What Universities Are in Columbus, Ohio?

Columbus has more than a dozen colleges and universities, ranging from one of the largest single-campus universities in the United States to smaller institutions focused on working adults and professional programs.

Ohio State University anchors the north end of the city and enrolls roughly 60,000 students on its main campus. It's a Big Ten research university with a medical center, law school, and College of Engineering that draw students nationally and internationally.

Columbus State Community College, located downtown near the Short North, is the most affordable entry point — in-state tuition runs around $5,000 per year — and feeds many transfer students into Ohio State.

Capital University sits in Bexley, just east of downtown, and operates as a smaller private liberal arts school with a law school attached; enrollment sits around 3,000.

Franklin University is downtown-focused and built around working adults, with flexible scheduling and a strong emphasis on business and technology degrees.

Ohio Dominican University operates on the northeast side of the city and is a Catholic liberal arts school with roughly 1,000 undergraduate students.

DeVry University maintains a Columbus campus with a career-technical focus, and Mount Carmel College of Nursing serves students specifically pursuing nursing credentials.

If you're comparing options by cost, Columbus State is the clear low-cost starting point; Ohio State offers the broadest graduate and research programs; and Franklin or Capital suit students who need schedule flexibility or a smaller campus environment.