Cedarville University
Cedarville, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 65.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 61/100 · Fair Value
Cedarville University scores 61 (Fair Value) -- a score anchored primarily by a 92.9% three-year repayment rate that is one of the highest in the database for a private university, alongside a 72.5% completion rate. Median 6-year earnings of $38,200 are moderate, and the 11.6-year payback is long, but the extraordinary repayment rate reflects a graduate population that services its $20,937 median debt with financial ease -- a signal of broad earnings strength not fully captured by the $38,200 median. Cedarville is a conservative Baptist university (4,024 students) in rural Ohio with 65.3% admission and SAT mid-ranges of 550-670 Math and 580-690 Reading. Sticker tuition is $37,150 with net price averaging $24,468. Program-level data shows Pharmacy (A-grade, $87,777 year-four), Computer Science (32 graduates, B, $76,615 year-one), Mechanical Engineering (48 graduates, B, $69,178 year-one), and Nursing (136 graduates, B, $69,047 year-one) as strong performers. Finance (28 graduates, B+, $60,880 year-one) and Accounting (26 graduates, B) also perform well. The 15.2% Pell grant rate is low -- reflecting the economically homogeneous enrolled population.
Cedarville University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $37,150/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,150/yr |
| Average net price | $24,468/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $97,872 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,443 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,937 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $222 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 72.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,024 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Cedarville University is $37,150/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $24,468/year, or roughly $97,872 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $18,987/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,127/year.
The median graduate leaves with $20,937 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $222 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $55,443 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.55 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $18,987 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,762 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,743 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,426 |
| $110,001+ | $28,127 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $18,987 per year at Cedarville; the $30,001-48,000 bracket pays $17,762 -- slightly less, with moderate grant support. Over four years, roughly $71,000-$76,000. The 15.2% Pell rate reflects that lower-income families are a small share of Cedarville's student body. The 92.9% repayment rate suggests even lower-income graduates manage their debt well, though the total investment is significant for constrained families.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $19,743; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $23,426. The aid is moderately compressed across the middle income range. At $19,000-$23,000 per year for nursing, engineering, finance, or CS, Cedarville's outcomes support the investment for middle-income Ohio families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $28,127 per year. At $112,000 over four years for a school with strong technical outcomes and the highest repayment rate in this batch, high-income families targeting professional programs find Cedarville financially rational. The faith-community context and Baptist campus culture are primary considerations alongside the financial profile for these families.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Cedarville University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $73,789 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $86,062 | B |
| Teacher Education | $43,308 | C |
| Design and Applied Arts | $51,813 | C |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | $42,572 | C |
| Computer Science | $109,817 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $86,487 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,395 | B |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $44,668 | C+ |
| Accounting | $77,937 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (136 graduates -- the largest program) earns $69,047 year-one and $73,789 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.362 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $25,000. Nursing is the structural backbone of Cedarville's enrollment and career outcomes. Ohio healthcare demand is robust. B grade reflects solid earnings against moderate debt -- a defensible program even at private Ohio college pricing.
Computer Science
Computer Science (32 graduates) earns $76,615 year-one and $109,817 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.352 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $27,000. Strong outcomes for a small Baptist Ohio university. The year-four trajectory above $100k reflects Cedarville CS graduates accessing mid-career software engineering compensation. B grade reflects the higher debt load compared to the A threshold; earnings are strong.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (48 graduates) earns $69,178 year-one and $86,062 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.361 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $25,000. Engineering at Cedarville is a real program with real outcomes -- Ohio's manufacturing, aerospace, and defense sectors create demand. B grade is accurate: solid outcomes at private-college pricing.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (28 graduates) earns $60,880 year-one and $86,487 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.275 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $16,750 -- very low for a private college program. B+ reflects the strong earnings-to-debt relationship. Finance graduates from Cedarville access Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton financial services markets.
Bible/Biblical Studies
Bible/Biblical Studies (34 graduates) earns $42,572 year-one (four-year not reported), debt-to-earnings ratio 0.587 (ROI grade C). Median debt of $25,000. The C grade reflects graduates who are entering ministry, nonprofit, educational, or faith-sector careers -- paths that are financially chosen rather than financially constrained. Students who understand the career context find the debt-to-earnings ratio workable for their intended vocation.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 92.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 92.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 88.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 65.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-690 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-29 |
| Enrollment | 4,024 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,563 |
Cedarville's 65.3% admission rate and SAT 550-670 Math, 580-690 Reading, ACT 22-29 profile reflect meaningful selectivity for a faith-based Ohio private. The 11.6-year payback at median earnings is the main financial concern, but the 92.9% repayment rate qualifies this: students who graduate are clearly not struggling with debt, suggesting the median six-year earnings understate the full picture for completers. The 72.5% completion rate is solid for a private institution.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Cedarville's peer set includes Allegheny Wesleyan College, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Ithaca College, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Lipscomb University. Among faith-affiliated Ohio and Midwest private universities, Cedarville's 61 score and 92.9% repayment rate are notable. Indiana Wesleyan is a close comparable -- both are CCCU-affiliated universities with similar program profiles and student populations. Lipscomb University in Nashville is another strong comparison. Among this peer group, Cedarville's repayment rate stands out as evidence of graduate financial strength that the six-year earnings median alone doesn't fully represent.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedarville University (this school) | 61 | $24,468 | $55,443 |
| Samford University | 62 | $32,622 | $58,469 |
| Concordia University-Irvine | 62 | $28,115 | $65,083 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | 62 | $38,729 | $63,998 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | 62 | $22,866 | $59,986 |
| Goshen College | 60 | $14,493 | $51,943 |
Who Thrives Here
Cedarville admits 65.3% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 550-670 Math and 580-690 Reading, ACT 22-29. Students who choose Cedarville typically do so for the combination of Baptist faith culture, small campus community in rural Ohio, and specific professional programs in nursing, engineering, pharmacy, and business. The 15.2% Pell rate reflects limited lower-income enrollment. The 92.9% repayment rate at three years is remarkable and suggests that Cedarville graduates are routinely finding employment at earnings levels that make debt repayment comfortable -- a signal of either strong program placement or an economically advantaged student population, likely both.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Cedarville University offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $24,468 per year leads to $97,872 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $55,443 a decade out. The payback period of 11.6 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
Key strengths include a 72.5% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost.
Median debt of $20,937 against $55,443 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s 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.