Miami University-Oxford
Oxford, Ohio · Public · 75.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 54/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Miami University-Oxford earns a Below Average Value ROI score of 54. Tuition is $18,161 in-state (out-of-state $41,221), but net price climbs to $28,384 (higher than in-state tuition, indicating relatively limited need-based aid plus living costs). Four-year cost is $113,536. Completion rate of 79.8% is excellent, scoring 89. Average earnings six years out are $40,800, growing to a median $55,076 by year ten - solid but not extraordinary. Payback period of 12.6 years and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.564 against $23,000 median debt produce reasonable economics. The overall 54 score reflects two factors: a heavily liberal arts and humanities-oriented enrollment that produces modest immediate earnings, and a price point (especially for out-of-state students) that strains the value math. Miami's strongest programs - finance, accounting, MIS, chemical engineering - all earn B or B+ grades; the dominant psychology (272 graduates), kinesiology (257), and biology (174) programs earn C grades; and music, fine arts, and history all produce D-grade and F-grade outcomes. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, Miami offers genuine value in its business and engineering programs and weak immediate returns in its larger humanities and life-sciences enrollments.
Miami University-Oxford
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $18,161/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,221/yr |
| Average net price | $28,384/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $113,536 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,076 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 79.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 16,656 |
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: $18,161/year ($41,221/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $28,384/year, or roughly $113,536 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 $16,015/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,431/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,000, which works out to about $244 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,800) and comes to 0.56, 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 | $16,015 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,193 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,806 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,048 |
| $110,001+ | $31,431 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $16,015 - meaningful aid that brings Miami close to in-state public tuition for Pell-eligible Ohio residents. Four-year cost around $64,000. For Pell-eligible students entering Miami's strong business or engineering programs, the math works. The school's low overall Pell rate (12.6%) suggests few low-income students enroll despite the aid.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $23,806. Four-year cost around $95,000. Brackets are progressive (no inversions). For Ohio middle-income families, Miami's value proposition is real. Out-of-state middle-income students should think carefully.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,001+) pay $31,431 - the highest bracket. Four-year cost approaches $126,000. Full-pay families targeting business or engineering get clear value; those targeting humanities face a weaker return.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Miami University-Oxford with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management | $110,406 | B+ |
| Marketing | $86,919 | B |
| Psychology | $58,255 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $70,919 | C |
| Teacher Education | $45,704 | C |
| Biology | $72,037 | C |
| International Relations | $75,374 | C+ |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $79,710 | C+ |
| Accounting | $101,808 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $95,796 | 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.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is Miami's flagship business program: 423 graduates earning $71,203 in year one rising to $110,406 by year four. Median debt of $22,000 produces a 0.309 ratio and B+ ROI grade. Miami's Farmer School of Business places exceptionally well into Wall Street, consulting, and corporate finance.
Marketing
Marketing graduates 319 students annually with first-year earnings of $59,043 climbing to $86,919 by year four. Median debt of $21,963 produces a 0.372 ratio and B ROI grade. Solid Farmer School placement into brand management, market research, and digital marketing roles. A strong financial choice within the Miami lineup.
Psychology
Psychology is one of Miami's largest programs with 272 graduates. First-year earnings of $36,190 climb to $58,255 by year four. Median debt of $24,094 produces a 0.666 ratio and C ROI grade. Standard bachelor's-only psychology economics: meaningful career earnings typically require graduate school. The Miami premium does not produce premium psychology earnings.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 257 students annually with first-year earnings of $40,486 climbing to $70,919 by year four. Median debt of $25,000 produces a 0.617 ratio and C ROI grade. Still a pre-professional pathway rather than a terminal degree.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 144 students with first-year earnings of $67,743 climbing to $101,808 by year four. Median debt of $23,000 produces a 0.34 ratio and B+ ROI grade. Excellent Big Four and corporate accounting placement supports the wages. Another standout program within the Farmer School ecosystem.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 60.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Miami University-Oxford’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 | 75.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 610-700 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 610-690 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-30 |
| Enrollment | 16,656 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 12.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,834 |
Miami admits 75.4% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 610-700 Math and 610-690 Reading, with ACT 25-30. The strong 80% completion rate is consistent with this profile. Miami selects well and graduates students at high rates, making program choice (rather than completion risk) the primary value lever for prospective students.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami University-Oxford (this school) | 54 | $28,384 | $55,076 |
| University of Louisville | 58 | $17,988 | $53,899 |
| Mississippi State University | 54 | $17,595 | $51,513 |
| Montana State University | 52 | $22,499 | $53,263 |
| University of Akron Wayne College | 48 | $6,032 | $46,600 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | 38 | $13,946 | $46,600 |
Who Thrives Here
Miami fits academically prepared Ohio (and increasingly out-of-state) students seeking a residential public-flagship experience with strong business and engineering programs. Enrollment of 16,656 is substantial. Pell rate is just 12.6%. The data favors students entering business (finance, accounting, marketing, MIS), engineering, or quantitative methods majors; humanities and arts produce weak immediate outcomes. The institution's character (residential, Greek-heavy, traditional) is a significant qualitative factor beyond the data.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Miami University-Oxford is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $28,384 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $55,076 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.6 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 it has going for it: its 79.8% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost.
Median debt of $23,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Miami University-Oxford: Common Questions
Is Miami University-Oxford worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Miami University-Oxford scores 54/100 on our ROI scale. At $28,384 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $55,076 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Miami University-Oxford 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 $28,384 a year, or roughly $113,536 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 Miami University-Oxford graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,076 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,276 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 Miami University-Oxford?
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 12.6 years for Miami University-Oxford. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Miami University-Oxford graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,000, against average earnings of $40,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Miami University-Oxford?
The six-year graduation rate is 79.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.