Lourdes University
Sylvania, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 74.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 23/100 · Poor Value
Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio earns a 23 ROI score (Poor Value)--among the weakest tiers we publish. Every sub-score is below 30: earnings premium 27, payback period 30, debt-to-earnings 22, completion rate 12, and repayment rate 11. Sticker tuition is $29,500 with average net price of $23,206 and total four-year cost around $92,824. Median earnings of $36,500 at six years grow to just $48,150 at ten--barely above what high-school graduates earn--against $27,000 median debt and a $286/month payment. The math produces a 17.7-year payback period and 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio. The structural problem is the 32.5% completion rate--barely a third of the cohort finishes--combined with a 54.9% three-year repayment rate. Borrowing $27K with a 1-in-3 completion probability is a difficult bet. Nursing, the strongest program, partly offsets this story for that specific cohort, but the typical Lourdes student outcome is poor.
The data raises concerns about Lourdes University
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 rate32.5% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period17.7 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Lourdes University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $29,500/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,500/yr |
| Average net price | $23,206/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $92,824 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,150 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 17.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 32.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 543 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Lourdes University is $29,500/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $23,206/year, or roughly $92,824 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $22,220/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,394/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $48,150 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.74 - 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 | $22,220 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,184 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,192 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,236 |
| $110,001+ | $21,394 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families at $0-$30,000 pay $22,220 net and $30,001-$48,000 pay $22,184--essentially flat. That's roughly $89K over four years for a Pell-eligible household, which is unmanageable on the income alone. Students will borrow at or above the $27K median, and with a 32.5% completion rate the most likely outcome is debt without a degree.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
$48,001-$75,000 households pay $23,192 and $75,001-$110,000 pay $27,236. Total four-year cost ranges from $93K-$109K. With median earnings outcomes around $36K-$48K and a 17.7-year payback period, this bracket faces the worst dollar-value math: high cost, modest earnings, and an unusually high failure-to-finish risk.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay only $21,394--actually less than middle-income households. This is a clearly inverted bracket: the wealthiest tier pays the least, while the $75-110K bracket pays the most ($27,236). This pattern often signals merit-based discounting that rewards stronger applicants regardless of need. Worth noting and asking financial-aid staff about during the price-calculator step.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Lourdes University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $70,971 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $50,958 | C |
| Teacher Education | $33,041 | D |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $45,057 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the only program at Lourdes with defensible ROI: 37 graduates, $67,414 first-year earnings rising to $70,971 by year four. Median debt of $31,000 is high but the 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio still produces a C+ grade. For students certain about nursing in the Toledo region, the program is real and well-placed in local hospital systems. Students choosing nursing should treat the school's other ROI metrics as largely irrelevant to their personal outcome.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business management posts a C grade with 21 graduates. First-year earnings of $40,983 grow to $50,958 by year four against $28,000 debt--debt-to-earnings of 0.683 is squarely below average. This is a cautionary path: students paying $93K+ for outcomes that won't differ much from regional public alternatives are overpaying.
Teacher Education
Teacher education yields a D grade with just 6 graduates. First-year earnings of $33,041 against $31,000 debt produces a 0.938 ratio. Ohio teacher salaries don't justify the cost here. Without aggressive use of Public Service Loan Forgiveness this path is structurally underwater.
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Interdisciplinary studies posts an F grade with 4 graduates: $22,921 first-year earnings, $28,673 in debt, debt-to-earnings of 1.251. Tiny cohort, but the math reflects the program serving as a default catch-all for students who didn't lock onto a specific career-aligned major. Avoid.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 46.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 54.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 43.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 53.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 74.1% |
| Enrollment | 543 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,984 |
Lourdes admits 74.1% of applicants, but SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data, suggesting the school is largely test-optional. With a 32.5% completion rate, the institution is admitting many students who do not finish. Prepared, focused students--especially those entering with clear nursing or healthcare goals--will fare meaningfully better than the school-wide averages suggest.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Lourdes's peer set (Allegheny Wesleyan, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cambridge College, Drury University's continuing studies arm, Touro University Worldwide) is unusual--small private nonprofits and continuing-education institutions. Direct ROI comparisons are limited by data thinness across these peers, but they share a common profile: small enrollments, sub-50% completion, and challenging debt-to-earnings ratios. Lourdes is squarely in this poor-value cluster rather than an outlier.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lourdes University (this school) | 23 | $23,206 | $48,150 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Touro University Worldwide | 24 | $19,058 | $40,803 |
| Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies | 24 | $10,566 | $40,694 |
| Cambridge College | 21 | $31,072 | $45,998 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Lourdes is a tiny Catholic school (543 students, 30% Pell rate) in suburban Toledo. The reality of a Lourdes investment is dominated by the nursing program; if a student is determined to do nursing in a small, faith-affiliated environment near home, the math at least pencils to C+ territory. Almost any other major fails to clear the cost. Students should think hard about whether the small, faith-rooted setting is worth the structural ROI penalty versus larger Ohio public options.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Lourdes University. With a net cost of $23,206 per year and median graduate earnings of only $48,150 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 17.7 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 32.5% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 against $48,150 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.