Best Online Colleges in Ohio

Benefits of Studying Online in Ohio

Boasting a population just shy of 12 million, Ohio ranks as the 7th most populous state in the nation. Of its 11.8 million inhabitants, more than half reside in either the state’s capitol (Columbus) or the other big cities. As for the Buckeye State's size, it covers just over 44,800 square miles, making it the 34th largest state in terms of land area. As a result, Ohio provides plenty of outdoor spots to explore and access to larger indoor venues such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Cleveland.

Employment Stats

In terms of economic health, Ohio ranks as the 7th largest employer with 5,509,000 non-farm employees in November 2022. This equates to just over 3.5% of the nation's entire employed workforce, which is higher than many expect given the state's 3.6% population share. Not to mention, over the last year, more than 127,000 jobs were added onto the state's total employed number - an increase of 2.37%. So although Ohio may not be the fastest growing state from a workforce perspective (it's actually the 39th fastest), its steady growth is expected to continue, offering students plenty of job opportunities once they graduate. That being said, the state had 3.5 million more people employed than the median state (an advantage of 179%) - well above the typical state by most standards.

Ohio easily beat out the 8th rank state (Georgia) by more than 671,000 (an increase of 13.86%), and just barely lost out to the 6th rank state (Pennsylvania) by a margin of 500 (an 8.3% difference). The Buckeye state falls way short of the nation leader, California, which isn’t surprising given they account for just 3.6% of the nation’s population. What’s really impressive is that Ohio still manages to account for 3.5% of the nation's employed workforce - a difference of 69%.

Job Opportunities

The state of Ohio has more than 779 unique job types available, which places it in the 6th slot amongst all US states. This is about 7.9% above the national median of 722 and gives students a wide selection of occupations to choose from. Louisiana holds the median spot in terms of occupation types, with 722 jobs available.

In terms of academic institutions, Ohio has some of the highest rated universities in the United States, including a number of public Ivies. The Ohio State University is the highest ranked university in the state, and offers a world-class education, with a student population of around 55 thousand. Similarly, Case Western Reserve University is another great choice if you’re into the sciences and technology, while Miami University offers a beautiful campus and excellent liberal arts education. There’s also a number of large companies headquartered in Ohio, such as Procter & Gamble, Sherwin-Williams, and Nationwide.

Overall, Ohio continues to grow and employ a massive workforce, while providing plenty of jobs for college students in the area. With access to both the city and the outdoors, there’s no shortage of educational and recreational activities to pursue in one of the nation’s leading states.

*All data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023)