Which Universities in Columbus, Ohio Are Worth Considering?

The strongest universities in Columbus range from one of the largest single-campus public universities in the United States to smaller private colleges with distinct academic identities.

Ohio State University dominates the landscape. Located on a 1,665-acre campus in northern Columbus, it enrolls around 60,000 students and offers graduate and professional programs across nearly every field, including a nationally recognized medical school, law school, and Fisher College of Business. In-state undergraduate tuition runs approximately $11,000–$12,000 per year (confirm current figures at registrar.osu.edu).

Columbus State Community College, located downtown on the edge of the Short North, is the practical entry point for many students — associate degrees and workforce certificates at roughly $5,000–$6,000 per year for in-county residents, with transfer pathways directly into OSU.

Capital University sits in Bexley, just east of downtown, with around 3,000 students. It's a Lutheran-affiliated liberal arts school with a well-regarded law school and conservatory of music.

Franklin University, also downtown on South Grant Avenue, focuses specifically on working adults — most programs are designed around evening and online schedules, which matters if you're balancing a Columbus-area job with a degree.

Ohio Dominican University on the northeast side serves roughly 1,500 students and emphasizes smaller class sizes and business, education, and health sciences programs.

For graduate-only study, Pontifical College Josephinum near Worthington is a seminary with a niche but regionally distinctive presence.