Columbus is the capital of Ohio and is home to public universities, private universities, a community college, and a specialized art and design college. For international students, the most affordable option depends on the selected program, required fees, available scholarships, and living expenses.
Below are seven schools in and around Columbus that offer lower-cost pathways, transfer opportunities, or scholarships. Let’s take a look at the cheapest universities in Columbus for international students.
Affordable Schools in Columbus for International Students
1. Ohio State University
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Estimated undergraduate tuition and fees: $14,050/year (Ohio resident, 2026–2027) | $44,271/year (nonresident, 2026–2027) | $45,526/year (international, latest published estimate for 2025–2026)
Ohio State University, established in 1870 as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, is a public land-grant university in Columbus. It offers more than 200 undergraduate majors, 278 graduate and professional programs, and more than 500 specializations.
Its extensive academic catalog includes programs across business, communication, science, the arts, and computing. Students should also budget for housing, food, books, health insurance, and other expenses. Ohio State’s latest published international estimate is for 2025–2026, and the university advises students to expect costs to increase from year to year.
2. Ohio Dominican University
Ohio Dominican University is a private Catholic university in Columbus. It was chartered in 1911 as the College of St. Mary of the Springs. Initially a women’s college, it became coeducational in 1964 and was renamed Ohio Dominican College in 1968. It adopted its current university name in 2002.
Ohio Dominican University currently offers 30 undergraduate majors and 10 graduate degrees. Its programs cover fields such as business, computer science, cybersecurity, education, finance, psychology, and health-related disciplines.
3. Capital University
Capital University is a private university in the Columbus area that traces its history to 1830. Its current academic offerings include 64 majors and 57 minors. Available fields include criminology, nursing, business, accounting, education, chemistry, and numerous other disciplines.
The university’s Conservatory of Music offers programs in areas such as music education, music industry, performance, and music technology. Capital University also includes Capital University Law School.
Every admitted international undergraduate student is considered for a partial merit scholarship without a separate scholarship application. Awards currently start at $29,000 per year and may be used for up to eight full-time fall and spring semesters. Capital does not offer need-based aid or fully funded scholarships to international students.
4. Otterbein University
Otterbein University is a private nonprofit liberal arts university in Westerville, near Columbus. Founded in 1847, it currently offers more than 60 majors and 45 minors.
Undergraduate studies cover fields such as art, education, nursing, engineering, computer science, physics, business, communication, health sciences, and the humanities. International undergraduate applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships ranging from $12,000 to $22,000, based on factors that include academic performance.
Otterbein’s graduate structure has changed. The university has adopted Antioch University as its graduate school for most graduate programs, while certain teacher education programs specific to Ohio continue to be offered through Otterbein. Students should confirm the awarding institution, format, and location on the current graduate programs page.
5. Franklin University
Franklin University is an accredited nonprofit university founded in 1902. It offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, as well as undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate certificates. Many programs can be completed entirely online.
Its degree offerings include cybersecurity, financial planning, financial management, computer science, information systems, psychology, business administration, and User Experience & Graphic Design.
In addition to tuition, undergraduate international students may be charged a $40 application fee and a $100 resource fee each semester. F-1 students are also subject to a $200 enrollment-term confirmation deposit and a $2,000 new-student deposit. The deposits are applied to the student’s account or first-term tuition as specified by the university.
Franklin offers scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, but eligibility varies by award. International students should review the residency, degree, enrollment, GPA, and other conditions for each scholarship before applying.
For international students, the school with the lowest advertised tuition may not necessarily have the lowest final cost. Compare tuition and required fees with scholarships, housing, health insurance, transportation, and other living expenses before selecting a university.
We hope this article on affordable universities in Columbus was helpful. If you are interested, check out our Study in the USA Page and browse the Available Programs for International Students!
