By Ryan Mercer · CampusROI Editorial Team
Is Ohio State Worth It? In-State vs Out-of-State ROI Analysis (2026)
Ohio State scores 77/100 ROI - Strong Value. At $17,339 average net price in-state, it's a good deal. At $40,022 out-of-state tuition, it needs a major-specific case to justify.
Ohio State is a Big Ten flagship with a 45,000-student campus, a top-20 engineering school, and a football team that runs a billion-dollar operation. Whether it's worth the investment depends almost entirely on where you live.
Ohio State by the Numbers
| Metric | Ohio State |
|---|---|
| CampusROI Score | 77/100 - Strong Value |
| In-state tuition | $13,244/year |
| Out-of-state tuition | $40,022/year |
| Average net price (all students) | $17,339/year |
| Total 4-year cost (net, in-state) | ~$55,000-$70,000 |
| Median earnings (10 years out) | $60,409 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,976 |
| 6-year graduation rate | 87.7% |
| Acceptance rate | 60.6% |
| Estimated payback period | 8.2 years |
The In-State Case
For Ohio residents, Ohio State is a strong deal. $13,244 in tuition, $17,339 average net price, $60,409 median earnings. The comparison class for Ohio residents is Case Western Reserve ($41,190 net price, $88,000 earnings) or University of Dayton ($29,533 net, $75,537 earnings).
Case Western has better outcomes but costs $24,000/year more. That gap needs a major-specific ROI case to close.
Ohio State in-state: justified for most majors, especially engineering and CS.
The Out-of-State Problem
At $40,022 in out-of-state tuition, Ohio State's total cost of attendance exceeds $55,000/year. For that price, you're in the range of: - Boston University ($24,402 net, $83,238 earnings) - Northeastern ($30,915 net, $92,538 earnings) - Many strong private schools with better outcomes
The only out-of-state case for Ohio State that makes financial sense is: you're in a high-earning STEM program (CS, engineering) and you've compared specific program outcomes, not just school averages. CS at Ohio State earns $118,833 at 4 years - that's competitive with most schools at $40K+ tuition.
What Programs Justify the Cost
| Major | 4-Year Earnings | Debt-to-Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $123,731 | 0.24 | Strong |
| Applied Mathematics | $120,495 | 0.18 | Strong |
| Computer Science | $118,833 | 0.28 | Strong |
| Industrial Engineering | $106,932 | 0.27 | Good |
| Business (avg) | ~$55,000-$65,000 | higher | Weak OOS |
The Verdict
Ohio resident, any major: Ohio State is a reasonable choice at $17,339 average net. 77/100 ROI is solid.
Ohio resident, STEM: Very strong choice. $120,000+ 4-year earnings at in-state prices is exceptional.
Out-of-state, STEM: Defensible - but compare against your in-state flagship first and run the actual numbers.
Out-of-state, non-STEM: Difficult to justify. $55,000+/year for median earnings of $50,000-$60,000 produces a 15+ year payback. Look elsewhere.
Ohio State's brand is strong in the Midwest. If you're building a career in Ohio, that network has real value. If you're going to Seattle or New York, it matters less.
All data from College Scorecard, as of 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ohio State worth it for in-state students?
Yes. Ohio State scores 77/100 ROI at $17,339 average net price for in-state students. $60,409 median earnings at 10 years with an 87.7% graduation rate. The 8.2-year payback period is longer than elite schools but reasonable for a flagship at this cost.
Is Ohio State worth it for out-of-state students?
More difficult. Out-of-state tuition of $40,022/year means total costs exceed $55,000/year. At that price, you need to compare against private schools and your own state's flagship carefully. STEM programs with strong outcomes can still justify it; lower-earning programs are harder to defend.
What is Ohio State's best program by ROI?
Computer engineering graduates earn $123,731 at 4 years with a 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio. Applied mathematics and computer science also score strongly. Business and communications programs earn significantly less and are harder to justify at out-of-state rates.
Run your own numbers
Every family's situation is different. Use our tools to model your specific scenario.