Best Community Colleges in Ohio

Why Attend Community College in Ohio?

Ohio is an excellent choice for those looking to further their education in the 2020s. Not only is the state attractive in terms of tuition costs, but its workforce is on the rise and its economy is highly competitive. If you’re interested in a 2-year degree or certificate, there are numerous community colleges to choose from such as Ohio State University, Edison Community College, and Cuyahoga Community College. And if you’re looking for an even more affordable option, consider the Miami Valley Career Technology Center, which offers specialized courses and technical training for students at just $2,400 per academic year!

What Career Pathways Are Available in Ohio?

Ohio is simply bursting with potential job opportunities, with over 779 unique types of employment to choose from. This ranks 6th among the 50 states for variety of job types, coming in with just more than the median of 722 unique positions, as seen in the state of Louisiana. Take heart, for Ohio controls more than 3.69% of the nation's entire labor force - a number that surpasses its median state counterpart - Oregon - by a whopping 184.9%!

Unsurprisingly, the Buckeye State comes in 7th out of all 50 states when it comes to job quantity. As of the end of 2022, the state of Ohio is estimated to employ a little more than 5.2 million people, a number that is almost 8% below that of Pennsylvania, the closest competitor. They are followed, in order, by North Carolina, who trails Ohio's workforce by a considerable difference of only 17.6%.

What Are The Most Common Jobs in Ohio?

When it comes to the most common job type in Ohio, it's quite easy to narrow it down. The most popular are janitors and cleaners, sales representatives, and waiters and waitresses.

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Across the US, 71,480 janitors and cleaners call Ohio home. This puts Ohio at 7th in the country for total janitor numbers, although their median salary of $29,250 puts them in a middle-of-the-pack position nationally. Compared to California, the leading state in these jobs, Ohio lags behind by more than 67% (with almost 144,000 fewer janitors and cleaners).

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

There are approximately 1.24 million sales representatives in the US, and 5.24% of them find their home in the state of Ohio. As of 2022, that translates to a total of 65,060 of these sales reps and Ohio holds steady in the 5th spot among all states. Surprisingly, Ohio's median salary for this job type is $61,790 - a number that outpaces the likes of California, who currently has the most such persons in the nation, but pays them far less ($51,840).

Waiters and Waitresses

In the state of Ohio, you'll find around 64,740 waiters and waitresses. These servers tend to bring in a median salary of $20,530, which equates to a percentile rank 26 - not too bad, although not as good as the median state in this category, North Dakota (Ohio trails them by nearly 10% in terms of average compensation). Interestingly, wait staff in Ohio can potentially make more money than their counterparts in California even though their salary is lower - salaries in Ohio for the role can reach in excess of $36,000 (75% upside) but this range is only typically available to outstanding performers that are rewarded by being paid in 90th percentile amongst their peers.