Online Colleges in Ohio

Earning a degree can qualify you for high-paying positions in healthcare, engineering, and management and prepare you for professional or graduate programs. Pursuing your degree in-state allows you to pay in-state tuition and fulfill program fieldwork at local organizations. This fieldwork can lead to a career based on formed connections. Local companies may also recognize your school's name and understand its value, due to proximity.

When researching online colleges in Ohio, consider factors like price, available programs, accreditation, and technological resources. For instance, there are online colleges in Ohio that provide laptops, while those that do not may offer lower tuition. This page explores some of these criteria and provides information on Ohio salary expectations and resources.

Featured Online Schools

Higher Learning Initiatives in Ohio

Ohio eTutoring Collaborative

Ohio eTutoring is a service that connects undergraduate students of Ohio colleges and universities to trained tutors online. The service is free for students. Students can connect to tutors online with audio and video software, instant messaging, whiteboards, and document sharing. Both online and traditional students are welcome.

Program Share

Program Share is a network of courses shared by the university system of Ohio. It allows students in Ohio to take courses from every institution in the network. Students can complete courses online, through interactive video distance learning, or in person. The program allows higher education institutions to add to their course rosters without developing the courses in-house and provides the ability to expand their course enrollment and income. This is a mark of Ohio's willingness to use distance technology to improve its higher education programs.

OhioLearns

OhioLearns is a course catalog of every course and distance learning program available to Ohio students. OhioLearns has helped over 115,000 Ohio students connect to and enroll in distance learning courses. The catalog includes programs and degree plans from two- and four-year higher education institutions, both public and private. Students can search the catalog by course, degree, or certificate.

Popular Degree Programs in Ohio

Certain careers boast high employment numbers in Ohio. Claims adjusters, purchasing agents, cost estimators, accountants, and auditors each exceed 10,000 positions in the state. For this reason, students enrolled at online schools in Ohio for college often pursue business management and administration degrees. High-paying jobs also influence majors. Specifically, biomedical engineers in the state earn, on average, $75,950, which surpasses Ohio's average income by nearly $30,000.

• Biomedical Engineering: This field teaches students to use engineering concepts in medical settings, and according to Business Insider, it's a popular major in Ohio. The degree prepares learners for biomedical engineering jobs and qualifies them to pursue medical or law degrees for lucrative careers. For instance, physicians and surgeons in Ohio boast average earnings that surpass $200,000.

• Business Management and Administration: These degrees educate learners on management, accounting, communication, writing, technology, and human resources as they relate to business. In Ohio, business positions offer strong employment numbers and high-paying salaries. For example, management analysts boast average salaries that exceed $80,000.

Paying for College in Ohio

Students should compare college prices with their budgets. Two-year schools often charge lower tuition than four-year schools; however, costs vary by school, so candidates should review each institution's rates and fees to determine the best option.

Tuition Prices

When compared to the nation's average tuition costs, Ohio public schools charge $486 more per year for two-year schools and $812 more for four-year institutions. Students should also include textbooks, fees, commuting expenses, and living costs when creating their budgets. To manage these expenses, learners should explore scholarships, grants, loans, work-study, and tuition reimbursement plans.

Average Price for In-State Tuition and Fees by Institution Type, 2017-18

Source: College Board

Employment Outlook in Ohio

Only six U.S. states and the District of Columbia exhibit higher unemployment rates than Ohio, and employees in the state earn, on average, $3,670 less per year than the average U.S. worker. These numbers indicate a tough career field for Ohio residents.

To improve employment odds, candidates can enroll in Ohio online college programs since certain careers require degrees. These positions, such as postsecondary educators, doctors, lawyers, and engineering managers, typically offer salaries that surpass Ohio's average income. Earning these degrees improves career options and increases earning potential.

Source: BLS

Source: BLS

Accreditation for Colleges in Ohio

A college or university earns accreditation after an accrediting agency reviews its academics and decides the institution holds merit. Accreditation comes in three forms: national, regional, and programmatic.

National accreditation extends across the country and often applies to trade programs. Regional accreditation only includes colleges within a geographic region but allows students to transfer credits more easily than national accreditation. Programmatic accreditation extends to a program or department within a school. Nursing, business, and education programs, for instance, may hold accreditation through industry-related agencies to indicate value within their disciplines.

Most often, colleges list regional accreditors for primary accreditations. For Ohio, regional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission. Online programs typically hold the same accreditation as on-campus programs but may boast additional approval through organizations such as the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.

Certain forms of financial aid are only available to students at accredited schools, and employers or future schools may not recognize coursework from unaccredited institutions. For these reasons, students should only choose accredited online colleges in Ohio. Candidates can use the U.S. Department of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to find these schools.

Scholarships for Ohio Online College Students

College expenses include tuition, fees, textbooks, and commuting costs, along with general living expenses. To manage these costs, students should explore scholarships and grants that do not require repayment. Schools and private organizations may provide these funds based on financial need, academic record, athletic accomplishment, community involvement, financial need, personal history, major, or location. Ohio students, for instance, may apply for the following opportunities.

Resources for Students in Ohio

• Ohio Department of Higher Education: This organization helps with program development, financial aid organization, and policy creation to boost higher education quality in Ohio. High school students can find information on college preparation, including the Ohio Core curriculum, and college students can explore topics such as transfer opportunities within the state.

• Ohio Department of Education: This group works with Ohio's public education system and assists with college and career preparation. The site offers guidance on earning general equivalency diplomas and teaching credentials. The website's blog also provides tips for education majors that explore classroom structure and lesson plans.

• Ohio Association of Community Colleges: The OACC hosts symposiums and a yearly conference, along with student success leadership institute events. It also publishes information about the state's community colleges, such as "A Guide to Ohio's Two-Year Colleges," "Economic Contribution of Ohio's Community College," and a quarterly newsletter.

• Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education: The council communicates with companies and communities to ensure regional colleges deliver relevant degrees. The group also hosts events, such as an academic leadership conference and a webinar discussing internships. Candidates can explore group news through the council's newsletter.

• Ohio Education by the Numbers: Through this website, students interested in attending online colleges in Ohio can explore public school statistics, including average scores on ACT or SAT exams. Candidates can use this information to prepare for college.

Online Schools in Ohio