DeVry University-Ohio
Columbus, Ohio · Private For-Profit · 100.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 23/100 · Poor Value
DeVry University-Ohio, a Columbus-based for-profit campus, posts a Poor Value ROI score of 23/100. The structural problem at DeVry is the cost-to-outcome mismatch typical of for-profit institutions: sticker tuition is $17,408 but the average net price after aid lands at $25,001 - more than tuition, because room/board, fees, and books are layered in with virtually no institutional aid offsetting. Four-year total runs $100,004. Median earnings six years after entry are $37,600 and climb to $45,987 by year ten. Median federal debt of $24,807 plus likely additional private and parent borrowing creates real strain: program-level debt is frequently $45,000-$55,000. The 38.9% completion rate is well below the four-year average, and the 21.8-year payback period and 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio confirm the math is poor. The 55.4% three-year repayment rate is the kind of number that triggered Gainful Employment scrutiny of the sector.
The data raises concerns about DeVry University-Ohio
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score23/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate38.9% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period21.8 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
DeVry University-Ohio
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $17,408/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,408/yr |
| Average net price | $25,001/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $100,004 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,987 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,807 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $263 |
| Estimated payback period | 21.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 38.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 210 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at DeVry University-Ohio is $17,408/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $25,001/year, or roughly $100,004 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $25,001/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,807 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $263 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $45,987 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.66 - 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 | $25,001 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | N/A |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $25,001 net per year, which is higher than the $17,408 sticker tuition because the figure includes living expenses and books. Pell maxes around $7,395, so even fully Pell-eligible students borrow heavily to cover the gap. Total four-year cost approaches $100,000, against $37,600 in median early-career earnings.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Scorecard does not report net price for the $30,001-$48,000, $48,001-$75,000, $75,001-$110,000, or $110,001-plus brackets at DeVry-Ohio. The school enrolls very few students outside the low-income bracket, leaving the data fields empty. Middle-income students should request a personalized cost estimate from DeVry's net price calculator.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Same data gap. Scorecard reports no net price for higher-income brackets because the enrolled population is dominated by Pell-eligible students. Full-pay families would likely pay the published $25,001 figure with no offsetting institutional aid since DeVry's discount structure is minimal.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at DeVry University-Ohio with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $68,231 | D |
| Computer Systems Analysis | $71,675 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $68,126 | D |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $73,884 | D |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $47,440 | F |
| Computer Engineering | $86,645 | - |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $83,322 | D |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $88,911 | D |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $79,501 | F |
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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
The largest reported cohort (37 grads) earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $55,102 look reasonable for an associate-to-bachelor's path, but median debt of $46,797 produces a 0.849 debt-to-earnings ratio. Four-year earnings of $68,231 still leave a tight loan-service margin. This is the program DeVry markets most aggressively to working adults.
Computer Systems Analysis
Computer Systems Analysis (26 grads) earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $51,805 climb to $71,675 by year four, but median debt of $46,000 produces a 0.888 debt-to-earnings ratio. Career paths into IT support and systems administration are real, but the same role can typically be reached at lower cost through community college plus certifications.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration and Management (8 grads, separate CIP from 5202) earns a D ROI grade. $57,020 first-year earnings against $47,236 of debt yield a 0.828 ratio. The small cohort size makes the numbers noisy but consistent with the program above: workable earnings, but the debt level erodes most of the lifetime advantage.
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
Networking and Telecom (5 grads) earns a D ROI grade. $60,540 first-year earnings is the strongest among DeVry's modest-sized cohorts, but $48,014 in median debt still produces a 0.793 ratio. Cisco and CompTIA certification pathways at far lower cost reach similar roles.
Computer Software and Media Applications
This is DeVry's worst program: F ROI grade, just 1 reported graduate, $32,159 first-year earnings against $48,849 in debt for a 1.519 debt-to-earnings ratio. The single-grad sample size makes the numbers noisy, but the structural mismatch between cost and outcome in this concentration is severe.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 44.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 55.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 41.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 47.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 100.0% |
| Enrollment | 210 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 79.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,686 |
DeVry's admission rate is 100% (open admission), and the school does not require or report SAT/ACT scores. The absence of academic filtering is the defining feature of for-profit admissions and correlates directly with the 38.9% completion rate: students arrive with widely varying preparation, and the institution does not screen out those least likely to persist. Prospective students should evaluate their own readiness independently rather than rely on admission as a signal.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
DeVry-Ohio's peer set is dominated by other for-profits: Chamberlain University-Ohio, Miami Regional University, Wade College, Crestpoint University, and South University-Richmond. Chamberlain is the most successful of the group thanks to its nursing focus, which produces tangibly better placement and earnings. The other four cluster with DeVry in the Poor Value tier. Students comparing DeVry should also benchmark against Columbus State Community College plus a transfer pathway to Ohio State or Cleveland State, which produces materially better ROI for working learners.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeVry University-Ohio (this school) | 23 | $25,001 | $45,987 |
| Grand Canyon University | 25 | $22,472 | $42,186 |
| Strayer University-Florida | 24 | $16,064 | $40,092 |
| Herzing University-Kenosha | 23 | $23,066 | $36,909 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Online | 21 | $20,252 | $43,418 |
| DeVry University-Florida | 21 | $29,477 | $45,987 |
Who Thrives Here
Pell rate of 79.4% confirms a heavily low-income student body, and enrollment of just 210 makes the Ohio campus very small. The school markets to working adults pursuing IT and business credentials around a flexible schedule. Students whose employers reimburse tuition or who can finish without borrowing more than $20,000 may make the math work; students borrowing $45K+ as the program-level data shows face a high probability of negative ROI.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about DeVry University-Ohio. With a net cost of $25,001 per year and median graduate earnings of only $45,987 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 21.8 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 38.9% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,807 against $45,987 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.