2027 Best Value Visual Communications Schools in Ohio
[Visual Communications](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/visual-communications/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong visual communications education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for visual communications students.
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2027 Best Value Visual Communications Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the visual communications degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Visual Communications Schools
Cuyahoga Community College District tops our 2027 list of the best value visual communications schools in Ohio. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,795 to complete the visual communications program here. Early-career visual communications graduates make about $22,517. Set against $11,795 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sinclair Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value visual communications schools. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the visual communications program here. Early-career visual communications graduates make about $24,490. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus State Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value visual communications schools. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Visual Communications graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Zane State College earned it the #4 place for visual communications. Set in the town of Zanesville, Zane State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,766. Students borrow a median of $9,405 to complete the visual communications program here. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from Zane State College generally make around $35,764. Set against $9,405 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in visual communications will find it at Owens Community College, which ranked #5. Owens Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,870, with out-of-state students paying around $10,502. Typical student debt for visual communications graduates is $19,383. Visual Communications graduates of Owens Community College earn a median of $45,785 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,383 median debt.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for visual communications value this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $25,100 to complete the visual communications program here. Early-career visual communications graduates make about $45,176. Set against $25,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value visual communications schools. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the visual communications program here. Early-career visual communications graduates make about $36,351. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for visual communications. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual communications graduates is $27,000. Early-career visual communications graduates make about $35,645. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in visual communications this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Typical student debt for visual communications graduates is $25,851. Visual Communications graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $52,526 early in their careers. Set against $25,851 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Baldwin Wallace College earned the #10 position for value in visual communications this year. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,832 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,307 to complete the visual communications program here. Visual Communications graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $46,668 early in their careers. Set against $27,307 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dayton ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value visual communications schools. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Visual Communications graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual communications degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $43,609. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Art Academy Of Cincinnati ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value visual communications schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Art Academy Of Cincinnati is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,007. Visual Communications graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career visual communications graduates make about $20,921. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 34%.
More Visual Communications Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
