2026 Best Value English Schools in Ohio
[English](/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/) 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 74 schools to find the best return on investment for english students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value English Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the english degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value English Schools
Leading the list is Sinclair Community College, our #1 best value for english in Ohio. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. English graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Wright State University Main Campus one of the best values for english. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $24,140. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $25,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in english will find it at Miami University Hamilton, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Hamilton, Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,012, while out-of-state students pay about $18,811. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the english program here. English graduates of Miami University Hamilton earn a median of $27,356 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cleveland State University earned it the #4 place for english. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. English graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans. English graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $28,649 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,831 median debt. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Akron Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in english, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. English graduates carry a median of $28,250 in student loans. English graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $23,923 early in their careers. Set against $28,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Shawnee State University placed #6 among the best values for english. Located in the town of Portsmouth, Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,448, while out-of-state students pay about $16,032. Typical student debt for english graduates is $25,233. English graduates of Shawnee State University earn a median of $42,878 early in their careers. Set against $25,233 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for english. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for english graduates is $23,500. English graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $44,055 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Toledo placed #8 among the best values for english. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $21,750. Early-career english graduates make about $24,301. Set against $21,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for english. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $51,403. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent placed #10 among the best values for english. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $26,000. English graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $22,318 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Cedarville University earned the #11 position for value in english this year. Located in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,150. Students borrow a median of $22,110 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $57,104. Set against $22,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville came in at #12 for value in english this year. Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Steubenville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,100. Typical student debt for english graduates is $26,000. Early-career english graduates make about $27,354. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Franciscan University Of Steubenville admits about 58% of applicants.
The College Of Wooster placed #13 among the best values for english. Set in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,640 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,717 to complete the english program here. English graduates of The College Of Wooster earn a median of $30,746 early in their careers. Set against $26,717 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Miami University Oxford earned the #14 position for value in english this year. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Typical student debt for english graduates is $27,000. English graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $40,260 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
Baldwin Wallace College landed the #15 spot for english value this year. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,832. English graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. English graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $26,760 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
John Carroll University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Located in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $50,500 in tuition and fees. English graduates carry a median of $26,188 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $29,095. That is a strong return on a $26,188 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Kenyon College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Located in the rural area of Gambier, Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $71,520. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Kenyon College generally make around $29,962. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 31%.
University Of Dayton came in at #18 for value in english this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,140. Typical student debt for english graduates is $24,398. Early-career english graduates make about $30,063. Set against $24,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Dayton admits about 65% of applicants.
Xavier University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value english schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,425. English graduates carry a median of $26,798 in student loans. English graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $25,683 early in their careers. Set against $26,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University came in at #20 for value in english this year. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Students borrow a median of $26,420 to complete the english program here. English graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,420 median debt. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.
Oberlin College placed #21 among the best values for english. Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oberlin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,366. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Oberlin College generally make around $19,734. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 34%.
View All English Rankings >
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 · 74 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
