Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 36.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 85/100 · Strong Value
Case Western Reserve University scores 85 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale -- a strong result for a research university with $66,608 sticker tuition and a $41,190 average net price. The score is driven by an 87.2% completion rate (sub-score 95), 88.5% repayment rate (sub-score 92), and a 5.8-year payback period (sub-score 90). Median six-year earnings are $69,900, rising to $87,989 at ten years. Median debt of $24,000 against $69,900 earnings yields a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.343. The STEM pipeline is exceptional: Computer Science (149 graduates) earns $95,688 year-one and $143,580 at year four. Mechanical Engineering (106 graduates), Biomedical Engineering (95 graduates), Chemical Engineering (50 graduates), Electrical Engineering (41 graduates), and Aerospace Engineering (45 graduates) all carry B+ grades with year-one earnings ranging from $76,736 to $83,706. The earnings drag at the institution-level comes from its premedical pipeline: Biology (114 graduates, D grade, $26,254 year-one) and Biochemistry (56 graduates, F grade, $22,390 year-one) reflect students in transition to medical school, not the long-run career. Psychology (105 graduates, D grade) and Cognitive Science (48 graduates, D grade) weigh on the aggregate. Case Western's ROI is best understood at the program level: engineering and CS students get exceptional value; premedical students take on debt before the payoff arrives in residency.
The median graduate earns $87,989 ten years after entry - well above the national median of roughly $55,000 for 4-year college graduates.
Case Western Reserve University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $66,608/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $66,608/yr |
| Average net price | $41,190/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $164,760 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $87,989 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $69,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $254 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 87.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,437 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Case Western Reserve University is $66,608/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $41,190/year, or roughly $164,760 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $19,025/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $53,061/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $254 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $87,989 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.34 - well within manageable territory.
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 | $19,025 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,506 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,849 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,159 |
| $110,001+ | $53,061 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $19,025 per year at Case Western -- well below the $41,190 average net price. The 30001-48000 bracket drops to $18,506, the lowest on the schedule, suggesting the aid model is particularly favorable for near-low-income families. These figures make Case Western genuinely accessible to low-income students who gain admission. Four-year cost in the lowest bracket approaches $76,000, but 87.2% completion rates and $69,900 median earnings mean the investment is typically recovered within the decade.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $20,849 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $26,159. Both are substantially below the $41,190 average, confirming that Case Western's aid model compresses costs for middle-income families. At $20-26k per year, the four-year cost runs $83-105k -- reasonable for a research university of this caliber given the 5.8-year payback and $87,989 ten-year median earnings. Engineering and CS students in these income brackets have a compelling financial case.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001 and above pay $53,061 per year -- a four-year cost of roughly $212,000. At this price point, the ROI case depends heavily on program. Engineering and CS students who graduate into $80-95k year-one salaries will recoup the investment; premedical students will recover it only years after completing medical training. High-income families placing students in the D and F ROI programs -- Psychology, Biology, Biochemistry -- face long payback horizons at full price.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Case Western Reserve University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $143,580 | B+ |
| Biology | $53,604 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering | $94,197 | B+ |
| Psychology | $55,540 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $87,582 | B |
| Biomedical Engineering | $94,168 | B+ |
| Economics | $114,601 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $85,493 | B |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | $22,390 | F |
| Chemical Engineering | $96,533 | B+ |
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.
Computer Science
Computer Science is Case Western's highest-earning program with the largest STEM graduate volume: 149 graduates, $95,688 year-one earnings, $143,580 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.265 (B+ grade). Median debt of $25,391 is modest against those earnings. The four-year trajectory to $143k reflects placement into software engineering, quantitative roles, and tech management. Case Western's CS program feeds into Cleveland's growing tech sector, Pittsburgh-adjacent markets, and national tech firms recruiting from its research output.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering (95 graduates) earns $78,815 year-one and $94,168 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.295 (B+ grade). Case Western's biomedical engineering program benefits from deep integration with the Cleveland Clinic system -- one of the most research-active medical centers in the country. Graduates enter medical device, pharmaceutical, and health tech industries at salaries that service their $23,250 median debt comfortably. This is a signature program for the institution.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (106 graduates) earns $76,736 year-one and $94,197 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.324 (B+ grade). The Cleveland and Greater Midwest industrial base provides placement pathways in manufacturing, aerospace, and energy systems. Median debt of $24,855 is well-matched to year-one earnings. This program delivers consistent B+ ROI across a substantial graduate cohort -- one of the most volume-reliable programs on campus.
Economics
Economics (85 graduates) presents an unusual Scorecard profile: $53,148 year-one earnings but $114,601 at year four -- a $61k jump that reflects placement into finance, consulting, and business careers that take several years to reach full market salary. The C+ grade is driven by the gap between year-one earnings and debt. Students in this program should understand the trajectory: near-term earnings are modest, but the four-year figure suggests strong career progression for those who stay the course.
Biology
Biology (114 graduates) earns $26,254 at year one and $53,604 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.901 (D grade). These numbers reflect the premedical pipeline: students who proceed directly to medical school post-graduation show near-zero earnings at year one while in residency, pulling the median down. The Scorecard cannot distinguish students in residency from those in low-wage jobs. Biology graduates at Case Western who do not attend professional school face a genuinely difficult financial picture in the near term with $23,666 median debt.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 88.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 89.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 36.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 730-780 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 700-760 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 32-34 |
| Enrollment | 6,437 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 17.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,338 |
At 36.5%, Case Western is selective but not at the hyper-competitive level of MIT or Caltech. The SAT Math 730-780 range reflects a quantitatively strong cohort -- applicants below 700 Math will face significant competition. ACT 32-34 composite is the parallel signal. The admission process rewards technical aptitude, research engagement, and academic intensity. Students who can demonstrate depth in STEM fields have the strongest case. Case Western's Cleveland location means it draws less geographic breadth than coastal peers, which creates admission opportunity for strong applicants from the Midwest.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Case Western (ROI 85) is named alongside University of Rochester and Villanova University as peer institutions. University of Rochester is a comparable research university with strong science and engineering programs; Villanova carries a strong business and engineering reputation. Among this group, Case Western's ROI of 85 reflects its exceptional completion rate (87.2%) and repayment rate (88.5%), which distinguish it from many private research universities. The $41,190 average net price is higher than optimal, but the earnings outcomes for engineering and CS graduates justify that cost. Case Western's primary ROI risk is the large premed and social science cohort whose near-term earnings depress institutional averages.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve University (this school) | 85 | $41,190 | $87,989 |
| Villanova University | 89 | $43,756 | $100,423 |
| University of Rochester | 85 | $29,278 | $79,042 |
| Fairfield University | 79 | $48,095 | $88,794 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Case Western admits 36.5% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 730-780 Math and 700-760 Reading; ACT composite 32-34 -- the highly selective tier. Enrollment is 6,437 undergraduates on a focused research campus in Cleveland. Pell grant rate of 17.5% is moderate, reflecting a mix of aid and tuition-paying students. Case Western draws students seriously committed to engineering, science, pre-medicine, and business. The program mix skews heavily STEM and pre-professional. Students who are strong technically and have clear career paths will extract the most value; students without direction in a major that earns D or F ROI grades face a difficult financial outcome at $41,190 net price.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
Case Western Reserve University delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $41,190 per year ($164,760 over four years), graduates earn a median of $87,989 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 5.8 years - a solid return on the investment.
The data highlights several strengths: a 87.2% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $24,000 is very manageable against $87,989 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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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.