Cheapest Political Science and Government Colleges in Ohio

Ohio's political science programs reveal a striking cost divide, with regional campuses delivering education for under $7,000 while Cleveland State University reaches $16,065. The Ohio University system dominates affordable options, placing five campuses in the top six cheapest programs statewide. Students at these regional locations graduate with $22,500 in debt, significantly below the national average. Ohio's political market offers practical training grounds, from Columbus statehouse internships to Cleveland's municipal government roles. The state's healthcare giants like Cleveland Clinic and manufacturing leaders including Honda create policy analyst positions across sectors. Graduation rates vary dramatically, from Central State University's 25.6% to University of Toledo's 55.6%, reflecting different student populations and resources. Political science graduates in Ohio earn between $25,774 and $30,771 annually, with Cleveland State and University of Toledo leading salary outcomes.

Programs

$4,503 – $38,111

Net Price Range

$32,020

Avg. Program Earnings

55.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Political Science and Government Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, Ohio	$4,503	$6,178	20.0%
2	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, Ohio	$5,328	$6,178	19.3%
3	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, Ohio	$5,971	$6,178	17.7%
4	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, Ohio	$6,133	$6,178	13.7%
5	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, Ohio	$6,483	$6,178	12.1%
6	Antioch College Yellow Springs, Ohio	$6,602	$37,143	26.3%	83.0%
7	Wilberforce University Wilberforce, Ohio	$7,349	$14,776	16.0%	45.1%
8	Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio	$11,877	$10,791	52.9%	80.6%
9	University of Akron Main Campus Akron, Ohio	$14,981	$12,799	48.2%	82.9%
10	Wright State University-Main Campus Dayton, Ohio	$15,216	$11,188	45.9%	95.2%
11	Shawnee State University Portsmouth, Ohio	$15,389	$9,622	43.0%
12	Cleveland State University Cleveland, Ohio	$16,065	$12,613	48.9%	85.3%
13	Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio	$16,544	$7,824	25.6%	88.8%
14	University of Toledo Toledo, Ohio	$17,460	$12,377	55.6%	92.2%
15	Ursuline College Pepper Pike, Ohio	$18,027	$37,860	53.2%	85.1%
16	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$18,292	$12,859	87.7%	52.7%
17	Marietta College Marietta, Ohio	$18,372	$38,974	58.1%	82.9%
18	Wittenberg University Springfield, Ohio	$19,470	$44,602	53.8%	93.9%
19	Ohio Dominican University Columbus, Ohio	$19,476	$34,370	47.9%	52.4%
20	Kent State University at Kent Kent, Ohio	$19,614	$12,846	65.5%	88.0%
21	Walsh University North Canton, Ohio	$20,004	$34,595	61.7%	72.5%
22	Hiram College Hiram, Ohio	$20,088	$26,265	59.1%	93.1%
23	Muskingum University New Concord, Ohio	$20,204	$31,440	52.7%	86.4%
24	Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, Ohio	$20,413	$13,746	66.4%	86.5%
25	Notre Dame College Cleveland, Ohio	$20,477	$32,606	36.6%	78.5%
26	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, Ohio	$20,918	$14,081	62.8%	78.7%
27	Lake Erie College Painesville, Ohio	$21,296	$36,032	41.9%	54.1%
28	Ohio Christian University Circleville, Ohio	$21,607	$23,700	35.7%
29	Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, Ohio	$21,619	$52,357	61.7%	52.2%
30	Heidelberg University Tiffin, Ohio	$21,662	$33,628	49.8%	71.4%
31	Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon, Ohio	$21,812	$35,524	63.6%	85.3%
32	Ashland University Ashland, Ohio	$21,994	$28,910	60.6%	71.8%
33	Otterbein University Westerville, Ohio	$22,140	$34,899	68.9%	83.7%
34	University of Mount Union Alliance, Ohio	$22,539	$35,400	64.9%	75.8%
35	Wilmington College Wilmington, Ohio	$22,872	$30,962	55.1%	88.1%
36	Malone University Canton, Ohio	$22,881	$36,120	51.3%	77.6%
37	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, Ohio	$23,156	$13,570	71.5%	86.2%
38	Capital University Columbus, Ohio	$23,585	$41,788	65.5%	72.2%
39	The University of Findlay Findlay, Ohio	$23,731	$39,646	62.6%	86.0%
40	Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, Ohio	$23,987	$32,630	77.1%	66.7%
41	Cedarville University Cedarville, Ohio	$25,022	$36,078	74.3%	64.9%
42	Ohio Northern University Ada, Ohio	$25,727	$37,800	74.2%	54.4%
43	The College of Wooster Wooster, Ohio	$25,766	$59,550	73.6%	56.3%
44	Baldwin Wallace University Berea, Ohio	$27,654	$37,938	68.6%	77.0%
45	Miami University-Oxford Oxford, Ohio	$27,662	$17,809	81.8%	87.9%
46	John Carroll University University Heights, Ohio	$28,617	$49,100	76.5%	82.4%
47	Kenyon College Gambier, Ohio	$29,383	$69,330	86.8%	34.3%
48	University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio	$31,236	$47,600	81.5%	74.1%
49	Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio	$32,342	$48,125	70.5%	84.5%
50	Denison University Granville, Ohio	$38,111	$64,000	80.1%	22.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Ohio University's regional campuses so affordable for political science students?

Ohio University's five regional campuses offer identical $6,178 in-state tuition but vastly different net costs due to financial aid packages. The Eastern Campus in Saint Clairsville provides the lowest net cost at $4,503, while Lancaster Campus reaches $6,133. All regional campuses maintain the same $22,500 average debt level. These campuses serve local populations with targeted financial support, making political science education accessible in smaller communities.

How do graduation rates compare across Ohio's cheapest political science programs?

Graduation rates span a 40-percentage-point range among affordable options, from Ohio University-Chillicothe's 12.1% to University of Toledo's 55.6%. Regional campuses typically serve part-time and working students, explaining lower completion rates compared to main campuses. Youngstown State achieves 52.9% despite its $11,877 net cost. These variations reflect different student demographics and institutional support systems rather than program quality alone.

Is Antioch College a realistic option despite being private?

Antioch College offers a $6,602 net cost that ranks sixth statewide, making it competitive with public options despite a $37,143 sticker price. The Yellow Springs institution accepts 82.95% of applicants and maintains a 26.3% graduation rate. Antioch's progressive political focus aligns well with students seeking alternative approaches to government studies. The college's financial aid packages reduce costs to levels comparable with regional public campuses.

Does location affect earning potential for Ohio political science graduates?

Cleveland State University graduates earn $30,409 annually, reflecting the city's larger government and nonprofit sectors. University of Toledo graduates earn $30,771, benefiting from proximity to state government and Great Lakes trade policy roles. Youngstown State graduates start at $25,774, though the lower cost of living in northeastern Ohio offsets the salary difference. These urban campuses provide better networking opportunities with state legislators and policy organizations.

Where do Ohio political science graduates find the best job opportunities?

Columbus offers the richest job market with state government, lobbying firms, and policy think tanks concentrated near the statehouse. Cleveland provides municipal government roles plus positions with healthcare policy organizations at Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University. Toledo's port authority and international trade connections create customs and regulatory positions. Ohio's manufacturing base, including Honda's operations, generates corporate government relations roles statewide for political science graduates.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.