2026 Best Value General Chemistry Schools in Ohio
[General Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/general-chemistry/) 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 58 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general chemistry students.
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2026 Best Value General Chemistry Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general chemistry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Chemistry Schools
For return on investment in general chemistry, no school beat Wright State University Main Campus this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. General Chemistry graduates carry a median of $25,836 in student loans. General Chemistry graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $49,077 early in their careers. Set against $25,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Stark State College one of the best values for general chemistry. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $17,349. General Chemistry graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cleveland State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general chemistry, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $24,744. Early-career general chemistry graduates make about $48,147. Set against $24,744 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general chemistry schools. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Students borrow a median of $27,500 to complete the general chemistry program here. General Chemistry graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $44,970 early in their careers. Set against $27,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the best values for general chemistry. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $25,225. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $68,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Toledo earned the #6 position for value in general chemistry 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, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $24,923. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $52,675. Set against $24,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #7 spot for general chemistry 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, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $25,000. General Chemistry graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $39,790 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general chemistry schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $25,751 to complete the general chemistry program here. Early-career general chemistry graduates make about $43,349. That is a strong return on a $25,751 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for general chemistry. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. General Chemistry graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. General Chemistry graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $43,105 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in general chemistry this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $23,750. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $47,387. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
The College Of Wooster came in at #11 for value in general chemistry this year. Set in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,640. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general chemistry program here. Early-career general chemistry graduates make about $32,382. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The College Of Wooster admits about 60% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford landed the #12 spot for general chemistry value this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete the general chemistry program here. General Chemistry graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
John Carroll University placed #13 among the best values for general chemistry. Set in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $50,500. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from John Carroll University generally make around $30,087. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value general chemistry schools. 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. General Chemistry graduates carry a median of $23,800 in student loans. General Chemistry graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,800 median debt. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.
Oberlin College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general chemistry schools. Set in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,366. General Chemistry graduates carry a median of $24,759 in student loans. Early-career general chemistry graduates make about $25,146. Set against $24,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 34%.
More General Chemistry Rankings
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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 · 58 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
