2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Ohio
[General Business/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/general-business-commerce/business-commerce-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 44 schools to find the best return on investment for general business/commerce students.
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2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general business/commerce degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools
Our analysis ranked North Central State College the best value for a degree in general business/commerce in Ohio. North Central State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mansfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,786, while out-of-state students pay about $11,374. Students borrow a median of $12,236 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from North Central State College generally make around $47,458. That is a strong return on a $12,236 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earned it the #2 place for general business/commerce. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,517, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $17,730. General Business/commerce graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
James A Rhodes State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Lima, James A Rhodes State College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,120 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $17,070 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $45,238. That is a strong return on a $17,070 median debt.
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,639, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,525 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earn a median of $39,106 early in their careers. Set against $19,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Youngstown State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $26,373 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $99,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Geauga came in at #6 for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the rural area of Burton, Kent State University At Geauga is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,211, compared with $17,969 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $25,319 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of Kent State University At Geauga earn a median of $38,871 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,319 median debt.
Kent State University At Tuscarawas landed the #7 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Set in the town of New Philadelphia, Kent State University At Tuscarawas is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,211, with out-of-state students paying around $17,969. Students borrow a median of $20,565 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Kent State University At Tuscarawas earn a median of $38,871 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,565 median debt.
Wright State University Lake Campus placed #8 among the best values for general business/commerce. Wright State University Lake Campus is a small public school located in the rural area of Celina. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,372, compared with $17,072 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $22,375. General Business/commerce graduates of Wright State University Lake Campus earn a median of $46,523 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,375 median debt.
Ohio State University Newark Campus came in at #9 for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, Ohio State University Newark Campus is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,488 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,266 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $19,900. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $48,597. That is a strong return on a $19,900 median debt.
Wright State University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for general business/commerce. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $22,375. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $46,523. Set against $22,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Cleveland State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $26,336 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $49,648. That is a strong return on a $26,336 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Bryant And Stratton College Parma earned the #12 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the suburb of Parma, Bryant And Stratton College Parma is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $20,013 in tuition and fees. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $19,302 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $30,059. Set against $19,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Toledo came in at #13 for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $52,675 early in their careers. Set against $24,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Central State University earned the #14 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the rural area of Wilberforce, Central State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,058, compared with $10,058 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $31,569 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $29,472. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Bowling Green State University Firelands ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Bowling Green State University Firelands is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Huron. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,131, compared with $14,119 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $19,340. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $45,610. Set against $19,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wittenberg University placed #16 among the best values for general business/commerce. Wittenberg University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $45,940. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Wittenberg University earn a median of $40,093 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $25,769 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $46,018 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Ashland University placed #18 among the best values for general business/commerce. Set in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,210. Students borrow a median of $30,625 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Ashland University generally make around $50,262. That is a strong return on a $30,625 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Defiance College earned the #19 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the town of Defiance, Defiance College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,320. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Defiance College generally make around $31,528. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rio Grande landed the #20 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Set in the rural area of Rio Grande, University Of Rio Grande is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $20,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $16,250. General Business/commerce graduates of University Of Rio Grande earn a median of $46,611 early in their careers. Set against $16,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
