Best Online Business Administration Programs in Columbus, OH (2026)

Columbus, Ohio has a population of about 906,480. The city’s median household income is $65,327 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 38.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited business administration programs within 100 miles of Columbus. In the Columbus, OH metro area, the top-earning business administration-related role is Human Resources Manager at a median $137,820 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Business Administration Schools to Columbus

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer business administration programs. Distances are calculated from Columbus city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Columbus State Community CollegeColumbus, OH1.1 miContact school for pricing
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH1.5 miContact school for pricing
Franklin UniversityColumbus, OH2.0 miContact school for pricing
Ohio Dominican UniversityColumbus, OH2.3 miContact school for pricing
Capital UniversityColumbus, OH3.3 miContact school for pricing

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Ohio schools on the Ohio business administration page.


Business Administration Wages Near Columbus

Columbus is part of the Columbus, OH metro area (BLS area code 18140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Ohio statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
General and Operations Manager$99,780Columbus, OH$104,482
Administrative Services Manager$99,780Columbus, OH$104,482
Financial Manager$136,840Columbus, OH$143,288
Human Resources Manager$137,820Columbus, OH$144,314
Management Analyst$80,740Columbus, OH$84,545
Project Management Specialist$100,640Columbus, OH$105,382
Accountant or Auditor$79,810Columbus, OH$83,571
Training and Development Specialist$68,860Columbus, OH$72,105
Office and Administrative Support Supervisor$64,970Columbus, OH$68,031

Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Columbus at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population906,480Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$65,327Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+38.2%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)95.5 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Business Administration-related employment in Franklin County39,230 workers, 2,767 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Columbus-Area Cities With Business Administration Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited business administration programs are near Columbus, OH?

Our directory lists 5 business administration programs within 100 miles of Columbus. The closest is Columbus State Community College in Columbus, OH (1.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Capital University (3.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying business administration roles near Columbus?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying business administration-related roles near Columbus are: Human Resources Manager ($137,820), Financial Manager ($136,840), Project Management Specialist ($100,640). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Ohio statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Upper Arlington instead of Columbus?

Upper Arlington, OH is 5.3 miles from Columbus and has its own set of local business administration programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Columbus an affordable place to study business administration?

Columbus’s median household income of $65,327 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbus while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Ohio public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.