Community Colleges in Ohio

Why Attend a Community College in Ohio?
The certificate programs and degree pathways at community colleges in Ohio can be a great place for a student to begin. In fact, the cornerstone of a community college is rooted in an affordable, quality education available to all qualifying students. Community colleges are generally substantially less expensive than private colleges as the school’s operations are subsidized by state funds. A community college also offers guaranteed admissions for all qualifying students thus making it as accessible as possible for prospective candidates. These important factors help make community colleges the educational choice for millions and millions of students every year.Where to Find Community Colleges in Ohio
Top ranked community colleges in Ohio span from Wooster and Dayton to Cleveland and Columbus. Schools you may be interested in learning more about can start with the following institutions: Lakeland Community College, Cuyahoga Community College, Gateway Community and Technical College, Columbus State Community College, Sinclair Community College, Eastern Gateway Community College, or OSU Agricultural Technical Institute.Top Degrees at Ohio Community Colleges
Given the variety of community colleges in Ohio, you will surely be able to find a degree program that suits your vocational goals. Direct-entry tracks that meet your objectives may include court reporting, welding, auto body, computer systems, cosmetology, or diesel mechanic. While traditional degree pathways of interest can start with agronomy, operations management, computational math, history, atmospheric science, economics, computer systems, communications, and sociology. Regardless of your academic path, begin your college search process by finding the right information about schools that fit you best before applying to any university or college system.The following link may provide helpful information about community colleges in Ohio:
- The University System of Ohio (Official Website)
Metro Area Links for Community Colleges in Ohio
- Cleveland, Elyria, Mentor (3 Colleges)
- Cincinnati, Middletown (2 Colleges)
- Columbus (2 Colleges)
- Dayton (2 Colleges)
- Wooster (2 Colleges)
Community Colleges in Cleveland, Elyria, Mentor
We have ranked the community colleges in the Cleveland, Elyria, and Mentor area by the percent of students who either completed their degree or transferred to a 4-year institution. Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, OH ranked as the #1 community college in this area. Visit their official website at http://www.lakelandcc.edu/

Lakeland Community College Highlights
- Serving students from Kirtland and surrounding areas
- 40% of students either graduated or transferred to a 4-year college/university
- Tuition & fees are about $4,400 per year for state residents ($9,700 for out of state)
Top Community Colleges in Cleveland, Elyria, and Mentor
Rate | Institution Name | Location |
---|---|---|
40% | Lakeland Community College | Kirtland, OH |
29% | Lorain County Community College | Elyria, OH |
27% | Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland, OH |
Community Colleges in Cincinnati, Middletown
We have ranked the community colleges in the Cincinnati and Middletown area by the percent of students who either completed their degree or transferred to a 4-year institution. Gateway Community and Technical College in Florence, KY ranked as the #1 community college in this area. Visit their official website at http://gateway.kctcs.edu/

Gateway Community and Technical College Highlights
- Serving students from Florence and surrounding areas
- 43% of students either graduated or transferred to a 4-year college/university
- Tuition & fees are about $3,900 per year for state residents ($13,200 for out of state)
Top Community Colleges in Cincinnati and Middletown
Rate | Institution Name | Location |
---|---|---|
43% | Gateway Community and Technical College | Florence, KY |
36% | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati, OH |
Community Colleges in Columbus
We have ranked the community colleges in the Columbus area by the percent of students who either completed their degree or transferred to a 4-year institution. Columbus State Community College in Columbus, OH ranked as the #1 community college in this area. Visit their official website at http://www.cscc.edu/

Columbus State Community College Highlights
- Serving students from Columbus and surrounding areas
- 31% of students either graduated or transferred to a 4-year college/university
- Tuition & fees are about $4,000 per year for state residents ($8,900 for out of state)
Top Community Colleges in Columbus
Rate | Institution Name | Location |
---|---|---|
31% | Columbus State Community College | Columbus, OH |
30% | Central Ohio Technical College | Newark, OH |
Community Colleges in Dayton
We have ranked the community colleges in the Dayton area by the percent of students who either completed their degree or transferred to a 4-year institution. Edison State Community College in Piqua, OH ranked as the #1 community college in this area. Visit their official website at http://www.edisonohio.edu/

Edison State Community College Highlights
- Serving students from Piqua and surrounding areas
- 43% of students either graduated or transferred to a 4-year college/university
- Tuition & fees are about $4,400 per year for state residents ($8,200 for out of state)
Top Community Colleges in Dayton
Rate | Institution Name | Location |
---|---|---|
43% | Edison State Community College | Piqua, OH |
36% | Sinclair Community College | Dayton, OH |
Community Colleges in Wooster
We have ranked the community colleges in the Wooster area by the percent of students who either completed their degree or transferred to a 4-year institution. Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, OH ranked as the #1 community college in this area. Visit their official website at http://ati.osu.edu/

Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute Highlights
- Serving students from Wooster and surrounding areas
- 30% of students either graduated or transferred to a 4-year college/university
- Tuition & fees are about $7,600 per year for state residents ($25,800 for out of state)
Top Community Colleges in Wooster
Rate | Institution Name | Location |
---|---|---|
30% | Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute | Wooster, OH |
16% | University of Akron Wayne College | Orrville, OH |
Other Community Colleges in Ohio
The table below lists all the other community colleges in Ohio that do not belong to any large metropolitan or urban concentrated area. The table also displays the "Rate" column, which is the percent of students completing course work.
Rate | Institution Name | Location |
---|---|---|
43% | Eastern Gateway Community College | Steubenville, OH |
43% | Northwest State Community College | Archbold, OH |
42% | Southern State Community College | Hillsboro, OH |
39% | Washington State Community College | Marietta, OH |
37% | Hocking College | Nelsonville, OH |
31% | Bowling Green State University - Firelands | Huron, OH |
30% | Clark State Community College | Springfield, OH |
20% | Marion Technical College | Marion, OH |
26% | Zane State College | Zanesville, OH |
24% | Owens Community College | Perrysburg, OH |
23% | Stark State College | North Canton, OH |
19% | Belmont College | Saint Clairsville, OH |
19% | James A Rhodes State College | Lima, OH |
12% | Terra Community College | Fremont, OH |
11% | North Central State College | Mansfield, OH |
Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both Ohio in-state residents and out of state students, unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective school for information about the current school year.
Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2015: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.