Miami University is the most expensive public school in the country, based on net price, according to new rankings by the U.S. Department of Education.

(Miami Unviersity)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio's public colleges are among the most costly to attend in the country, according to rankings released Monday by the U.S. Department of Education.

The annual cost for an in-state resident to attend Miami University, after receiving scholarships and financial aid, is $24,674, the highest in the country for four-year public institutions.

And four other Ohio public universities rank in the top 25 for the highest net price in the annual rankings by the U.S. Department of Education of the most and least expensive colleges in the country.

People can search two- and four-year public, private and for-profit institutions based on highest or lowest tuition and net price.

Average net price is determined by subtracting aid and scholarships (from fall 2011) from the total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, books, supplies and room and board.

Declines in state funding is a major reason Miami costs more, spokeswoman Claire Wagner told Inside Higher Ed.

State funding currently covers about 30 percent of the budget at most public institutions in Ohio.

"It's a telling sign that the states that are not able to spend as much as others are the ones on this list," she said. "I worry that somebody might stop at just that statistic, but we're trying to get the word out about outcomes, which is what we find that parents and families want to know: what are my odds of being employed or getting into graduate school."

Her comments are bolstered by the fact that Ohio State University ranks 9

th

, the University of Cincinnati is 16th, Kent State University is 19

th

and Ohio University is 22nd on the same list.

The Cleveland Institute of Music and Oberlin College rank in the top 20 of highest net price for four-year private colleges.

Colleges specializing in art or music were among the private four-year institutions with the highest net price, Inside Higher Ed reported.

College leaders and others in higher education have criticized the lists as reductive and unhelpful for students and families, Inside Higher Ed reported.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan praised the lists as a useful tool in a statement on Monday.

"These lists support our efforts to make college more accessible and to help families make informed decisions on the single most important investment students can make in their own futures," he said.

The ranking can be found at collegecost.ed.gov/catc/.