Ohio College Tuition Trends from 2015 to 2025

Tuition trends by school type and level for Ohio colleges

There are 128 four-year colleges and universities in Ohio—47 public institutions and 81 private institutions. This page summarizes average tuition & fees and how costs have changed over time based on the latest available IPEDS data.

Undergraduate Tuition Trends

Public colleges: In 2025, average in-state tuition & fees are $8,495, while out-of-state tuition & fees are $17,816. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 4.00% and out-of-state costs changed by 4.13%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 30.95% (in-state) and 27.28% (out-of-state).

Private colleges: The average tuition & fees are $30,842 in 2025. That is a 4.02% change from last year and 22.79% cumulative growth since 2015.

Graduate Tuition Trends

Public graduate schools: In 2025, average in-state graduate tuition & fees are $13,336, while out-of-state graduate tuition & fees are $26,574. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 0.96% and out-of-state costs changed by 1.23%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 21.64% (in-state) and 27.85% (out-of-state).

Private graduate schools: The average graduate tuition & fees are $19,359 in 2025. That is a 5.75% change from last year and 23.87% cumulative growth since 2015.

Public vs. private comparison (increase rates): In 2025, private undergraduate tuition changed by 4.02% year-over-year. Public undergraduate in-state changed by 4.00% (lower by 0.02 percentage points vs. private), and public out-of-state changed by 4.13% (higher by 0.11 percentage points vs. private). Over the full period since 2015, private undergraduate tuition grew by 22.79%, compared with public in-state 30.95% (higher by 8.16 percentage points vs. private) and public out-of-state 27.28% (higher by 4.50 percentage points vs. private).

Graduate comparison: In 2025, private graduate tuition changed by 5.75% year-over-year. Public graduate in-state changed by 0.96% (lower by 4.79 percentage points vs. private), and public graduate out-of-state changed by 1.23% (lower by 4.52 percentage points vs. private). Since 2015, private graduate tuition grew by 23.87%, compared with public graduate in-state 21.64% (lower by 2.23 percentage points vs. private) and public graduate out-of-state 27.85% (higher by 3.98 percentage points vs. private).

COA Trends

Undergraduate cost of attendance change by school type (tuition & fees + room & board): In 2025, estimated on-campus COA is $24,714 (public in-state), $34,034 (public out-of-state), and $47,061 (private). Year-over-year, on-campus COA changed by 5.60%, 5.23%, and 4.85%, respectively. Since 2015, cumulative on-campus COA growth is 33.48% (public in-state), 30.78% (public out-of-state), and 26.69% (private).

Off-campus COA: In 2025, estimated off-campus COA is $25,192 (public in-state), $34,512 (public out-of-state), and $47,539 (private). Year-over-year, off-campus COA changed by 8.98%, 7.66%, and 6.60%. Since 2015, cumulative off-campus COA growth is 34.46% (public in-state), 31.50% (public out-of-state), and 27.22% (private).

Tuition & Fees Trends of Ohio Colleges from 2015 to 2025

The tables and charts below show how average college tuition and fees have changed in Ohio from 2015 through 2025.

All figures are based on the latest available IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) data published by the U.S. Department of Education. To keep the comparisons consistent, these averages reflect 4-year colleges and universities in Ohio and exclude most community colleges and trade schools due to differences in reporting and availability.

Under. (Public) Under. (Private) Graduate (Public) Graduate (Private)

For Ohio public schools, the 2025 undergraduate in-state tuition & fees are $8,495 which has increased by 30.95% over the current decade and the out-of-state cost is $17,816 which has risen by 27.28%. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 2.73% while last year increase rate was 4.13%.

Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Ohio Colleges

	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
In-State Costs	$6,507	$6,558	$6,591	$6,858	$7,098	$7,329	$7,580	$7,932	$8,168	$8,495
Year-to-Year Rates	0.30%	0.78%	0.50%	4.06%	3.50%	3.25%	3.43%	4.64%	2.99%	4.00%
Cumulative Rates	0.30%	1.08%	1.59%	5.71%	9.40%	12.96%	16.84%	22.26%	25.91%	30.95%
Out-of-State Costs	$14,181	$14,300	$14,527	$14,847	$15,266	$15,732	$15,994	$16,596	$17,109	$17,816
Year-to-Year Rates	1.32%	0.84%	1.59%	2.20%	2.82%	3.05%	1.67%	3.76%	3.09%	4.13%
Cumulative Rates	1.32%	2.16%	3.79%	6.07%	9.07%	12.39%	14.27%	18.57%	22.23%	27.28%

For private schools in Ohio state, the 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees are $30,842 which has increased by 22.79% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 2.28% while last year increase rate was 4.02%.

Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Ohio Colleges

	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
Tuition & Fees	$25,576	$25,989	$26,406	$26,860	$27,933	$27,854	$27,968	$28,844	$29,649	$30,842
Year-to-Year Rates	1.82%	1.62%	1.61%	1.72%	3.99%	-0.28%	0.41%	3.13%	2.79%	4.02%
Cumulative Rates	1.82%	3.46%	5.13%	6.93%	11.20%	10.89%	11.34%	14.83%	18.04%	22.79%

The average graduate school tuition & fees of Ohio public schools are $13,336 which has increased by 21.64% over the current decade and the out-of-state graduate cost is $26,574 which has risen by 27.85%. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 2.79% while last year increase rate was 1.23%.

Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Ohio Colleges

	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
In-State Costs	$10,956	$11,167	$11,331	$11,607	$11,564	$11,529	$12,033	$12,742	$13,209	$13,336
Year-to-Year Rates	-0.07%	1.93%	1.47%	2.44%	-0.37%	-0.30%	4.37%	5.89%	3.67%	0.96%
Cumulative Rates	-0.07%	1.85%	3.35%	5.87%	5.48%	5.16%	9.75%	16.22%	20.48%	21.64%
Out-of-State Costs	$20,614	$20,672	$21,402	$22,923	$22,998	$23,236	$23,374	$25,362	$26,251	$26,574
Year-to-Year Rates	-0.83%	0.28%	3.53%	7.11%	0.33%	1.03%	0.59%	8.51%	3.50%	1.23%
Cumulative Rates	-0.83%	-0.54%	2.97%	10.29%	10.65%	11.79%	12.46%	22.02%	26.30%	27.85%

For private graduate schools in Ohio state, the 2025 tuition & fees are $19,359 which has increased by 23.87% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 2.38725% while last year increase rate was 5.75%.

Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Ohio Colleges

	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
Tuition & Fees	$15,785	$16,324	$16,375	$16,589	$16,855	$17,370	$17,743	$18,342	$18,306	$19,359
Year-to-Year Rates	1.00%	3.41%	0.31%	1.31%	1.60%	3.05%	2.15%	3.37%	-0.19%	5.75%
Cumulative Rates	1.00%	4.45%	4.78%	6.15%	7.85%	11.14%	13.54%	17.37%	17.14%	23.87%

You can check the changes of other college costs including room & board costs, book & supplies, and other living expenses at Ohio college cost trends.

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