The 15 best community colleges in Ohio, ranked

MIAMI – As summer winds down, the back-to-school season is just about here for students of all ages.

For those seeking higher education, there are a number of Ohio schools – big and small, two-year and four-year programs and more – to consider. But which are the best community colleges, specifically?

Northwest State Community College in Archbold, Ohio, located about 50 miles southwest of Toledo, is the best community college in Ohio, according to WalletHub’s 2023 Best & Worst Community Colleges rankings. NSCC topped the list of 15 Ohio community colleges included in WalletHub’s rankings, which considered a total of 668 American Association of Community Colleges member schools.

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Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio, located about 20 miles northeast of Cleveland, ranked second amongst Ohio community colleges. Founded in 1967, LCC had 4,414 students during the spring 2023 semester, according to the school’s website, and offers a number of master’s programs in partnership with Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio.

The rankings were conducted by measuring and comparing three equally weighted categories: Cost & Financing, Education Outcomes, and Career Outcomes. The three categories considered a number of metrics, including cost of in-state tuition and fees; average amount of grant or scholarship aid received; per-pupil spending; first-year retention rate; graduation rate; median salary after attending; and more.

Notably, Edison State Community College in Piqua, Ohio, and Eastern Gateway Community College in Steubenville, Ohio, were ranked in the bottom three in per-pupil spending at No. 666 and No. 668, respectively. EGCC was also ranked tied for last in faculty-to-student ratio, and 665th overall among the 668 schools considered.

Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio, meanwhile, ranked 14th among 15 Ohio schools included in WalletHub’s rankings.

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Here are the top 15 community colleges in Ohio, in descending order, followed by their overall placing and score in WalletHub’s rankings:

1. Northwest State Community College in Archbold, OH (410th overall, 52.44 score)
2. Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, OH (431st, 52.1)
3. James A Rhodes State College in Lima, OH (511th, 50.12)
4. Columbus State Community College in Columbus, OH (520th, 49.9, 520th)
5. Owens Community College in Perrysburg, OH (532nd, 49.64)
6. Marion Technical College in Marion, OH (535th, 49.42)
7. Terra State Community College in Fremont, OH (551st, 48.72)
8. Hocking College in Nelsonville, OH (571st, 47.81)
9. Belmont College in St. Clairsville, OH (573rd, 47.67)
10. Edison State Community College in Piqua, OH (585th, 47.31)
11. Stark State College in North Canton, OH (598th, 46.79)
12. Washington State Community College in Marietta, OH (599th, 46.79)
13. Southern State Community College in Hillsboro, OH (603rd, 46.63)
14. Cuyahoga Community College District in Cleveland, OH (605th, 46.45)
15. Eastern Gateway Community College in Steubenville, OH (665th, 37.58)

WalletHub’s full rankings of 2023′s Best & Worst Community Colleges can be found online.