Five Ohio universities have been named to U.S. & World Report’s 2025 list of Best Value Schools.
The magazine released its roundup of the best-value universities and colleges for 2025 this week, naming some of the higher education institutions that offer the most cost-effective education to students across Ohio.
The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the value. To determine its Best Value rankings, the publication considered factors including a school’s academic quality, net cost of attendance, scholarships, and financial aid. Nearly 200 schools across the nation were featured as “Best Value Schools.”
This year’s rankings for Ohio universities are as follows:
University of Dayton ranked as best value among Ohio universities
The private Catholic university in Dayton was ranked 32nd in the nation by US & World Report in the Best Value Schools category. Total undergraduate enrollment for the 2023 school year was 8,176, with tuition of $49,140.
Nearly all students (93%) receive scholarships. Upon enrollment, students are awarded merit scholarships of up to $33,000 per year for four years, according to the university.
Ohio University ranked in the top 100 for both “Best Value Schools” and “Top Public Schools”
Ohio University in Athens has been ranked among the top 100 Best Value Schools and Top Public Schools (#97) by US & World Report. Founded in 1804, the public research institution has an undergraduate enrollment of 18,803 in fall 2023, with more than 28,000 students enrolled in-state and online.
In-state tuition and fees are $14,158 and out-of-state tuition and fees are $24,838. The University’s OHIO Guarantee keeps students’ tuition and fees fixed for all four years.
Nearly all Xavier University students receive financial aid each year.
The private Jesuit school in Cincinnati is one of the oldest Catholic universities in the United States and is ranked 136th in Best Value Schools.
Nearly all Xavier University students receive financial aid each year in the form of scholarships, grants, loans and work-study opportunities. Xavier University is ranked on Forbes magazine’s annual list of top colleges.
Tuition is $50,640, and the university says it will award scholarships based on academic, athletic, artistic and other talents.
At Ohio State University, more than half of students graduate with no student loan debt.
The state’s flagship university, based in Columbus, is one of the largest in the country, ranking 181st in the Best Value Schools rankings, and is also highly rated among national universities, ranking in the top 50. Ohio State enrolled approximately 46,000 students last fall, with tuition and fees of $13,244 for in-state students and $40,022 for out-of-state students.
Ohio State prides itself on its low tuition rates, and is on track to spend $415 million in the 2024 academic year. More than half of Ohio State students graduate with no student loan debt, according to the university.
Miami University of Oxford ranked 196th on this year’s list.
Miami University in Oxford made it onto this year’s list of best value schools in Ohio. With a total undergraduate enrollment of 16,478 for fall 2023, the university has alumni like Nick Lachey. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $17,514, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $39,298.
US & World Report ranked the university 196th out of 206 schools featured as the best value in the nation, and the Miami Tuition Guarantee ensures that tuition will not increase after four years of completing your degree.
