Colleges in Columbus, Ohio
23 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 23 colleges and universities in Columbus, Ohio (13 Private for-profit, 6 Private nonprofit, 4 Public). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 23 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $23,813 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 60.1%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 85% of applicants.
The median net price in Columbus runs about $5,824 higher than the Ohio statewide median of $17,989.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Columbus, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$23,813
After aid
Median grad rate
60.1%
6-year
Median admission rate
85%
Median enrollment
348
Undergrad
All colleges in Columbus
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH | OH | Public, 4-year | $17,339 | 87.7% | 61% | 45,638 | Complete | |
| Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH | OH | Public, 4-year | $8,400 | 28.1% | Not available | 17,549 | Partial | |
| Franklin University Columbus, OH | OH | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $25,243 | 11.1% | Not available | 5,562 | Complete | |
| Hondros College of Nursing Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, 2-year | $26,014 | 20.9% | 85% | 3,857 | Complete | |
| Capital University Columbus, OH | OH | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $22,576 | 60.3% | 70% | 1,585 | Complete | |
| Columbus College of Art & Design Columbus, OH | OH | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $29,439 | 55.6% | 68% | 882 | Complete | |
| MyComputerCareer at Columbus Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, 2-year | $25,970 | 69.7% | Not available | 821 | Partial | |
| Ohio Dominican University Columbus, OH | OH | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $20,079 | 41.0% | 94% | 760 | Complete | |
| Mount Carmel College of Nursing Columbus, OH | OH | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $10,420 | 53.8% | 84% | 532 | Complete | |
| Academia Medical Institute Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, <2-year | $22,712 | Not available | 64% | 466 | Partial | |
| Ohio State College of Barber Styling Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, 2-year | $14,696 | 68.5% | Not available | 406 | Partial | |
| Aveda Institute-Columbus Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, <2-year | $20,800 | 74.1% | Not available | 290 | Partial | |
| Chamberlain University-Ohio Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, 4-year | $31,544 | 28.6% | 88% | 257 | Complete | |
| Mason Anthony School of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, 2-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 251 | Missing | |
| American Institute of Alternative Medicine Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, 4-year | $38,392 | 60.0% | 78% | 231 | Complete | |
| DeVry University-Ohio Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, 4-year | $25,001 | 38.9% | 100% | 210 | Complete | |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, <2-year | $27,398 | 80.8% | Not available | 200 | Partial | |
| Felbry College Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, 4-year | $57,632 | 90.9% | 85% | 192 | Complete | |
| The Spa School Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, 2-year | $20,553 | 69.8% | Not available | 111 | Partial | |
| Adult and Community Education-Hudson Columbus, OH | OH | Public, <2-year | $14,915 | 95.9% | 100% | 67 | Complete | |
| Pontifical College Josephinum Columbus, OH | OH | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | 31.6% | 96% | 60 | Partial | |
| Ohio Media School-Columbus Columbus, OH | OH | Private for-profit, <2-year | $24,913 | 60.9% | Not available | 43 | Partial | |
| Adult & Community Education Columbus City Schools - Fort Hayes Career Columbus, OH | OH | Public, <2-year | Not available | Not available | 100% | Not available | Partial |
By institution type
Private for-profit (13)
Private for-profit colleges in Columbus operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Hondros College of NursingNet price: $26,014Grad: 20.9%
- MyComputerCareer at ColumbusNet price: $25,970Grad: 69.7%
- Academia Medical InstituteNet price: $22,712Grad: Not available
- Ohio State College of Barber StylingNet price: $14,696Grad: 68.5%
- Aveda Institute-ColumbusNet price: $20,800Grad: 74.1%
- Chamberlain University-OhioNet price: $31,544Grad: 28.6%
- Mason Anthony School of Cosmetology Arts & SciencesNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- American Institute of Alternative MedicineNet price: $38,392Grad: 60.0%
- DeVry University-OhioNet price: $25,001Grad: 38.9%
- Paul Mitchell the School-ColumbusNet price: $27,398Grad: 80.8%
- Felbry CollegeNet price: $57,632Grad: 90.9%
- The Spa SchoolNet price: $20,553Grad: 69.8%
- Ohio Media School-ColumbusNet price: $24,913Grad: 60.9%
Private nonprofit (6)
Private nonprofit colleges in Columbus are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- Franklin UniversityNet price: $25,243Grad: 11.1%
- Capital UniversityNet price: $22,576Grad: 60.3%
- Columbus College of Art & DesignNet price: $29,439Grad: 55.6%
- Ohio Dominican UniversityNet price: $20,079Grad: 41.0%
- Mount Carmel College of NursingNet price: $10,420Grad: 53.8%
- Pontifical College JosephinumNet price: Not availableGrad: 31.6%
Public (4)
Public colleges in Columbus are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- Ohio State University-Main CampusNet price: $17,339Grad: 87.7%
- Columbus State Community CollegeNet price: $8,400Grad: 28.1%
- Adult and Community Education-HudsonNet price: $14,915Grad: 95.9%
- Adult & Community Education Columbus City Schools - Fort Hayes CareerNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Top programs in Columbus
Most-completed programs across Columbus colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Health professions19.0% of degrees
- Business18.8% of degrees
- Engineering8.3% of degrees
- Biological sciences5.5% of degrees
- Liberal arts5.3% of degrees
- Social sciences5.1% of degrees
- Visual & performing arts4.4% of degrees
- Psychology3.8% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Columbus
Q.How many colleges are in Columbus, Ohio?
There are 23 colleges and universities in Columbus, Ohio that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 13 Private for-profit, 6 Private nonprofit, 4 Public.
Q.What is the largest college in Columbus?
By undergraduate enrollment, Ohio State University-Main Campus is the largest institution in Columbus with roughly 45,638 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Columbus?
Based on average net price after aid, Columbus State Community College is the most affordable institution in Columbus at $8,400 per year.
Q.Which Columbus college has the highest graduation rate?
Adult and Community Education-Hudson reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Columbus institutions at 95.9%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Columbus?
The median net price across all 23 colleges in Columbus is $23,813 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Columbus?
Across Columbus colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Health professions, Business, Engineering.
Q.Are there community colleges in Columbus?
Yes — Columbus includes 4 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in Ohio
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Columbus that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.