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Ohio has some excellent private and public colleges and universities. The schools below have been chosen for a variety of factors: reputation, first-year retention rate, 4- and 6-year graduation rates, selectivity and student engagement. The colleges vary so much in size and type of school that I have simply listed them alphabetically rather than force them into any sort of artificial ranking.
Compare Top Ohio Colleges and Universities: SAT Scores | ACT Scores
Case Western Reserve University
Charles Burkett / Flickr
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
- Enrollment: 9,814 (4,356 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: comprehensive research university with engineering strengths
- Distinctions: chapter of Phi Beta kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; member of the Association of American Universities for research strengths; highly-ranked programs in business, medicine, nursing, and biomedical engineering; many nearby museums
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Case Western profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Case Western
College of Wooster
JesseLegg / Flickr
- Location: Wooster, Ohio
- Enrollment: 1,884 (all undergraduate)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college
- Distinctions: highly regarded Independent Study program; chapter of Phi Beta kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; member of the Five Colleges of Ohio consortium with Oberlin, Kenyon, Ohio Wesleyan, and Denison
For more information and admissions data, visit the College of Wooster profile - GPA, SAT and ACT graph for the College of Wooster
Denison University
Bluebank83 / Flickr
- Location: Granville, Ohio
- Enrollment: 2,200 (all undergraduate)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college
- Distinctions: one of the country's top liberal arts colleges; 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; good financial aid; 900-acre campus is home to a 550-acre biological reserve
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Denison University Profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Denison
Kenyon College
godber / Flickr
- Location: Gambier, Ohio
- Enrollment: 1,644 (all undergraduate)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college
- Distinctions: 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 15; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; campus features a 380-acre nature preserve
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Kenyon College profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Kenyon
Miami University of Ohio
ellievanhoutte / Flickr
- Location: Oxford, Ohio
- Enrollment: 17,191 (14,785 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: comprehensive public research university
- Distinctions: one of the oldest public universities in the country; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; competes in the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference; high graduation rate for a Division I school
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Miami University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Miami University
Oberlin College
Joe Shlabotnik / Flickr
- Location: Oberlin, Ohio
- Enrollment: 2,864 (2,839 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college
- Distinctions: 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio; strong Conservatory of Music; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; first co-ed college in U.S.; diverse student body
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Oberlin College profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Oberlin
Ohio Northern University
proftrusty / Flickr
- Location: Ada, Ohio
- Enrollment: 3,721 (2,745 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: small comprehensive university affiliated with the United Methodist Church
- Distinctions: 13 to 1 student / faculty ratio; first-year classes average 23 students; most students receive significant grant aid; strong blend of liberal arts and professional programs
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Ohio Northern University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for ONU
Ohio State University
laffy4k / Flickr
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- Enrollment: 53,715 (40,212 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: comprehensive public research university
- Distinctions: chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; membership in the Association of American Universities for research strengths; one of the country's top public universities; member of the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Ohio State profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Ohio State
University of Dayton
brighterworlds / Flickr
- Location: Dayton, Ohio
- Enrollment: 10,920 (7,731 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: comprehensive private university affiliated with the Catholic church
- Distinctions: program in entrepreneurship has been ranked highly by U.S. News and World Report; high level of student happiness; one of the country's top Catholic colleges; Dayton Flyers compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference
- For more information and admissions data, visit the University of Dayton profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for the University of Dayton
Xavier University
Photo by Andy Lyons / Getty Images
- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Enrollment: 6,584 (3,923 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: comprehensive private university affiliated with the Catholic church
- Distinctions: one of the country's top Catholic colleges; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; strong preprofessinal programs; Musketeers compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Xavier University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Xavier
