Colleges in Ohio

Located in Canton, Malone got its start in 1892 as the Christian Workers’ Training School. The university has maintained its Christ-based vision throughout the last century, even as it has grown and adapted to the needs of modern day students. Like many online schools in Ohio, Malone has prioritized flexibility; its asynchronous, web-based programs are accessible to even the busiest individuals. Its adult degree completion plan allows working professionals with some college experience to earn a degree in business management or nursing in approximately one year. Students with or without college credit can also earn a bachelor’s degree in social work through a fully online, two year program. All course materials are accessible around the clock through the online campus portal and students are not required to log in at specified times.

One of the largest university systems in the United States, Kent State is known for its renowned flight and fashion design programs and state-of-the-art research facilities. Its online undergraduate degrees are shaped by a tradition of excellence and academic rigor that sets Kent State apart among online colleges in Ohio. While each program differs in length and application requirements, many offer specialized learning tracks that let students develop a specialty in their field. Local students may also receive credit for attending one of the many workshops held on campus and at nearby facilities. Tuition is charged according to major and state of residence, although some out-of-state applicants may be eligible for a reduced nonresident fee. Additional financial aid benefits are available for military personnel and veterans.

A relatively new institution, Mount Vernon Nazarene University was established in 1968 by the Church of the Nazarene. Today, MVNU invites students from all Christian denominations to receive a high quality, affordable education with an emphasis on professional development. The university’s online undergraduate programs are designed to give students a fast track to career advancement. These degrees can be completed in just over a year. Many classes consist of only one session a week and most business courses are entirely self-paced. Additionally, some professional credentials can be translated into general education credit, making it even easier to earn a degree quickly. MVNU accepts transfer credits earned at any regionally accredited institution. Military and veterans can earn up to 40 hours of credits by presenting their training transcripts.

Counting actor Tim Conway and bestselling author Anthony Doerr among its distinguished alumni, Bowling Green State University is home to state-of-the-art research and unique, innovative academic programs. The university’s online criminal justice master’s degree has received national acclaim, and its web-based undergraduate completion programs are praised just as highly. Students with some college credit can earn a BS in allied health, business, quality systems, or management in as little as four semesters. Business administration students can select from two additional fields of specialization. The majority of online courses are offered in eight-week sessions six times a year. Classes are taught in an asynchronous format by the same faculty who teach on campus. BGSU is respected for its military-friendly policies, which include flexible course plans accessible to active duty personnel stationed around the world.

Notre Dame College maintains an entire academic center dedicated to the needs of distance and adult learners. The Finn Center for Adult, Graduate, Online and Professional Programs offers one-on-one assistance with scheduling, academics, technology, and financial aid. Students pursuing one of five web-based undergraduate degrees can take full advantage of these resources. Self-paced coursework and accelerated programs make NDC’s online degrees even more convenient. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, although admission requirements are different for each program. Tuition rates also vary slightly, depending on the degree chosen. Ohio residents and nonresidents pay the same tuition and fees. Active duty military members and veterans receive significant discounts on all online degrees, regardless of major.

Ohio Christian University got its start in 1948, when it was a ministry center known as Circleville Bible College. 70 years later, the university has stayed true to its Christian vision while adapting to the needs of modern students. No longer simply a Bible college, OCU offers more web-based undergraduate programs than many online colleges in Ohio. Applicants have their choice of 13 fully online degrees in a diverse range of majors, including English, data analytics, history, and substance abuse counseling. Students seeking a BA in business can select from 11 additional concentrations, including criminal justice administration and logistics management. Leadership and ministry majors may also choose from four concentrations. Most programs consist of 120 credit hours, and some can be completed in only two years. Coursework in Biblical principles is required for all students, regardless of their major.

While plenty of online schools in Ohio offer completion programs in nursing and healthcare, Kettering College’s health science BS program is exceptional in its scope. Healthcare professionals who have previously earned an associate degree can expand their career options by completing a specialty in management, sonography, advanced imaging, education, or respiratory care. A convenient, self-paced format allows students to study full or part time, with full time students finishing in around five semesters. No residencies or clinical hours are required for graduation. Upon acceptance, applicants are assigned an individual advisor who will help them to create a degree plan based on concentration, work schedule, and number of credits transferred. Distance learners may take advantage of Kettering’s online tutoring program, as well as interlibrary loan and digital library database services.

Hiram College’s commitment to flexibility sets it apart from other online schools in Ohio. Its self-paced accounting and management degrees are presented entirely online through the Moodle platform, giving students round-the-clock access to lectures and assignments. Accounting majors pursuing a public accounting track must sit for the Certified Public Accountant examination to complete their degree. Individuals majoring in management can choose between concentrations in marketing and organizational leadership. Offering some of the lowest tuition rates for online colleges in Ohio, Hiram also awards merit scholarships to up to 60% of its student body every year.

For more than 10 years, Cleveland State University’s Center for eLearning has provided convenient options and rigorous academic programs for working professionals seeking higher education. Quality Matters, CSU’s peer review method for assessing distance learning curricula, has been adopted by online schools in Ohio and other states in the US. The school offers three online undergraduate degrees in organizational leadership, business administration, and nursing. CSU also offers an undergraduate certificate in bioethics and a program in chemical dependency counseling. Classes are delivered in an asynchronous format. Both Ohio residents and out-of-state students pay the same tuition, with the exception of those enrolled in the RN to BSN program. Online students are eligible to receive scholarships through the university. All three programs have different requirements for admission, and prospective students are encouraged to contact an admissions counselor with questions regarding degree prerequisites.

Located just 90 miles from both Cleveland and Columbus, Tiffin University is taking a whole new approach to higher education. Over the last several decades, TU has successfully integrated web-based learning into the traditional college experience, bringing its highly esteemed, regionally accredited courses to students around the world. TU’s online undergraduate degree offerings include unique majors such as homeland security and terrorism. Classes are typically presented in two seven-week terms each semester. Self-paced courses and a generous credit transfer policy make it easy for working individuals to earn a degree, even those employed full-time. Multiple start dates are available for each program. While many online schools in Ohio offer only completion programs, first-time college students are welcome to apply to TU’s undergraduate programs.

Along with nine other undergraduate degrees, the University of Toledo offers the unique option of creating your own major through its interdisciplinary studies program. Students on this track collaborate with an advisor to design a customized curriculum. While each degree is presented in a fully online format, certain majors may include a hands-on learning component such as an internship or fieldwork. All courses in every program are taught by the same tenured faculty members employed on campus. UT also offers numerous stackable scholarships intended specifically for adult and transfer students, including one awarded to out-of-state students.

Maintaining five campuses around the country, including one in Cincinnati, Union Institute & University has built a reputation nationwide for its online programs designed exclusively to meet the needs of working professionals. In addition to 13 degrees including criminal justice management and social work, Union offers something that most online schools in Ohio don’t -- a pre-mortuary transfer program. This 60 semester hour major is presented entirely online, with graduates transferring to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science upon completion. For all other programs, students may transfer up to 90 credits, receiving additional credit for relevant workplace training or certification. Most degrees are a minimum of 120 credit hours, with a capstone course required for graduation. Part-time study options are available for interested students. Overall completion time differs significantly between majors.

Part of this Lima institution’s mission is to prepare students for professional positions in business and technology. Nowhere is that mission reflected more strongly than in its online degree offerings. Presented through UNOH’s Virtual College platform, every aspect of the school’s 10 undergraduate programs is web-based, from purchasing textbooks to completing exams. Most degree plans are similar in structure to their traditional counterparts, and typically take four years to complete. However, a shorter, specialized study track is available to students who have previously earned an associate degree. The specialized study program allows students to design their own 90 credit, cross-disciplinary curriculum. Other unique majors include agribusiness management, forensic accounting, and sport marketing. UNOH’s online programs are not available to applicants in Maryland.

Many online schools in Ohio offer a web-based RN to BSN degree, but the University of Akron is among the very few that have an entire school dedicated to nursing. Spanning a wide range of levels and certifications, both its traditional and online programs are taught by medical professionals from a variety of academic and clinical backgrounds. Licensed nurses can expect to complete the academically demanding program in one to two years. Three annual start dates and part time options make it ideal for working nurses who want to enhance their knowledge and career opportunities. Newly admitted students will participate in a one-on-one advising session to create a study plan optimal for their schedule and lifestyle.

Since its establishment by the YMCA in 1908, Youngstown State University has offered an expansive range of majors on its campus in northern Ohio. 110 years later, its distance education programs have made it one of the better-known online colleges in Ohio. In addition to five completion programs, YSU offers a fully online BS in public health that can be completed by full time students in eight semesters. Required courses for this cutting-edge program cover contemporary issues such as terrorism and crisis management. Applicants to all completion programs must hold an associate degree with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher. The cost of a degree is major-dependent. Like most other online colleges in Ohio, in-state residents pay slighter lower tuition. Some out-of-state students may qualify for the university’s Affordable Tuition Advantage plan.

Unlike many of the other online community colleges in Ohio, Sinclair operates an urban campus based out of downtown Dayton. Sinclair has earned widespread acclaim for its pre-professional focus and its ability to help its students get jobs in a difficult economy, even garnering attention from The New York Times. That pre-professional focus extends to the school’s online programs, which include associate degrees in career-focused fields such as business administration, computer information systems, and criminal justice. The college also offers programs in history and psychology.

Sinclair delivers coursework asynchronously, and most students in the school’s online programs never need to visit campus for any reason. Out-of-state online students should check the school’s state authorizations page to make sure that Sinclair is authorized to operate in their home state.

Clark State is located in Springfield and also operates satellite campuses in Bellefontaine and Beavercreek in addition to a collection of 22 online programs. The school is one of the best online community colleges in Ohio and offers degrees in a variety of business and technology-related fields, such as accounting, management, and judicial court reporting. Additionally, transfer students can pursue a general studies or communications associate degree online at Clark State.

Clark State delivers all online program coursework asynchronously, which is ideal for working professionals. Students who want to complete at least some on-campus coursework have the option of earning credits through co-op or internship experiences.

Based out of the city of Marietta, WSCC offers a wide variety of online degrees that do not include any on-campus requirements. The school has expanded rapidly over the past few decades, adding arts and science and business and technology buildings, a new library, and a child development center.

Unlike some other online colleges in Ohio, WSCC offers a narrow and focused portfolio of distance learning offerings. Online students can earn associate degrees in business management, chemical operator, process technician, or liberal arts. Liberal arts majors can choose a concentration in one of many fields, including art, literature, history, business, and mathematics. WSCC delivers online courses asynchronously, allowing students to complete coursework at their own pace.

Edison State is a public community college that was founded in 1973 in Piqua. The school currently offers two entirely online programs: an associate of applied business in accounting and an associate of arts transfer degree.

Similarly to many other online community colleges in Ohio, Edison State also offers individual online courses from nearly all of the college’s academic departments. These courses include studies in biology, composition, sociology, and supply chain management. Edison State delivers all online courses asynchronously, allowing students to complete coursework at their own pace. All distance learners must first pass two introductory courses about online education before enrolling in online courses.

In addition to a central campus in Hillsboro, SSCC operates satellite campuses in Mount Orab, Wilmington, and Washington Court House. The college also offers three online associate degrees. These degrees include general associate of arts and associate of science options in addition to an associate of applied business program in entrepreneurship. The school delivers online coursework asynchronously, and all online students at SSCC have access to dedicated academic and course selection advising.

SSCC offers a 36-credit online transfer module of general education courses that are ideal for those who want to earn an associate degree from one of the other online community colleges in Ohio. The school also holds many transfer agreements with other community colleges in Ohio.