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Easiest colleges to get into in Ohio

Updated Federal and Common Data Set numbers, each with its year

The short answer

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in Ohio are Shawnee State University (open admission), Miami University-Hamilton (open admission) and Wright State University-Lake Campus (open admission), by the share of applicants admitted.

A high acceptance rate means the college admits most people who apply. Open-admission colleges admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. Each row also shows the average price after grants, so you can weigh the two.

The list (25 of 59)

Four-year colleges in Ohio with 500 or more undergraduates, open-admission colleges first, then the highest acceptance rate. The list shows 25 of the 59 colleges with an acceptance rate or open admission on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024).

  1. Shawnee State University Open admission Portsmouth, OH · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $17,766 a year in-state, about $24,680 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  2. Miami University-Hamilton Open admission Hamilton, OH · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $11,513 a year in-state, about $23,979 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  3. Wright State University-Lake Campus Open admission Celina, OH · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $9,533 a year in-state, about $19,717 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  4. Miami University-Middletown Open admission Middletown, OH · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $10,410 a year in-state, about $22,876 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  5. Ohio State University-Lima Campus Open admission Lima, OH · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $12,326 a year in-state, about $41,108 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  6. Central State University 99% admitted Wilberforce, OH · Average price after grants: $13,307 a year in-state, about $16,307 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  7. Wright State University 96% admitted Dayton, OH · Average price after grants: $13,715 a year in-state, about $23,899 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  8. Ohio Dominican University 94% admitted Columbus, OH · Average price after grants: $17,780 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  9. Hiram College 94% admitted Hiram, OH · Average price after grants: $20,753 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  10. Mercy College of Ohio 93% admitted Toledo, OH · Average price after grants: $15,273 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  11. Wilmington College 92% admitted Wilmington, OH · Average price after grants: $28,567 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  12. University of Toledo 92% admitted Toledo, OH · Average price after grants: $16,406 a year in-state, about $25,766 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  13. Cleveland State University 91% admitted Cleveland, OH · Average price after grants: $13,754 a year in-state, about $19,438 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  14. Xavier University 86% admitted Cincinnati, OH · Average price after grants: $31,905 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  15. Kent State University at Kent 86% admitted Kent, OH · Average price after grants: $20,294 a year in-state, about $30,457 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  16. Heidelberg University 86% admitted Tiffin, OH · Average price after grants: $22,046 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  17. University of Cincinnati 85% admitted Cincinnati, OH · Average price after grants: $24,917 a year in-state, about $40,251 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  18. Ohio University 85% admitted Athens, OH · Average price after grants: $20,666 a year in-state, about $31,880 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  19. Otterbein University 85% admitted Westerville, OH · Average price after grants: $20,189 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  20. Youngstown State University 84% admitted Youngstown, OH · Average price after grants: $9,161 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  21. Mount Carmel College of Nursing 84% admitted Columbus, OH · Average price after grants: $23,987 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  22. Mount Vernon Nazarene University 84% admitted Mount Vernon, OH · Average price after grants: $21,193 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  23. The University of Findlay 83% admitted Findlay, OH · Average price after grants: $26,406 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  24. Muskingum University 82% admitted New Concord, OH · Average price after grants: $19,145 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  25. Bowling Green State University 81% admitted Bowling Green, OH · Average price after grants: $21,453 a year in-state, about $29,441 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the easiest colleges to get into in Ohio?

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in Ohio are Shawnee State University (open admission), Miami University-Hamilton (open admission) and Wright State University-Lake Campus (open admission), by the share of applicants admitted.

How many of these colleges have open admission?

5 of the 25 colleges listed have open admission: they admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. The others admitted 81% to 99% of applicants.

How recent are these acceptance rates?

Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.

Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.

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