2026 Best Value Economics Schools in Ohio
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 45 schools to find the best return on investment for economics students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Economics Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Economics Schools
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among economics schools in Ohio. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $60,658. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Akron Main Campus earned it the #2 place for economics. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. Set against $25,347 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in economics will find it at University Of Toledo, which ranked #3. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $24,923. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $52,675. That is a strong return on a $24,923 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
A rank of #4 makes Kent State University At Kent one of the best values for economics. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Economics graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $56,731. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #5 spot this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Economics graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $66,237. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Students borrow a median of $23,625 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $52,864 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,625 median debt. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Ohio Wesleyan University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Delaware. In-state tuition and fees average $54,248. Students borrow a median of $26,868 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $31,531. That is a strong return on a $26,868 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for economics. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $21,264 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $68,850. Set against $21,264 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
The College Of Wooster placed #9 among the best values for economics. 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. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,936. Economics graduates of The College Of Wooster earn a median of $32,382 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,500. Economics graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $57,379 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Kenyon College earned the #11 position for value in economics this year. Located in the rural area of Gambier, Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,520. Economics graduates carry a median of $18,718 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Kenyon College generally make around $58,082. Set against $18,718 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 31%.
University Of Dayton came in at #12 for value in economics this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Economics graduates carry a median of $22,791 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $34,671. That is a strong return on a $22,791 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Denison University landed the #13 spot for economics value this year. Located in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,102 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $55,087. Set against $24,102 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Case Western Reserve University came in at #14 for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Students borrow a median of $25,949 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $53,148. Set against $25,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.
Oberlin College came in at #15 for value in economics this year. Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oberlin. In-state tuition and fees average $67,366. Economics graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Oberlin College generally make around $61,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 34%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 45 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
