Ohio Christian University
Circleville, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 38.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 11/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Ohio Christian University scores 11 (Below Benchmark). The numbers justify the score: a 33.9% completion rate, a 46.2-year payback period, $32,600 average 6-year earnings, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.907. At a net price of $20,607 and $24,600 tuition, OCU is not inexpensive. More than 6 in 10 entering students do not complete a degree. Among completers, the 3-year repayment rate of 45% indicates that nearly half of all borrowers are not making progress on their loans. Most program-level data is either null (no first-year earnings reported) or weak (multiple F-grade programs). The Religion/Religious Studies program - 27 graduates - carries a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.178 (F grade) and $37,000 median debt against $31,410 year-one earnings. The Mental and Social Health Services program has a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.13 (F grade). Business Administration (39 graduates) earns $46,452 year-one and $58,293 year-four but carries a D grade with $35,515 median debt. OCU is a small faith-based institution (862 students) with an explicitly Christian mission; students who enroll are doing so for reasons the financial data does not capture - but the financial risks are real and well-documented.
How Ohio Christian University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score11/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate33.9% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period46.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Ohio Christian University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $24,600/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $24,600/yr |
| Average net price | $20,607/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $82,428 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $39,813 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $29,579 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $314 |
| Estimated payback period | 46.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 33.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 862 |
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: $24,600/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,607/year, or roughly $82,428 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 $22,113/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,159/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $29,579, which works out to about $314 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($32,600) and comes to 0.91, 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 | $22,113 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,338 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,292 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,034 |
| $110,001+ | $20,159 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $22,113 net price per year - roughly $88,000 over four years assuming completion, which happens for only 33.9% of students. At $32,600 average 6-year earnings and a 46.2-year payback, the financial case is very poor.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays only $15,292 per year - the lowest in the OCU aid schedule - while surrounding brackets pay more, indicating a possible aid targeting artifact. Even at $15,292, the 33.9% completion rate and 46.2-year payback make this a difficult financial choice. Middle-income families who are primarily motivated by OCU's faith mission should plan for the possibility that their student does not complete and factor debt accordingly.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $20,159 per year - close to the institutional average. The payback period is 46.2 years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Ohio Christian University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $58,293 | D |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $46,350 | F |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $43,805 | C |
| Psychology | $42,140 | C |
| Human Services, General | $41,533 | D |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $40,901 | F |
| Teacher Education | $40,291 | - |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $44,701 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,480 | - |
| Homeland Security | $53,626 | - |
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
Business Administration (39 graduates) earns $46,452 year-one and $58,293 year-four, carrying a D ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.765). Median debt of $35,515 is high relative to earnings at every point. Year-one earnings of $46,452 are adequate but the debt burden erodes the financial benefit. This is OCU's strongest program by earnings volume, yet still receives a D grade - a signal of how constrained the institution's overall ROI profile is.
Religion/Religious Studies
Religion/Religious Studies (27 graduates) earns $31,410 year-one and $46,350 year-four with an F ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 1.178). Median debt of $37,000 exceeds year-one earnings by nearly $6,000. This program is the second-largest by reported graduate volume and among the worst financial outcomes at the institution. Students entering ministry or faith-based vocations may accept lower wages as a vocational trade-off, but the financial burden is documented and real.
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Mental and Social Health Services (14 graduates) earns $40,901 four-year median earnings with an F ROI grade and 1.13 debt-to-earnings ratio. Median debt of $46,200 is the highest at the institution - against four-year earnings that suggest graduates are entering counseling-adjacent roles that require additional licensure. Year-one earnings are not reported by the Scorecard.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 37.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 45.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 38.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 44.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Ohio Christian University’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 | 38.0% |
| Enrollment | 862 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $4,506 |
OCU admits 38% of applicants. The Scorecard does not report test score data. Net price is relatively flat across income brackets - ranging from $15,292 (middle bracket) to $22,338 (second bracket) - suggesting a limited financial aid model that doesn't scale strongly with income. Low-income students face a $22,113 net price per year.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Christian University (this school) | 11 | $20,607 | $39,813 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Fisk University | 14 | $32,020 | $45,454 |
| Huston-Tillotson University | 14 | $19,719 | $42,937 |
| Philander Smith University | 10 | $14,224 | $38,427 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
OCU admits 38% of applicants. The Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT data. At 862 students, the school is very small with a tightly focused faith mission and online-heavy delivery in addition to the Circleville campus. Pell rate of 33.7% reflects a moderate share of lower-income students. Students who attend OCU are largely driven by institutional mission alignment, not labor market outcomes. That is a legitimate reason to choose a college - but it requires honest financial planning given the poor ROI metrics.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Ohio Christian University scores 11/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $20,607 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $39,813 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 46.2 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 33.9% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 45.0% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $29,579 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $32,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Ohio Christian University: Common Questions
Is Ohio Christian University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Ohio Christian University scores 11/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $20,607 a year after aid against $39,813 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 46.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Ohio Christian University 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 $20,607 a year, or roughly $82,428 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 Ohio Christian University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $39,813 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off Ohio Christian University?
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 46.2 years for Ohio Christian University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Ohio Christian University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $29,579, against average earnings of $32,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Ohio Christian University?
The six-year graduation rate is 33.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.