The University of Findlay
Findlay, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 83.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 52/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Findlay scores 52 (Below Average Value). The 57.9% completion rate is reasonable, the 11.3-year payback period is workable, and the 78.5% three-year repayment rate is solid. The 20.2% earnings premium is mediocre, and the 0.576 debt-to-earnings ratio reflects $25,439 median debt against $44,200 average 6-year earnings. Sticker tuition is $41,164 - high - but net price drops to $27,221 after discounts. Median earnings climb to $56,996 at 10 years, which is decent. The school's Pell rate of 14.7% is notably low, indicating a relatively well-resourced student body. Findlay is a 2,223-student private with strong programs in equine studies, allied health, and environmental control technologies. Program-level data shows real bifurcation: nursing, allied health, and environmental tech post B/B+ grades; the school's signature animal sciences and pre-vet tracks post D and F grades because the absolute earnings are modest while debt is heavy. The institutional 52 reflects this mix - a meaningful chunk of programs are passion-driven low-earning fields cross-subsidized by the higher-earning health programs.
The University of Findlay
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $41,164/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,164/yr |
| Average net price | $27,221/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $108,884 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,996 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,439 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $270 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,223 |
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: $41,164/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $27,221/year, or roughly $108,884 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 $22,052/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,963/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,439, which works out to about $270 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($44,200) and comes to 0.58, 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 | $22,052 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,908 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,481 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,486 |
| $110,001+ | $28,963 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $22,052 net annually - meaningful aid but still a hefty cash commitment given the modest earnings ceiling on most Findlay programs. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $22,908, similar. Over four years that's $88K-$92K, against $56,996 median 10-year earnings - workable only with strong major selection.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $24,481, which is well below sticker but still substantial. This bracket faces the typical small-private squeeze: too high for Pell to anchor, too low for full-pay status. Strong fit only if the student commits to allied health or environmental tech tracks.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Top-bracket families ($110,001+) pay $28,963 net annually - close to the school's published net price.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at The University of Findlay with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $66,815 | C |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs | $46,798 | D |
| Animal Sciences | $46,977 | D |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | $46,301 | F |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $71,024 | B+ |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $47,760 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $40,822 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $73,397 | C+ |
| Biology | $51,419 | F |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | $94,131 | 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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Findlay's largest program at 93 graduates per year. Median earnings of $45,089 first-year and $66,815 four-year are decent, with $28,421 median debt yielding a 0.630 ratio (C grade). The earnings climb across the four-year window is healthy.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health (25 graduates) is the financial standout: $62,752 first-year and $71,024 four-year earnings against just $19,500 median debt produce a 0.311 ratio - a B+ grade. This is one of the cleanest ROI profiles on campus and reflects strong placement into clinical roles. For students who can complete the credential, this is the strongest financial bet at Findlay.
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs
Pre-Vet programs (43 graduates) have $27,043 first-year earnings against $26,155 median debt, which yields a 0.967 ratio (D grade). Four-year earnings of $46,798 don't redeem the picture. Vet school admission is the path that makes the math work; students not continuing to DVM programs face years of weak earnings against significant debt.
Animal Sciences
Animal Sciences (42 graduates) posts $34,595 first-year and $46,977 four-year earnings against $26,000 median debt - a 0.752 ratio and D grade. Findlay's equine programs are nationally recognized within the equestrian community, but the labor market for animal sciences bachelors is structurally low-paying. Mission and passion fit are the only defensible reasons to take on this debt without graduate study plans.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (17 graduates) earns a C+ grade with $68,678 first-year and $73,397 four-year earnings - solid healthcare numbers. Median debt of $31,000 is high, producing a 0.451 ratio.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How The University of Findlay’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 | 83.4% |
| Enrollment | 2,223 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 14.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,542 |
Findlay admits 83.4% of applicants - openly accessible. SAT and ACT score ranges are not reported, suggesting test-optional or test-blind status. The lack of testing data limits direct selectivity comparisons, but the high admit rate paired with a 57.9% completion rate suggests the school admits widely and finishes a moderate majority - a common small-private pattern where program fit is the better completion predictor than entrance scores.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Findlay (this school) | 52 | $27,221 | $56,996 |
| Augsburg University | 53 | $23,873 | $58,829 |
| Trine University | 52 | $25,355 | $57,165 |
| St Bonaventure University | 51 | $27,074 | $57,214 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Findlay's 2,223 enrollment, low 14.7% Pell rate, and program mix tilted toward equine/animal sciences and allied health define its niche. Best fit: students drawn to the school's equestrian programs, those entering allied health pipelines, and Ohio-region students seeking a small-private experience without high Pell-population dynamics. The completion rate near 58% is workable for prepared students. Mismatch: students taking on heavy debt for the animal-sciences or pre-vet undergrad tracks face structurally tough math because terminal-bachelor's earnings in those fields are modest.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for The University of Findlay is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $27,221 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,996 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.3 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.
Median debt of $25,439 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $44,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58, 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.
The University of Findlay: Common Questions
Is The University of Findlay worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. The University of Findlay scores 52/100 on our ROI scale. At $27,221 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,996 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.3 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does The University of Findlay 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 $27,221 a year, or roughly $108,884 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 The University of Findlay graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,996 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,196 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 The University of Findlay?
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 11.3 years for The University of Findlay. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do The University of Findlay graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,439, against average earnings of $44,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58. 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 The University of Findlay?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.9%. 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.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.