Community colleges have emerged over the last several years as a top option for students in a variety of situations — those who plan to work full-time after their associate’s degree, those looking to save on tuition before transferring to a four-year college, and those who aren’t quite sure about their long-term career plan yet.

They’ve proven to be a solid stepping stone in these situations and more, offering an affordable and accessible higher education path to a wider range of students nationwide.

There are several community colleges in the Dayton, Ohio area for students interested in going this route. Some of them specialize in certain areas, but others offer an extensive list of degrees that rivals many of their four-year university counterparts.

In the next section, we’ll explore 7 of the top community colleges in Dayton, including where they are, what they cost, and the degrees you can obtain from each.

7 Community Colleges in the Dayton, Ohio Area

Sinclair Community College

Location: Downtown Dayton

Average Tuition Cost: $3780 (Montgomery County Residents), $5180 (other Ohio residents)

If you want to be right in the thick of Downtown Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a great school to consider. With over 300 degree and certificate options to choose from, it’s also one of the most academically diverse options in the area.

Sinclair organizes their degrees into three categories:

• University parallel – designed to transfer to four-year institutions
• Career programs – prepare students for particular jobs or vocations
• Individualized – classes from multiple programs, designed for specialist student interest areas

Learn more here about Sinclair’s academic programs and all the College has to offer.

Edison State Community College

Location: Piqua, Ohio

Average Tuition Cost: $5050 (in-state resident), $9250 (out-of-state resident)

Edison State Community College is located about 35 minutes north of Dayton proper, in the more suburban town of Piqua, Ohio. Founded in 1973 as Ohio’s first general and technical college, today it has grown to 3000+ students studying 30 technical fields at their 131-acre campus.

There are seven formal degree programs offered at Edison — two that transfer to four-year institutions (A.A. in Arts, Humanities, and Communication and A.S. in Science and Mathematics), and five designed for immediate entry into the workforce (Business, Health Sciences, Information Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing, and Social and Public Services).

Learn more about Edison degrees and other offerings.

Clark State College

Location: Springfield, Ohio

Average Tuition Cost: $4032 (in-state resident), $7328 (out-of-state resident)

Clark State College is just a short half-hour commute from Dayton in nearby Springfield. Its three schools — Arts and Sciences, Business and Applied Technologies, and Health, Human, and Public Services — offer a total of 166 majors.

Many of Clark’s degree programs transfer seamlessly to four-year institutions, while others are designed to lead right to full-time careers. Some certificate programs allow students to enter the workforce in less than a year. They boast a 14:1 student to teacher ratio, meaning everyone receives the attention and personalized instruction they need.

Learn more here about Clark’s programs and institution.

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Average Tuition Cost: $5040 (in-state residents), $9090 (out-of-state residents)

If you’re a Daytonian that’s ready for a change of scenery but still looking for an urban college campus, you might consider Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. Located in the heart of Cincinnati (about an hour’s drive from Dayton), Cincinnati State offers more than 130 degree programs, including extensive Workforce Development and Co-Op programs.

Partners include Ford, GE, P&G, Kroger, and Mercy Health (among many others). The program is designed to provide hands-on experience that readies students for their careers while connecting them with the companies that want to hire them.

Learn more here about Workforce Development and other programs at Cincinnati State.

Columbus State Community College

Location: Columbus, Ohio

Average Tuition Cost: $4888 (in-state residents), $9997 (out-of-state residents)

Also located in one of Ohio’s other main metro areas, Columbus State Community College is just over an hour from Dayton and one of the largest two-year colleges in the state. More than 45,000 students are enrolled in the school’s associate degree or certificate programs, with more than a hundred majors and certificate focus areas.

Like other community colleges in the area, Columbus Community College partners with four year institutions to ensure easy transfers, and even partners with local high schools to allow students to get a head start on college coursework.

Learn more here about Columbus State Community college.

Rhodes State College

Location: Lima, Ohio

Average Tuition Cost: $4325 (in-state resident), $8649 (out-of-state resident)

Rhodes State College is located about an hour north of Dayton in Lima, Ohio. The college offers more than 100 programs, including associate degrees, certificates, and career pathway programs for moving directly into the workforce. Many of Rhodes’ degrees offer the option for 100% online completion, making it a convenient option for students who may already work full-time or are otherwise unable to commute.

Check out the full list of Rhodes State College academic programs here.

Southern State Community College

Location: Hillsboro, Ohio

Tuition: $5312 (in-state residents), $9618 (out-of-state residents)

Southern State Community College is located about an hour south of Dayton. Started in 1975 as a General and Technical College, today it offers three associate degrees (Arts & Science, Applied Business, and Applied Science) with several available majors under each.

For those interested in transferring to four-year institutions for an advanced degree, Southern offers a unique partnership program with several institutions through which students can complete their bachelor’s or master’s degree right on Southern State’s campus. These partners include Lindsey Wilson College, Miami University, Ohio Christian University, and Shawnee State University.

Learn more here about Southern’s On-site Partnership program and other offerings.

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