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Programs in Columbus

Best Business Programs in Columbus for 2027

7 business schools in the Columbus area, ranked city-wide and for the MBA, plus where they place in our statewide rankings for 7 fields. Every list is scored on graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate earnings from federal IPEDS, College Scorecard, and BLS data.

Metro rankings
2
Programs analyzed
87
Schools ranked
9
Fields covered
7
Downtown high-rises against a bright blue sky with scattered clouds, street trees below

Business Programs in Columbus, in Brief

The Columbus business-school ranking compares 7 schools across the metro area, drawn from 87 accredited programs, one row per school, and the MBA ranking narrows that to 5 MBA programs. Private schools make up most of the seven ranked schools; one is public.

Denison University leads the business-school list at 83.7, while Ohio State University-Main Campus leads for the MBA at 94.2. Beyond the two metro lists, 4 Columbus-area schools appear in our statewide rankings for seven fields. MBA pay by role: the MBA salary guide.

Among the business programs in Columbus, Ohio State University-Main Campus enrolls the most students: 61,443. For finishing, Denison University leads with a 79% graduation rate. Ohio Christian University admits 38% of applicants, the lowest rate among these schools. Online options: Ohio Christian University, Franklin University and one more.

Rankings in Columbus

Rankings by Field Near Columbus

Statewide ranks, Columbus-area schools only.

Schools in the Most Columbus Rankings

By number of lists, then best rank.

  1. Ohio State University-Main Campus In 7 rankings · #1 in MBA programs
  2. Franklin University In 3 rankings · #4 in Business schools
  3. Denison University In 2 rankings · #1 in Business schools
  4. Otterbein University In 2 rankings · #2 in Business schools
  5. Ohio Christian University In 2 rankings · #3 in Business schools

Other Fields, Ranked Nationally

Business Programs in Columbus: Your Questions, Answered

What is the best business school in Columbus?

Denison University ranks #1 on our Columbus business-school ranking with an 83.7 Program Score, ahead of Otterbein University at 78.4. Scores weigh graduation rate, cost, selectivity and graduate earnings.

What is the best MBA program in Columbus?

Ohio State University-Main Campus leads the Columbus MBA ranking with a 94.2 Program Score, out of 5 ranked MBA programs in the metro.

How many business schools are in the Columbus area?

We analyzed 87 accredited business programs in the Columbus metro, as the Census Bureau defines it, and ranked 7 schools, one row per school.

Which Columbus business school costs the least?

Ohio State University-Newark Campus has the lowest in-state undergraduate tuition on the Columbus list, $9,205 a year before aid, and ranks #5.

Can you study business online in Columbus?

Yes. Three of the seven ranked Columbus-area schools offer the program online, including Ohio Christian University, Franklin University, and Ohio Dominican University.

Data Sources