Ohio University-Main Campus
Athens, Ohio · Public · 85.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 48/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Ohio University-Main Campus (Athens) scores 48 (Below Average Value). The 65.5% completion rate is solid, in-state tuition of $14,158 is reasonable, and the institution offers genuinely strong outcomes in engineering, nursing, and computer science. But the institution-wide ROI score is dragged down by the broad mix of liberal arts and humanities programs that produce thin earnings ($35,900 average at 6 years) against $21,056 median debt. Net price runs $21,637 - higher than tuition because of room and board - and out-of-state tuition climbs to $24,838. Median earnings 10 years out hit $52,581, the earnings premium is just 20.3%, and the payback period is 12.9 years. The honest read: program choice matters enormously here. Nursing and engineering students get strong outcomes; humanities students get weaker results. Enrollment of 19,633 supports a wide major mix, but the institutional median is dominated by middle-earning programs.
Ohio University-Main Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $14,158/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $24,838/yr |
| Average net price | $21,637/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $86,548 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,581 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,056 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $223 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 65.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 19,633 |
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: $14,158/year ($24,838/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 $21,637/year, or roughly $86,548 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 $15,673/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,492/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,056, which works out to about $223 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,900) and comes to 0.59, 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 | $15,673 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,160 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,078 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,689 |
| $110,001+ | $24,492 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $15,673 net annually - well below the school average and a meaningful concession. Notably, the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays slightly less ($15,160), a mildly inverted pattern likely reflecting Pell and OCOG (Ohio College Opportunity Grant) interactions. Over four years that's roughly $63K out of pocket, which against $52,581 median 10-year earnings is recoverable but not generous.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $19,078 - close to the school's average net price. This is the largest tier of Ohio University's student body and where the value math is tightest. Students in this bracket should weigh major choice carefully: engineering and nursing make the math work; humanities tracks do not.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Top-bracket families ($110,001+) pay $24,492 net per year - effectively the published net price.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Ohio University-Main Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $87,308 | B |
| Psychology | $49,399 | D |
| Marketing | $78,506 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $43,893 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $81,299 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $54,695 | C |
| Genetics | $55,352 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $71,478 | B |
| Journalism | $59,276 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,867 | D |
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 Ohio University's signature program at 1,396 graduates per year - massive volume, often via the BSN-to-RN online completion track. Median earnings of $75,809 first-year and $87,308 four-year are excellent, with $29,454 median debt yielding a 0.389 debt-to-earnings ratio (B grade). This is the strongest mainstream ROI play on campus and the program that single-handedly props up institutional earnings medians.
Computer Science
Computer Science (60 graduates) earns a B+ ROI grade with $73,932 first-year and $93,282 four-year earnings against $21,500 median debt (0.291 ratio). One of the cleanest ROI profiles on campus.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (175 graduates) posts $59,305 first-year and $81,299 four-year earnings with $25,000 median debt - a 0.422 ratio (B grade). Strong placement into Midwest corporate finance and Big Four roles. The College of Business is one of Ohio University's better-known assets, and Finance is its most reliably high-earning track.
Air Transportation
Aviation (53 graduates) earns a B+ ROI grade with $99,701 four-year earnings against $25,000 median debt (0.251 ratio). The high earnings reflect commercial pilot pipelines where wage growth has been strong post-COVID. First-year earnings aren't reported but typically lag the four-year figure significantly given the hours-building phase. Strong long-run ROI for committed students.
Psychology
Psychology (247 graduates - one of the largest cohorts) has $30,682 first-year earnings against $25,000 median debt, which produce a 0.815 ratio and a D ROI grade. The program is a feeder for graduate study where outcomes improve markedly, but for terminal-bachelor's psychology students the math is structurally tough.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 64.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 67.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 55.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 64.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Ohio University-Main Campus’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 | 85.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-640 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-28 |
| Enrollment | 19,633 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,814 |
Ohio University admits 85.0% of applicants. The 65.5% completion rate is higher than the admit rate alone would predict, suggesting that admitted students who enroll are reasonably matched to the institution. Selectivity here is a soft filter rather than a sharp screen.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio University-Main Campus (this school) | 48 | $21,637 | $52,581 |
| Georgia Southern University | 52 | $15,267 | $53,236 |
| University of Akron Wayne College | 48 | $6,032 | $46,600 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 47 | $10,965 | $48,160 |
| Boise State University | 45 | $21,610 | $51,658 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | 38 | $13,946 | $46,600 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Ohio University-Main Campus side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Strong fit: students in nursing (1,396 graduates, $75,809 first-year earnings), engineering, computer science, and accounting. Mismatch risk: students entering with vague humanities or arts intentions face structural ROI challenges that the school's general numbers don't fully advertise. The 65.5% completion rate is a real positive - students who enroll do tend to finish.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Ohio University-Main Campus is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $21,637 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $52,581 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.9 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 to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a three-year loan repayment rate of 67.9% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $21,056 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, 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.
Ohio University-Main Campus: Common Questions
Is Ohio University-Main Campus worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Ohio University-Main Campus scores 48/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,637 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $52,581 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Ohio University-Main Campus 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 $21,637 a year, or roughly $86,548 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 University-Main Campus graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,581 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,781 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 Ohio University-Main Campus?
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 12.9 years for Ohio University-Main Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Ohio University-Main Campus graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,056, against average earnings of $35,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. 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 Ohio University-Main Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 65.5%, 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.