Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 76.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 47/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Ashland University earns a ROI score of 47/100, placing it in the Below Average Value tier. Median earnings ten years after entry sit at $52,928, only a modest premium over typical high-school-only earners in Ohio, while the published 4-year cost is $87,952 with a $21,988 average net price after aid. The result is a 12.7-year payback period and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.694, which is elevated. What drags the score down most is the debt-to-earnings sub-score of 30 and an earnings premium of just 20.4%. Nursing graduates at $71,445 first-year earnings are clearly the bright spot; the education and communications majors that make up a large share of the student body earn far less and explain why the overall median lags. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, Ashland is a school where program choice matters more than the school name.
Ashland University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $31,210/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $31,210/yr |
| Average net price | $21,988/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $87,952 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,928 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 60.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,199 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $31,210/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,988/year, or roughly $87,952 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $16,489/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,507/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,000) and comes to 0.69, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,489 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,893 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,052 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,229 |
| $110,001+ | $26,507 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay an average net price of $16,489 per year, or roughly $66,000 over four years. That is real money against $36,000 first-year median earnings, but federal aid plus institutional grants do bring the cost meaningfully below sticker. Pell-eligible students should max federal aid and treat the published net price as the realistic ceiling.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households in the $48,001-$75,000 range pay $19,052 annually, very close to the school-wide $21,988 average. Over four years that is roughly $76,000, and with median 10-year earnings at $52,928 the math works but is not generous. Run Ashland's own price calculator against your specific aid package before committing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $26,507 per year, or about $106,000 over four years - close to full sticker. At that price point, the 12.7-year payback period and modest earnings premium make Ashland a tougher value case.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Ashland University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $73,222 | B |
| Special Education and Teaching | $43,052 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $25,465 | A |
| Business Administration and Management | $59,115 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,386 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $68,823 | C+ |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $61,199 | D |
| Biology | $62,624 | C |
| Teacher Education | $42,544 | D |
| Accounting | $80,065 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Ashland's clear ROI standout: 131 graduates per year, $71,445 first-year median earnings climbing to $73,222 by year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.423 yielding a B grade. With $30,250 median debt against six-figure-adjacent early-career pay, payback is fast and licensure adds a regional employment moat. This is the single strongest reason to consider Ashland.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business administration produces 26 graduates with $58,580 first-year earnings rising to $68,823 by year four. Median debt of $26,889 against earnings yields a 0.459 ratio and a C+ grade.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 18 students per year with $55,407 first-year earnings and a strong $80,065 by year four - the second-best four-year jump on the program list. Debt-to-earnings of 0.487 and a C+ grade reflect reasonable ROI. CPA-track students who pass the exam see the upside; those who don't follow through on licensure leave money on the table.
Special Education and Teaching
53 graduates per year makes special ed one of Ashland's largest programs by volume, but first-year earnings of $35,709 against $27,000 median debt produce a 0.756 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. Four-year earnings barely move to $43,052. This is the structural drag on the school's overall ROI - high enrollment in a low-paying field.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal justice produces 28 graduates with $42,172 first-year earnings and $53,386 by year four. The $29,406 median debt is above the school average, pushing debt-to-earnings to 0.697 and earning a C grade. Public-sector career paths typical of this major bring loan forgiveness eligibility (PSLF), which materially improves the real ROI for students who plan around it.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 81.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 75.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Ashland University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 76.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-598 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 505-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-25 |
| Enrollment | 2,199 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,701 |
Ashland is moderately selective with a 76.4% admission rate. SAT mid-50% ranges sit at 530-598 math and 505-610 reading, with ACT composite 20-25. Students arriving with solid college-prep records tend to graduate; those entering underprepared face higher risk.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland University (this school) | 47 | $21,988 | $52,928 |
| Bob Jones University | 47 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | 43 | $36,201 | $56,075 |
| Barry University | 42 | $22,613 | $55,966 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Ashland fits Ohio and regional Midwestern students who want a mid-sized private experience (2,199 undergrads) without the price tag of a flagship private. The 28.9% Pell rate is moderate, meaning roughly three in ten students come from lower-income households. Outcomes are strongest in nursing and select business tracks, so applicants targeting those programs will see the best ROI math.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Ashland University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $21,988 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $52,928 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Ashland University: Common Questions
Is Ashland University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Ashland University scores 47/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,988 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $52,928 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Ashland University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $21,988 a year, or roughly $87,952 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Ashland University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,928 ten years after enrolling, roughly $11,128 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Ashland University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 12.7 years for Ashland University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Ashland University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $36,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Ashland University?
The six-year graduation rate is 60.6%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.