Community Colleges in Ohio: A Massive Review

Community colleges have been an increasingly popular choice for people at nearly any stage of life because they're flexible when it comes to class schedules, have smaller class sizes for more personalized attention, and offer a variety of programs that prepare students for their ideal careers.

Fortunately, most states have several community colleges to choose from so you can get an education from nearly anywhere in the U.S. According to research from U.S. News & World Report, there are more than 20 schools to choose from in the state of Ohio. So if you're goal is to earn a two-year degree or certificate in The Buckeye State, there are plenty of options to choose from with a variety of locations and sizes, and dozens of fields of study. Here’s a sampling of the community colleges in Ohio and what you need to know about them.

Belmont College

Located in a rural area of Saint Clairsville, Ohio, Belmont College is an affordable option that will help individuals ease into college. With only about 1,200 students, the student-faculty ratio is 12-to-1, allowing for personalized contact with professors. Tuition here is in line with the other Ohio community colleges, with average in-state tuition coming in at $3,452 and out-of-state tuition for $5,876. Belmont College offers certificates and associates degrees in 11 fields, the most popular of which are:

1. Business, Management, and Marketing, and Related Support Services
2. Health Professions and Related Programs
3. Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Central Ohio Technical College

If you’re in search of a school that doesn't just offer class credit, but also class credit for the relevant life experiences you have, this is one of the Ohio schools to look at. About 3,600 students attend Central Ohio Technical College, leaving the student-faculty ratio at 15-to-1. Students have access to a reasonably priced education, with in-state tuition at $4,296 and out-of-state costs are $7,056. Students can earn up to an associates degree in nine fields, with popular options being:

1. Business, Management, and Marketing
2. Healthcare
3. Public Administration and Social Service

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

If you like the idea of going to school in a big city, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College may be right for you. With around 11,000 students enrolled, Cincinnati State Technical College still touts a student-faculty ratio of 16-to-1. Tuition is reasonable at $3,745 for in-state students and $7,232 for out-of-state students. With a bigger school comes more course offerings and students can earn degrees and certificates in 20 programs, with some of the most popular choices being:

1. Engineering Technologies
2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
3. Healthcare

Clark State Community College

Another school with an impressive number of degree options is Clark State Community College, which has a few campuses throughout Ohio. There are more than 5,600 students enrolled and this leaves the student-faculty ratio at 16-to-1.  The tuition is slightly lower than average for local community colleges, with in-state tuition being $3,279 and out-of-state being $6,111. Clark State Community College offers course credit for life experiences and students can earn up to an associates degree in 15 different fields and a few of the popular fields to choose from for a degree include: 

1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
2. Business, Management, and Marketing
3. Healthcare

Eastern Gateway Community College

If you’re looking for the most affordable way to get a 2-year degree in Ohio when you’re coming from out of state, Eastern Gateway Community College in Steubenville could be it. In-state tuition is similar to others at $3,420, but out-of-state tuition is a very low $4,260. Just under 3,000 students attend this school, leaving the student-faculty ratio at 16-to-1. Like several other local community colleges, Eastern Gateway offers credits for life experiences. Students can choose from 11 fields to study, though most choose one of the following:

1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
2. Business, Management, and Marketing
3. Healthcare 

Sinclair Community College 

Among the largest community colleges in Ohio is Sinclair Community College, which has more than 19,000 students. Even with a significantly higher enrollment than other local schools, the student-faculty ratio comes in at 16-to-1 and the tuition rates are comparable to smaller institutions. In-state tuition is only $3,432, and out-of-state tuition is $6,600. Sinclair offers credit for real life experience and students can choose from 33 fields of study here. Out of all of the programs offered, the most popular fields of study are:

1. Healthcare
2. Business, Management, and Marketing
3. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

Owens Community College 

Owens Community College, nestled in a quiet suburb in Perrysburg, Ohio has over 14,500 students enrolled, with a student-faculty ratio of 11-to-1. Tuition for in-state students rings in at $3,826, which is comparable to other local community colleges. Out-of-state students are looking at $7,040 for tuition. Ownes Community College offers course credit for relevant experience and offers up to an associates degree in 25 different fields of study. Some of the most popular include: 

1. Healthcare
2. Business, Management, and Marketing
3. Engineering Technologies

Marion Technical College 

Located in the town of Marion, Ohio, Marion Technical College is the right choice for someone looking for a small-scale institution. This school has only 2,700 students and a student-faculty ratio of 15-to-1. The tuition here is $4,422 in-state and $6,532 for out-of-state students. Marion Technical College offers up to an associate degree in 8 fields of study and offers credit for life experiences. Some of the most popular fields are: 

1. Healthcare
2. Business, Management, and Marketing
3. Computer and Information Sciences

Columbus State Community College 

If a large school in a large city is what you’re looking for, Columbus State Community College may be the right choice for you. This college has more than 25,000 students at its campus in Columbus, OH. Even with its large size, the student-faculty ratio is only 18-to-1 and the tuition is on par with many of the smaller schools. Tuition comes in at $3,790 for in-state and $8,186 for out-of-state students. There are only 17 fields of study to choose from and some the most popular choices are:

1. Healthcare
2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
3. Business, Management, and Marketing

Stark State College

Located in the suburb of North Canton, Ohio, Stark State College has over 15,000 students enrolled and has a student-faculty ration of 22-to-1. Their tuition rates are comparable to other 2 year schools in the area at $3,607 for in-state students and $5,791 for out-of-state students. The school offers up to an associates degree in 24 different fields of study, with the most popular fields being:

1. Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
2. Health Professions and Support Services
3. Business, Management, and Marketing

Cuyahoga Community College District

Cuyahoga Community College is another big city, big school option for those looking for a more large-scale experience. With over 27,000 students enrolled, the student-faculty ratio is a 21-to-1 divide. However, at $3,853 for in-state and $7,368 for out-of-state, tuition at Cuyahoga Community College District is quite reasonable. No matter what kind of 2-year degree you’re looking for, you can likely get it here, thanks to more than 1,000 courses and 22 fields of study available for study. The most popular fields are:

1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
2. Healthcare
3. Business, Management, and Marketing

Hocking College

If the big city isn't for you, Hocking College may be the right choice for your college career. Located in Nelsonville, Ohio, this school has about 3,000 students and an impressive student-faculty ratio of 16:1. It costs about $4,290 to attend Hocking College if you’re an Ohio resident, or $8,580 if you’re from out of state. Hocking College allows students to put relevant life experience toward their credits and offers degrees and certificates in 15 fields of study. Some of the most popular options for degrees include:

1. Natural Resources and Conservation
2. Healthcare
3. Business, Management, and Marketing
4. Culinary Arts and Hospitality
5. Public Safety