Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
Zanesville, Ohio · Public
ROI Score: 60/100 · Fair Value
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus earns a 60/100 ROI score and a Fair Value tier -- a result driven almost entirely by extreme cost-efficiency. This is a regional branch campus serving rural Muskingum County and surrounding Appalachian Ohio, primarily offering 2-year associate's pathways and bachelor's completion programs through Ohio University's main campus. Net price is just $5,746 against $6,362 in-state tuition -- among the lowest in our database. Total four-year cost is $22,984 (note that most students attend 2 years here before transferring or completing). Median earnings six years after entry are $35,900, climbing to $52,581 by year ten. The implied payback period is 9.3 years. The earnings premium of 76.5% over a high-school graduate is exceptional (96/100 sub-score) -- the strongest in this batch -- which combined with rock-bottom cost produces a healthy ROI despite serious problems elsewhere. Median federal debt is $21,056, producing a 0.587 debt-to-earnings ratio. The dominant problem is completion: just 21.6% of students who start finish a credential at this campus -- which reflects how branch campuses work statistically (many transfer to main campus before completing and don't count as completers here) but also genuine retention challenges. Repayment performance is weak at 68% three-year. The honest read: for cost-conscious students using OU-Zanesville as a 2-year transfer pathway to main campus, this is one of the best entry points in Ohio's system; the headline completion rate misrepresents the actual student journey.
The data raises concerns about Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate21.6% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,362/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $9,444/yr |
| Average net price | $5,746/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $22,984 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,581 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,056 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $223 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 21.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 560 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Ohio University-Zanesville Campus is $6,362/year ($9,444/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $5,746/year, or roughly $22,984 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $3,280/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $8,773/year. The school provides substantial aid to low-income students, making it significantly more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
The median graduate leaves with $21,056 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $223 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $52,581 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.59 - 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 | $3,280 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $3,163 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,459 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $7,853 |
| $110,001+ | $8,773 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $3,280 net price -- exceptionally low, among the most accessible institutions in our database. Pell grants alone cover this several times over, leaving Pell-eligible students with potential cash refund at Ohio U-Z. Across two years, $6,560 net cost is essentially trivial relative to earnings outcomes. This is an outstanding value for low-income rural Ohio students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $3,163 ($30K-$48K), $5,459 ($48K-$75K), and $7,853 ($75K-$110K). Note the inversion: the $30K-$48K bracket pays slightly LESS than the $0-$30K bracket -- likely a small-cohort statistical artifact rather than actual policy. Across the middle bands, costs scale modestly with income. The $48K-$75K bracket is the value sweet spot.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $8,773 -- still extraordinarily low by national standards. Over two years that's $17,546. Even high-income families capture meaningful value here as a 2-year cost-saving stop on the way to a bachelor's. This is one of the few institutions where the math works clearly across every income band.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Ohio University-Zanesville Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $87,308 | B |
| Social Work | $49,690 | C |
| Teacher Education | $43,893 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $71,478 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $54,695 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,867 | D |
| Psychology | $49,399 | D |
| History | $46,101 | F |
| Sociology | $51,312 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $53,206 | 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 OU-Zanesville's signature program with 21 graduates per cohort -- the largest cohort with reported graduate volume. Graduates earn $75,809 one year out and $87,308 four years out, against $29,454 median debt and a 0.389 debt-to-earnings ratio (B grade). For Ohio rural students seeking an affordable RN pathway, this is among the strongest programs in the database. The combination of $5,746 net price and $75K starting RN earnings produces excellent first-year ROI.
Social Work
Social work graduates earn $37,990 one year out and $49,690 four years out, with $23,570 median debt and a 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio (C grade). 6 graduates per cohort. The earnings reflect typical social-work labor market conditions, but the low cost-of-attendance makes the financial math more workable than at private comparators. Social-work students should pursue MSW credentials via grad school for licensure and earnings improvement.
Teacher Education
Teacher education graduates earn $34,983 one year out and $43,893 four years out, with $23,050 median debt and a 0.659 debt-to-earnings ratio (C grade). 5 graduates per cohort. Ohio rural teacher salaries cap the upside, but at this net price the program remains one of the more reasonable teacher-education pathways in our database. PSLF eligibility for those entering public schools is essential.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business administration graduates earn $57,006 one year out and $71,478 four years out, against $25,000 median debt -- a 0.439 debt-to-earnings ratio (B grade). Just 3 graduates per cohort makes this a tiny tracked sample, and the figures likely include system-wide OU students rather than purely branch-campus graduates. Still, for cost-conscious business-track students using Zanesville as transfer entry, the math is workable.
Psychology
Psychology graduates earn $30,682 one year out and $49,399 four years out, with $25,000 median debt and a 0.815 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). 3 graduates per cohort. Bachelor's-only psychology earnings are weak everywhere, but at OU-Zanesville's net price the structural penalty is much smaller than at high-cost privates. Most students intending psychology careers should plan for grad school.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 64.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 67.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 55.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 64.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 560 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 13.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,667 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, consistent with branch campuses that operate effectively open-admission policies for state residents. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are also not reported. The headline 21.6% completion rate at this campus dramatically understates actual student progress because the standard branch-campus pattern is to complete general-education credits at the lower-cost regional campus and then transfer to OU's main Athens campus to finish a bachelor's degree -- those students appear as non-completers at Zanesville.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
OU-Zanesville's peer set includes University of Akron Main Campus, University of Akron Wayne College, Penn State Mont Alto, Penn State Schuylkill, and University of Maine at Fort Kent -- a relevant cluster of regional branch campuses and small public commuter institutions. Wayne College and the Penn State branch campuses are the closest comparators by mission. Within that group OU-Zanesville's combination of low cost, strong earnings premium, and weak completion is typical of the branch-campus model, not unique. University of Akron Main Campus serves a broader urban student body with somewhat better completion rates.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio University-Zanesville Campus (this school) | 60 | $5,746 | $52,581 |
| University of Maine at Fort Kent | 64 | $7,482 | $51,077 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto | 63 | $19,454 | $63,435 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill | 63 | $19,659 | $63,435 |
| University of Akron Wayne College | 48 | $6,032 | $46,600 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | 38 | $13,946 | $46,600 |
Who Thrives Here
OU-Zanesville enrolls 560 students with a 13.0% Pell rate -- a relatively middle-class profile for a regional access campus, suggesting many students are place-bound working adults rather than traditional Pell-eligible students. The fit profile: rural and small-town Ohio residents who need affordable, geographically convenient access to Ohio University coursework, with the intent of transferring to Athens or completing online. Students should treat this campus as a strategic 2-year value play rather than a 4-year destination. Anyone seeking the full residential college experience should aim for OU's main Athens campus.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $5,746 per year leads to $22,984 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $52,581 a decade out. The payback period of 9.3 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
Key strengths include strong earnings premium over high school graduates. However, the data also shows a 21.6% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $21,056 against $52,581 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.