 | |||
| John Carroll University | University Heights | $28,215 | 535 | 88% | 1.25 |
| Kent State University | Kent | $30,120 | 539 | 80% | 1.92 |
| Malone University | Canton | $21,420 | |||
| Miami University Ohio | Oxford | $37,800 | 622 | 75% | 0.21 |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Mount Vernon | $17,928 | |||
| Ohio Dominican University | Columbus | $22,200 | |||
| Ohio State University | Columbus | $62,278 | 655 | 79% | 3.77 |
| Ohio University | Athens | $19,088 | 528 | 68% | 6.18 |
| The University of Akron | Akron | $17,452 | 572 | ||
| The University of Findlay | Findlay | $23,086 | |||
| Thomas More College | Cincinnati | $23,430 | 561 | ||
| Tiffin University | Tiffin | $25,200 | |||
| University of Akron | Akron | $25,485 | 533 | 76% | 0.3 |
| University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati | $31,437 | 603 | 86% | 3.21 |
| University of Dayton | Dayton | $29,400 | 557 | 76% | |
| University of Northwestern Ohio | Lima | $20,160 | |||
| University of Toledo | Toledo | $21,823 | 441 | 70% | 4.5 |
Popular graduate programs in Ohio: Online MBA in Forensic Accounting | Online MBA in Healthcare Management | Online MBA in Marketing
Job Outlook for Business School Graduates in Ohio
Business graduates nationwide have good prospects for the future. Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data predicts 2016 to 2026 total growth of at least 5% in all but 5 of 37 business and management occupations. Market analysts and marketing specialists are expected to see the most growth, at 22.8% over the decade-long period, with financial managers coming in second at 18.7%.
According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Buckeye State’s overall unemployment rate stands at a low 4.4% as of March 2018, down from 5.1% a year earlier. Just shy of 380,000 people were employed in the business and management sector in Ohio in 2016. General and operations managers were the largest subgroups with 61,360 employed, well ahead of accountants and auditors (44,500) and business operations specialists (34,570).
Based on BLS data, the average annual wage in 2016 across all Ohio occupations was $45,749, ranking the state 36th out of 51 in the US (including the District of Columbia). For the business and management occupations shown below, the weighted average annual salary was just over $90,000, or close to double the overall state average. This fits the general trend seen in most states. As is also the case in most places, Ohio’s chief executives had by far the highest average salaries, at around $198,000. The data shows an interesting “near-tie” for second place in the state among financial managers, marketing managers, architectural and engineering managers, sales managers, computer and information systems managers, all of which were in the neighborhood of $133,000. Labor relations specialists were the lowest-paying subcategory at $38,190.
| Occupation Title | BLS.gov Code | 2016 Total Employment Ohio | Mean Hourly Wage Ohio | Mean Annual Wage Ohio | National Growth 2016-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 13-2011 | 44,500 | $35 | $72,350 | 10.0% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 11-3011 | 10,130 | $45 | $92,770 | 10.1% |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 11-2011 | 0,420 | $43 | $89,460 | 5.8% |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, and Athletes | 13-1011 | 0,110 | $26 | $54,810 | 4.9% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 11-9041 | 6,170 | $64 | $133,070 | 5.5% |
| Budget Analysts | 13-2031 | 1,000 | $36 | $75,000 | 6.5% |
| Business Operations Specialists | 13-1199 | 34,570 | $33 | $69,080 | 8.8% |
| Chief Executives | 11-1011 | 4,990 | $95 | $198,230 | 8.0% |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | 11-3111 | 0,560 | $58 | $121,470 | 5.0% |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | 13-1141 | 3,050 | $29 | $61,340 | 8.5% |
| Compliance Officers | 13-1041 | 7,830 | $31 | $63,820 | 8.2% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 11-3021 | 14,110 | $64 | $133,870 | 11.9% |
| Construction Managers | 11-9021 | 9,680 | $50 | $103,330 | 11.4% |
| Cost Estimators | 13-1051 | 10,700 | $30 | $63,350 | 10.6% |
| Credit Analysts | 13-2041 | 2,940 | $36 | $75,140 | 8.4% |
| Credit Counselors | 13-2071 | 0,950 | $24 | $49,640 | 13.9% |
| Financial Analysts | 13-2051 | 8,500 | $39 | $80,830 | 10.8% |
| Financial Examiners | 13-2061 | 3,300 | $37 | $76,460 | 9.8% |
| Financial Managers | 11-3031 | 19,890 | $64 | $132,360 | 0.187 |
| General and Operations Managers | 11-1021 | 61,360 | $55 | $114,750 | 9.1% |
| Human Resources Managers | 11-3121 | 4,480 | $57 | $117,990 | 8.9% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 13-1071 | 20,810 | $30 | $61,370 | 7.1% |
| Insurance Underwriters | 13-2053 | 4,840 | $36 | $75,030 | -5.2% |
| Labor Relations Specialists | 13-1075 | 6,370 | $18 | $38,190 | -7.8% |
| Loan Officers | 13-2072 | 12,130 | $35 | $72,490 | 11.5% |
| Logisticians | 13-1081 | 5,850 | $37 | $76,410 | 6.9% |
| Management Analysts | 13-1111 | 18,580 | $40 | $82,840 | 12.0% |
| Market Research and Marketing Specialists | 13-1161 | 23,100 | $32 | $66,530 | 22.8% |
| Marketing Managers | 11-2021 | 5,720 | $64 | $132,500 | 10.0% |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | 13-1121 | 2,330 | $23 | $47,580 | 10.2% |
| Public Relations and Fundraising Managers | 11-2031 | 1,820 | $55 | $114,550 | 10.4% |
| Purchasing Managers | 11-3061 | 2,580 | $58 | $119,650 | 5.6% |
| Sales Managers | 11-2022 | 10,830 | $64 | $133,190 | 7.4% |
| Tax Examiners and Revenue Agents | 13-2081 | 1,490 | $31 | $64,910 | -0.6% |
| Tax Preparers | 13-2082 | 1,780 | $23 | $46,890 | 10.8% |
| Training and Development Managers | 11-3131 | 0,830 | $52 | $107,760 | 10.3% |
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Other Popular State Pages
- Business Schools in Pennsylvania
- Business Schools in Indiana
- Business Schools in Kentucky
- Business Schools in Michigan
- Business Schools in Illinois
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/
2. AACSB, Best Business Schools:https://bestbizschools.aacsb.edu/aacsb-accredited
3. ACBSP, Business Schools:https://acbsp.org/page/accreditation-overview
4. IACBE, Business Schools: http://iacbe.org/
5. Higher Learning Commission: https://www.hlcommission.org/
6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Ohio: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ga.htm
7. US News & World Report: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools