2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Ohio
[General Business/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/general-business-commerce/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 44 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general business/commerce students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general business/commerce, balancing cost against outcomes.
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, compared with $11,374 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,236 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of North Central State College earn a median of $47,458 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Cincinnati State Technical And Community College one of the best values for general business/commerce. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,517, while out-of-state students pay about $10,044. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $17,730. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $47,975. Set against $17,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general business/commerce will find it at James A Rhodes State College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Lima, James A Rhodes State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $9,120. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $17,070 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of James A Rhodes State College earn a median of $45,238 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,070 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Cincinnati Clermont College one of the best values for general business/commerce. Located in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,639 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,871. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $19,525. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $39,106. That is a strong return on a $19,525 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Youngstown State University one of the best values for general business/commerce. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $26,373. 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. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Kent State University At Geauga earned the #6 position 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,211, with out-of-state students paying around $17,969. Students borrow a median of $25,319 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Kent State University At Geauga earn a median of $38,871 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kent State University At Tuscarawas came in at #7 for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the town of New Philadelphia, Kent State University At Tuscarawas is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $38,871. Set against $20,565 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wright State University Lake Campus earned the #8 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the rural area of Celina, Wright State University Lake Campus is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,372, with out-of-state students paying around $17,072. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $46,523. That is a strong return on a $22,375 median debt.
Ohio State University Newark Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the suburb of Newark, Ohio State University Newark Campus is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,488, while out-of-state students pay about $36,266. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $19,900. General Business/commerce graduates of Ohio State University Newark Campus earn a median of $48,597 early in their careers. Set against $19,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wright State University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for general business/commerce. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $46,523 early in their careers. 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 placed #11 among the best values for general business/commerce. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $26,336. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $49,648. That is a strong return on a $26,336 median debt. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Bryant And Stratton College Parma placed #12 among the best values for general business/commerce. Set in the suburb of Parma, Bryant And Stratton College Parma is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,013. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $19,302. General Business/commerce graduates of Bryant And Stratton College Parma earn a median of $30,059 early in their careers. 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. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $24,923. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $52,675. That is a strong return on a $24,923 median debt. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Central State University came in at #14 for value in general business/commerce this year. Central State University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wilberforce. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,058, while out-of-state students pay about $10,058. Students borrow a median of $31,569 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $29,472. Set against $31,569 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Firelands earned the #15 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the rural area of Huron, Bowling Green State University Firelands is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,131, with out-of-state students paying around $14,119. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $19,340. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Firelands generally make around $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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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 came in at #17 for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $25,769 in student loans. General Business/commerce graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $46,018 early in their careers. Set against $25,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Ashland University earned the #18 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Defiance College landed the #19 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Set in the town of Defiance, Defiance College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
University Of Rio Grande came in at #20 for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the rural area of Rio Grande, University Of Rio Grande is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $20,560 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete the general business/commerce program here. 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.
More General Business/Commerce Rankings
View All General Business/Commerce Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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.
