Ohio has never shied away from its role as America's innovation engine. Now, outsiders are taking note of the Buckeye State - and Cincinnati in particular.
CNBC's annual "America's Top States for Business 2025" report ranked Ohio as the country's fifth-best state for business, the Buckeye State's highest ranking yet. The study, released in early July, is widely regarded as one of the nation's most authoritative ratings of business-friendly ecosystems.
Ohio performed well across each category. Below are some highlights:
- #1 in the Midwest for business
- #1 overall for infrastructure
- #2 overall for cost of doing business
- #6 overall for technology and innovation
- #7 overall for access to capital
- #1 overall for public/private infrastructure investment
The Buckeye State improved upon its 2024 scores in six of 10 categories and tied its prior scores in two more.
Ohio's pro-business climate is on a sharp upward trajectory. The Buckeye State jumped 18 spots nationally from a decade ago and ranks first in the Midwest with an economy accelerating each year.
Ohio stands out for excelling in both business and lifestyle metrics, a balance many competitor states struggle to achieve. While states like Texas, Florida and North Carolina perform well across most business metrics, they lag on quality of life and cost of living.
The Ohio economy is on the rise and experiencing sustained growth. The population is expanding, companies are investing across the state and living costs remain significantly below the national average.
The University of Cincinnati is a proven innovation leader itself - not just for our region, but for the whole state. U.S. News and World Report ranks UC as the fifth best school in America for co-ops and internships, meaning the school graduates thousands of students each year who already boast professional work experience.
In a state fueled by innovation, Cincinnati has become the epicenter for Ohio's economic growth. A 2025 Huntington Bank report reveals Greater Cincinnati has the largest gross domestic product of Ohio's metropolitan areas, at $198 billion, along with the state's most sizable workforce at 1.16 million employable workers.
Cincinnati also earned top marks in a July 2025 report on the Midwest's leading innovation hubs. Below are a few of the Queen City's key rankings:
- #1 innovation hub in the Midwest among metropolitan areas of over 1 million
- #5 innovation hub in the Midwest among cities of all size
- #2 in the Midwest in patents produced, with 31,181 patents over four years
The National Academy of Inventors consistently ranks the Technology Transfer office at UC among the top 100 American universities for its significant contributions to innovation and the number of patents issued.
This recent report explicitly highlights the city's impressive number of patents: "Cincinnati ranked second with 31,181 patents granted," the study says. "The University of Cincinnati has played a pivotal role in Ohio's growth, nearly doubling its patent output in recent years.
"Expanded research funding, a revamped Tech Transfer office and deeper corporate ties - particularly with Procter & Gamble, Microsoft and Kroger - have sharpened the city's ability to turn academic research into market-ready technologies. Many of those partnerships are housed at the university's 1819 Innovation Hub, which is now a core piece of Cincinnati's innovation infrastructure."
Positive accolades keep coming for the Queen City - in late July, Global Banking and Finance Review featured an article titled, "Why Cincinnati Is America's Most Accessible Startup Hub." The story praises Southwest Ohio for the following traits:
1819's key role in elevating our region's innovation ecosystem was again recognized: "Cincinnati has doubled down on nurturing local innovation," the article states. "The University of Cincinnati's 1819 Innovation Hub stands at the center of this mission, helping create a direct pipeline between research, student talent and real-world startup applications."
After years of flying under the radar, Cincinnati is shining brightly as a leading business hub and startup accelerator in 2025. Ohio boasts one of America's top business climates, and Cincinnati has become the Buckeye State's magnet for global companies and startups as they call Ohio home.
Featured image at top: Cincinnati skyline. Photo/Mariana Ianovska via Adobe Stock
