Do I need a degree to be a graphic designer in dayton ohio?

Not necessarily but a college degree will advance the level of your work astronomically. A college degree in graphic design will also give you some background in marketing, communication, and being persuasive. I am a former graphic design instructor at the college level and the school offered both bachelor's degrees and associate degrees. We did a big portfolio show at the end of each semester and the difference between the bachelor's degree and associate degree student's work was "night and day". With no degree you will almost certainly be significantly behind other designers and unable to compete. That being said, the value of a graphic designer is his/her portfolio more than the degree but the degree is what is most likely to push your work to a professional level.