The Top 50 Best Colleges in the US is College Raptor’s most prestigious rankings list. Updated annually, these schools are celebrated for their rich histories, stunning campuses, excellent academics, and vibrant student life. The institutions on this list are known for both academic excellence and impressive extracurricular opportunities, making them “dream schools” for students around the world. Use these rankings as a jumping-off point for you to create your own personalized rankings using our college match tool.
Each of these rankings is based on an analysis of data about the school’s selectivity, financial health, graduation rates, student success, and more. We’ve outlined our full methodology here.
| Rank | Institution | Undergraduates | Acceptance Rate | SAT Score | Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price | Median Starting Salary | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenyon College | 2249 | 31.03 | 1,380 – 1,490 | 46859 | 46627 |
#1
Kenyon College
|
| 2 | Case Western Reserve University | 6528 | 36.54 | 1,430 – 1,530 | 44000 | 75613 |
Case Western Reserve University
|
| 3 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 46815 | 60.57 | 1,310 – 1,450 | 19783 | 51438 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus
|
| 4 | Oberlin College | 2896 | 34.18 | 1,380 – 1,520 | 51624 | 38871 |
Oberlin College
|
| 5 | Denison University | 2394 | 17.39 | 1,350 – 1,480 | 43721 | 51352 |
Denison University
|
| 6 | Miami University-Oxford | 16816 | 75.4 | 1,220 – 1,380 | 28229 | 49773 |
#6
Miami University-Oxford
|
| 7 | The College of Wooster | 1738 | 59.53 | 1,250 – 1,460 | 28004 | 43895 |
The College of Wooster
|
| 8 | University of Dayton | 7740 | 65.45 | 1,210 – 1,400 | 32794 | 62477 |
University of Dayton
|
| 9 | John Carroll University | 2339 | 80.9 | 1,200 – 1,390 | 30030 | 53187 |
John Carroll University
|
| 10 | Franciscan University of Steubenville | 3219 | 58.36 | 1,110 – 1,350 | 23086 | 42037 |
Franciscan University of Steubenville
|
| 11 | Xavier University | 4239 | 86.41 | 1,110 – 1,330 | 33623 | 54758 |
Xavier University
|
| 12 | Ohio Northern University | 2706 | 74.4 | 1,180 – 1,360 | 25941 | 62686 |
Ohio Northern University
|
| 13 | Ohio Wesleyan University | 1525 | 55.6 | 1,180 – 1,390 | 23006 | 42495 |
Ohio Wesleyan University
|
| 14 | Mount Carmel College of Nursing | 534 | 84.29 | 930 – 1,080 | 10065 | 60785 |
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
|
| 15 | Baldwin Wallace University | 2862 | 75.7 | 1,090 – 1,320 | 27991 | 44972 |
#15
Baldwin Wallace University
|
| 16 | Otterbein University | 2211 | 84.53 | 1,110 – 1,310 | 20457 | 44539 |
Otterbein University
|
| 17 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 20444 | 84.99 | 1,110 – 1,310 | 21907 | 48991 |
Ohio University-Main Campus
|
| 18 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 33033 | 85.29 | 1,180 – 1,350 | 24696 | 48310 |
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
|
| 19 | Cleveland Institute of Art | 545 | 61.35 | 1,050 – 1,310 | 30837 | 33148 |
Cleveland Institute of Art
|
| 20 | University of Mount Union | 2207 | 78.2 | 960 – 1,220 | 23616 | 45919 |
University of Mount Union
|
| 21 | Capital University | 1609 | 70.22 | 960 – 1,210 | 22395 | 45767 |
Capital University
|
| 22 | Wittenberg University | 1227 | 72.35 | 1,060 – 1,300 | 23537 | 42437 |
Wittenberg University
|
| 23 | Kent State University at Kent | 20841 | 86.34 | 990 – 1,220 | 21278 | 40179 |
Kent State University at Kent
|
| 24 | The University of Findlay | 4062 | 83.37 | 1,010 – 1,240 | 27297 | 49757 |
#24
The University of Findlay
|
| 25 | Malone University | 992 | 75.86 | 970 – 1,180 | 22390 | 43056 |
Malone University
|
| 26 | Cleveland Institute of Music | 159 | 47.31 | -- | 29683 | 60883 |
Cleveland Institute of Music
|
| 27 | Mount Vernon Nazarene University | 1359 | 84.15 | 990 – 1,230 | 22961 | 43046 |
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
|
| 28 | Columbus College of Art & Design | 884 | 67.66 | 970 – 1,190 | 31801 | 30590 |
Columbus College of Art & Design
|
| 29 | Hiram College | 1026 | 93.53 | 890 – 1,170 | 21868 | 40270 |
Hiram College
|
| 30 | Walsh University | 1523 | 70.74 | 1,040 – 1,280 | 23933 | 50090 |
Walsh University
|
| 31 | Kettering College | 575 | 76.54 | 1,010 – 1,180 | 22036 | 60692 |
Kettering College
|
| 32 | University of Toledo | 11013 | 92.02 | 1,130 – 1,330 | 17844 | 44162 |
University of Toledo
|
| 33 | Marietta College | 1023 | 79.31 | 960 – 1,190 | 22007 | 51252 |
Marietta College
|
| 34 | Mount St. Joseph University | 1545 | 59.12 | 1,020 – 1,270 | 17094 | 43595 |
Mount St. Joseph University
|
| 35 | Muskingum University | 1523 | 81.84 | 930 – 1,110 | 19695 | 40536 |
Muskingum University
|
| 36 | Ursuline College | 677 | 74.93 | 1,030 – 1,200 | 16350 | 45646 |
Ursuline College
|
| 37 | Ohio Dominican University | 843 | 94.23 | 1,040 – 1,310 | 21032 | 43933 |
#37
Ohio Dominican University
|
| 38 | Gods Bible School and College | 409 | 75.32 | 960 – 1,170 | 13252 | 29555 |
Gods Bible School and College
|
| 39 | Antioch College | 121 | 89.13 | 1,010 – 1,240 | 15964 | 32114 |
Antioch College
|
| 40 | Shawnee State University | 2994 | 68.91 | 980 – 1,190 | 13996 | 35080 |
Shawnee State University
|
| 41 | Wright State University-Lake Campus | 1356 | 99.85 | 930 – 1,180 | 11008 | 42229 |
Wright State University-Lake Campus
|
| 42 | University of Akron Main Campus | 11160 | 59.67 | 930 – 1,210 | 14693 | 42269 |
University of Akron Main Campus
|
| 43 | Wilmington College | 1006 | 92.4 | 890 – 1,150 | 26548 | 41889 |
Wilmington College
|
| 44 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 7505 | 96.33 | 930 – 1,220 | 15254 | 42229 |
#44
Wright State University-Main Campus
|
| 45 | Cleveland State University | 9482 | 91.3 | 930 – 1,210 | 16230 | 44625 |
Cleveland State University
|
| 46 | Art Academy of Cincinnati | 206 | 34.49 | 740 – 1,170 | 33491 | 27483 |
Art Academy of Cincinnati
|
| 47 | Youngstown State University | 9400 | 84.45 | 1,010 – 1,220 | 12757 | 37590 |
#47
Youngstown State University
|
| 48 | Cedarville University | 5790 | 65.29 | 1,120 – 1,350 | 27150 | 47937 |
Cedarville University
|
| 49 | Defiance College | 529 | 47.55 | 970 – 1,080 | 26298 | 39303 |
Defiance College
|
| 50 | Tiffin University | 2842 | 80.05 | 870 – 1,090 | 26068 | 42475 |
Tiffin University
|
| 51 | Lake Erie College | 941 | 70.36 | 970 – 1,180 | 22892 | 43959 |
Lake Erie College
|
| 52 | Ohio Christian University | 1288 | 37.97 | 850 – 930 | 20290 | 34457 |
Ohio Christian University
|
| 53 | Mercy College of Ohio | 984 | 93.22 | 840 – 1,040 | 15311 | 61877 |
Mercy College of Ohio
|
| 54 | University of Northwestern Ohio | 2495 | 0 | -- | 21853 | 45639 | |
| 55 | Wilberforce University | 822 | 40.5 | 850 – 1,080 | 5533 | 35146 |
Wilberforce University
|
| 56 | Ashland University | 2977 | 76.4 | 1,040 – 1,210 | 22610 | 47722 |
Ashland University
|
| 57 | Ohio State University-Lima Campus | 720 | 0 | -- | 12862 | 51438 | |
| 58 | Bluffton University | 583 | 67.23 | 890 – 1,120 | 20429 | 41940 |
Bluffton University
|
| 59 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 14783 | 80.96 | 1,010 – 1,240 | 24283 | 41281 |
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
|
| 60 | Central State University | 2665 | 98.61 | 800 – 970 | 11398 | 27173 |
Central State University
|
| 61 | Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus | 2170 | 0 | -- | 6032 | 48991 | |
| 62 | Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | 2009 | 0 | -- | 5957 | 48991 | |
| 63 | Ohio State University-Marion Campus | 849 | 0 | -- | 13191 | 51438 | |
| 64 | Kent State University at Stark | 3526 | 0 | -- | 10861 | 40179 | |
| 65 | Kent State University at Ashtabula | 1739 | 0 | -- | 12653 | 40179 | |
| 66 | Chamberlain University-Ohio | 257 | 87.5 | -- | 31544 | 59213 |
Chamberlain University-Ohio
|
| 67 | Miami University-Hamilton | 2438 | 0 | -- | 9786 | 49773 | |
| 68 | Heidelberg University | 969 | 85.79 | 1,020 – 1,180 | 19447 | 41440 |
Heidelberg University
|
| 69 | Miami University-Middletown | 1190 | 0 | -- | 10574 | 49773 | |
| 70 | Ohio University-Eastern Campus | 1235 | 0 | -- | 4730 | 48991 | |
| 71 | University of Rio Grande | 2037 | 0 | -- | 24061 | 34323 | |
| 72 | Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus | 849 | 0 | -- | 15634 | 51438 | |
| 73 | Ohio University-Southern Campus | 1716 | 0 | -- | 6014 | 48991 | |
| 74 | Kent State University at Trumbull | 2148 | 0 | -- | 11562 | 40179 | |
| 75 | Ohio University-Lancaster Campus | 2127 | 0 | -- | 5854 | 48991 | |
| 76 | The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences | 717 | 58.94 | 850 – 1,210 | 18892 | 64942 |
#76
The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences
|
| 77 | Kent State University at Salem | 1633 | 0 | -- | 13301 | 40179 | |
| 78 | Ohio State University-Newark Campus | 2543 | 0 | -- | 14144 | 51438 | |
| 79 | Kent State University at Geauga | 2204 | 0 | -- | 11886 | 40179 | |
| 80 | Kent State University at Tuscarawas | 2099 | 0 | -- | 12576 | 40179 | |
| 81 | Franklin University | 6188 | 0 | -- | 25576 | 49189 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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