Study in Cincinnati, The United States

About Cincinnati

Cincinnati lies in southwestern Ohio on the Ohio River, which forms the border with Kentucky. Xavier University describes it as a city made for exploration, with parks, bike trails and riverbanks, and the University of Cincinnati points to its low cost of living.

For international students, Cincinnati offers a choice between a large public research university and smaller Catholic universities. Work experience during studies is a strong theme: the University of Cincinnati presents itself as the founder of cooperative education, or co-op.

Studying in Cincinnati

Our directory lists three universities in Cincinnati, all teaching in English:

• The University of Cincinnati (UC) is a public research university built around co-op, the system of alternating study with paid work placements. Its main campus on Clifton Avenue has 45,026 students, 33,033 of them undergraduates, according to College Navigator, the U.S. Department of Education's database.
• Xavier University is a Jesuit Catholic university with a history of about 200 years. It offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and 34 graduate programmes, has 5,501 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to 1.
• Mount St. Joseph University was founded by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and opened in 1920 as the first Catholic university for women in southwestern Ohio; it became coeducational in 1986. The campus is in the suburb of Delhi Township, about 10 minutes from downtown, and the university has 2,265 students. It also runs co-ops and states that nearly one-third of co-op students receive full-time job offers from employers.

Admission and student visa

Each university handles its own international admissions. At UC, first-year applicants apply through the Common Application with a $100 fee; most colleges ask for IELTS 6.5 or an equivalent score in other tests. International students at UC's main campus can receive scholarships of up to $15,000 per year without a separate application.

After admission, the university's international office issues a Form I-20 (or a DS-2019 for J exchange programmes), which students take to a U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for an F student visa. According to EducationUSA, the academic year usually runs from September to May, and international students may work on campus for up to 20 hours a week in their first year.

Cost of living for students

For a first-year undergraduate in 2024-25, College Navigator gives these figures:

• University of Cincinnati (out-of-state rate, which international students pay): $29,310 tuition and fees, $13,564 food and housing on campus
• Mount St. Joseph University: $38,150 tuition and fees

Xavier University publishes an estimated cost of attendance for international undergraduates of $74,530 for one academic year: $54,530 tuition, $15,000 accommodation and $5,000 for health insurance and other expenses, before merit scholarships.

Getting around and daily life

Cincinnati has a public bus network, Metro, and UC runs campus shuttle services and a UC*Metro programme for its community; check the details with your university before you arrive. Many students in the suburbs also use a car. The region's airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, is across the river in Kentucky.

The climate has four seasons, with cold winters and hot, humid summers. At the airport, the 1991-2020 normals of NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information give an average temperature of 31.4 °F (about 0 °C) in January and 75.9 °F (about 24 °C) in July, when average daily highs reach 86.0 °F (30 °C).

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Cincinnati?

Our directory lists the University of Cincinnati, a public research university, and two Catholic universities: Xavier University and Mount St. Joseph University.

What is co-op at the University of Cincinnati?

Co-op, or cooperative education, combines semesters of study with paid work placements. UC calls itself the founder of co-op, and Mount St. Joseph University also offers co-ops.

How much does a year at university in Cincinnati cost?

At UC, out-of-state tuition and fees were $29,310 in 2024-25, plus $13,564 for food and housing on campus. Xavier estimates $74,530 a year for international undergraduates, before scholarships.

What English level do I need for the University of Cincinnati?

Most UC colleges ask first-year international applicants for IELTS 6.5 or an equivalent score in another accepted test.