Most Affordable Online Bachelor's Degrees in Ohio 2025

The rise in online learning has created many enrollment opportunities for Ohio-based students to earn bachelor's degrees with lower tuition costs and more flexible scheduling than on-campus higher education. Affordable bachelor's degrees online allow students to complete an undergraduate program at their own pace.

Learn about the cheapest online bachelor's degree available in Ohio, including business administration, criminal justice, cybersecurity, and many more.

How Much Does an Online Bachelor's Degree Cost in Ohio?

The average cost of an affordable online bachelor's degree program in Ohio is around $32,000 based on a standard four-year academic schedule. Total costs for online degrees will vary due to a few common factors, including full-time vs. part-time enrollment, financial aid eligibility, and degree-specific tuition rates.

Cheapest Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in Ohio

Online schools across Ohio provide quality education programs to learners. These Ohio colleges are accredited universities with multiple online bachelor's programs, giving students options to find the best degrees for their career goals.

1. Central State University

Central State University (CSU) has six online bachelor's degree programs, including criminal justice, primary education, and business administration. Students looking to enhance their learning experience can also choose from four minors. CSU's online programs include in-person experiential learning, including internships, that don't have to be completed on campus.

Average in-state tuition: $244 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $327 per credit hour

Financial aid: CSU students can submit their FAFSA forms to qualify for federal and state grants in addition to CSU's scholarship opportunities.

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati (UC) has 27 online undergraduate degree programs. Some of the popular options include social work, pre-law, and early childhood education. The online programs are coordinated through different campuses throughout the UC network, but they are all taught by the same faculty as in-person classes.

Average in-state tuition: $312 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $320 per credit hour

Financial aid: UC has internal scholarships available to complement external scholarships and federal grants. Students can also participate in co-op programs where they work jobs in their field and receive payment to be used toward tuition.

Accreditation: HLC

3. Shawnee State University

Shawnee State University (SSU) has nine online undergraduate degrees. Students can pursue bachelor's degrees in health science, criminal justice, and accounting. Online learners complete seven-week-long online courses with no set classes. SSU accepts up to 90 transfer credits, including associate degrees, which can reduce total costs.

Average in-state tuition: $313 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $313 per credit hour

Financial aid: Eligible students at SSU can qualify for free tuition, and other students can qualify for federal aid, including grants and scholarships.

Accreditation: HLC

4. Ohio University

Ohio University students can enroll in 16 fully online bachelor's degree programs, including sociology, project management, and human services. Ohio University is considered one of the best online colleges, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Students can transfer college credits from other universities or community colleges to accelerate their degree path.

Average in-state tuition: $316 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $316 per credit hour

Financial aid: Ohio University has employment-based scholarship partnerships, incentive scholarships, and accepts FAFSA results.

Accreditation: HLC

5. University of Toledo

University of Toledo students can enroll in 14 online programs, including marketing, operations and supply chain management, and criminal justice. Online courses at the University of Toledo are asynchronous and offered in full-time and part-time formats to promote flexible learning environments.

Average in-state tuition: $353 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $353 per credit hour

Financial aid: University of Toledo learners are eligible for grants, scholarships, and work-study programs.

Accreditation: HLC

6. Walsh University

Walsh University has 24 online bachelor's degree programs, including information technology, human resources management, and organizational leadership. Walsh also has an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in professional aviation 2+2 program that results in a BS in aviation and a pilot certificate.

Average in-state tuition: $375 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $375 per credit hour

Financial aid: Walsh University accepts FAFSA results and also provides institutional scholarships and grants.

Accreditation: HLC

7. Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) offers online undergraduate degrees and concentration options across 18 different fields of study. Students can complete online degree programs in engineering, theology, and healthcare. MVNU's online education is asynchronous, and coursework can be completed around other responsibilities, such as jobs or family obligations.

Average in-state tuition: $377 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $377 per credit hour

Financial aid: MVNU accepts the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and offers additional opportunities, including community college partnerships, prior learning credits, and participation in tuition reimbursement partnerships.

Accreditation: HLC

8. Wright State University

Wright State University (WSU) has five online bachelor's degrees. These programs include a graphic design and a management degree offered through the Lake Campus as well as marketing, organizational leadership, and liberal studies offered through their main campus. These degrees utilize the same high-quality curriculum as their on-campus counterparts and can be completed with set class times or asynchronously.

Average in-state tuition: $382 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $705 per credit hour

Financial aid: WSU offers student employment and scholarships to complement federal grants and work-study programs.

Accreditation: HLC

9. University of Akron

The 11 online degrees at the University of Akron (UAkron) are taught by the same faculty as its on-campus courses. Students can earn degrees in healthcare administration, business management, and criminal justice. UAkron offers 2+2 programs for students who have completed an accredited in-person or online associate degree to earn their bachelor's in two years.

Average in-state tuition: $447 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $767 per credit hour

Financial aid: UAkron has institutional scholarships that are awarded based on merit, need, and academic department. Students can also apply for federal aid benefits.

Accreditation: HLC

10. Youngstown State University

There are 10 online bachelor's degrees available at Youngstown State University (YSU). Online learners can choose from programs including an RN-to-BSN degree completion program, public health, and criminal justice. Students can transfer up to 90 credit hours to YSU. YSU also offers pay-as-you-go tuition for its self-paced online degrees, which reduces the overall tuition burden.

Average in-state tuition: $460 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $465 per credit hour

Financial aid: YSU accepts FAFSA results and federal grants. There are also institutional scholarship opportunities available to online students.

Accreditation: HLC

How We Rank Schools

Our methodology to determine the best and most affordable bachelor's degrees in Ohio relies on four main criteria. These criteria primarily focus on accreditation, reputation, and cost.

• Accreditation: Accreditation ensures that a degree meets Department of Education standards and makes degrees more acceptable to employers and graduate programs.
• Affordability: We selected programs with tuition rates under $500 per credit hour. We also highlighted cheap online colleges that accept FAFSA and schools with scholarships for online students.
• Program reputation and quality: In addition to accreditation, we looked for programs that receive awards and recognition from third-party groups, such as U.S. News & World Report.
• Online format: Finally, we found schools with multiple bachelor's degrees offered in fully online formats. Although there are internship requirements for some degrees, most don't require any in-person component.

FAQs About the Cheapest Bachelor's Degrees in Ohio

Some of the top-ranking universities in Ohio offer online degrees, but students still might have questions about these programs. The most common questions revolve around the cheapest degree programs, the value of these degrees, and non-tuition fees.

What Is the Cheapest Online Bachelor's Degree in Ohio?

The cheapest online bachelor's degree in Ohio is from Central State University, with up-front tuition costs of $244 per credit hour. However, based on financial aid eligibility, transfer credits, and enrollment status, students can find lower total costs at universities across the state.

What Is the Cheapest Way To Get a Bachelor's Degree?

The cheapest way to get a bachelor's degree is to enroll in an online program from a nonprofit, public university. Students should also look for online colleges that accept the Pell Grant to help reduce tuition costs. Finally, online colleges that accept transfer credits allow students to bring credits from affordable institutions, like community colleges, to their bachelor's program, which can speed up their degree programs.

Is Online College Worth It?

Online college is worth it to most students. Degrees earned from an accredited online college are viewed as the same as on-campus degrees, but they are generally more affordable and have more flexible scheduling. Students can find online colleges with tuition payment plans and diverse financial aid plans to help make online degrees even more affordable.

What Other Fees Should I Expect for an Online Bachelor's Degree?

Tuition costs are only part of the total bill for online college. Some fees that you should expect include technology fees related to the costs of running online education platforms. Fortunately, online degrees often have fewer total fees than on-campus degrees.

Explore Online Bachelor's Degrees

Whether you're looking for a school in Ohio or one of the other 49 states, read our school profiles and articles to learn more about these schools, their degree plans, and financial aid. After you've found the right school for you, use our resources to make contact and begin submitting your application today.