2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Ohio
[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) 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 37 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public health students.
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2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public health degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Health Schools
Leading the list is Wilberforce University, our #1 best value for public health in Ohio. Located in the rural area of Wilberforce, Wilberforce University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,448. Public Health graduates carry a median of $35,674 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Wilberforce University generally make around $31,290. That is a strong return on a $35,674 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #2 spot this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Public Health graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $48,552. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wright State University Main Campus earned it the #3 place for public health. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Public Health graduates carry a median of $25,836 in student loans. Public Health graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $58,009 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,836 median debt. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at Cleveland State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,336 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $63,255. Set against $26,336 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Toledo one of the best values for public health. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $52,771. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #6 spot for public health value this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Public Health graduates carry a median of $28,884 in student loans. Public Health graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $45,413 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,884 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value public health schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $37,883. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for public health value this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $30,500. Public Health graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $47,019 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #9 for value in public health this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $28,625. Public Health graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $55,859 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Baldwin Wallace College came in at #10 for value in public health this year. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. Students from in state pay about $39,832 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Baldwin Wallace College generally make around $54,089. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Baldwin Wallace College admits about 76% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford placed #11 among the best values for public health. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $37,533. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #12 spot for public health value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $66,608 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete the public health program here. Public Health graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $55,623 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,106 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
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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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
