Tiffin University
Tiffin, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 80.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 14/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Tiffin University earns an ROI score of 14 out of 100. The financial picture is harsh across the board. The school's $34,790 tuition is moderate, but aid trims net price only to $26,500, producing a $106,000 four-year all-in. Graduates earn $36,600 six years out, and earnings actually decline to $35,942 at the ten-year mark, a rare and worrying signal that the cohort is not climbing the wage ladder. Median federal debt is $27,000 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. The Scorecard reports a 261-year payback period, which is the system's way of saying the earnings premium over a typical Ohio high school graduate barely exists. The 39.9% completion rate is critically low, with more than 60% of entering students not finishing. The 61.1% repayment rate, including a startling 27.7% repayment rate at the 5-year mark, signals widespread loan default risk. The criminal justice and security programs are Tiffin's identity but produce modest financial results. This is a difficult school to recommend on financial terms for almost any student.
How Tiffin 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 Score14/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate39.9% - 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 period>50 years - In our estimate, the earnings premium over a high school completer is small next to the cost, so the cost may not be recouped within a working career.
Tiffin University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,790/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,790/yr |
| Average net price | $26,500/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $106,000 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $35,942 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 39.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,051 |
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: $34,790/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $26,500/year, or roughly $106,000 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 $24,278/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,977/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,600) and comes to 0.74, 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 | $24,278 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,255 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,974 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,205 |
| $110,001+ | $29,977 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $24,278, and the $30,001-$48,000 band drops to $22,255 (a mild inversion favoring lower-middle-class families). Combined with Pell, low-income families still face roughly $89,000-$97,000 over four years against $35,942 ten-year earnings.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 band pays $24,974, and the $75,001-$110,000 band jumps to $29,205. Middle-income families face roughly $100,000-$117,000 in four-year cost. Median earnings are $35,942 ten years out.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $29,977, the highest in the grid. Over four years, high-income families absorb roughly $120,000 in net cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Tiffin University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Psychology | $50,934 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $74,964 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $58,862 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $66,059 | C |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other | $71,296 | C |
| Security Science and Technology | $57,509 | C |
| Marketing | $63,802 | D |
| Accounting | $64,927 | C+ |
| Psychology, Other | $50,430 | C |
| Human Resources Management | $47,095 | 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.
Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychology is Tiffin's largest reported program at 46 graduates. First-year earnings of $38,989 climb to $50,934 at four years, with $27,000 median debt producing a 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. Most clinical psychology bachelor's grads need graduate training to monetize the degree; this program functions as a feeder to master's programs rather than a terminal credential.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates 44 students with $52,754 first-year and $74,964 four-year earnings, the strongest absolute earnings on campus. Median debt of $40,224 is high, producing a 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. The high debt likely reflects out-of-state students or those relying heavily on private loans. Earnings trajectory is solid but the debt load creates persistent friction.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice is one of Tiffin's signature programs at 35 graduates. First-year earnings of $44,823 climb to $66,059 at four years, with $30,758 median debt producing a 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. Ohio law enforcement and corrections agencies absorb many graduates, with strong four-year wage growth reflecting sergeant or specialty role promotions. A defensible pathway despite the debt.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 35 students with four-year earnings of $58,862. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ grade, Tiffin's strongest ROI result. Many kinesiology grads continue to PT, OT, or chiropractic graduate programs; the four-year earnings reflect that mix. Best fit for students with clear graduate-school plans.
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Homeland Security graduates 32 students with $46,145 first-year and $71,296 four-year earnings. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. The program feeds federal law enforcement and protective services positions where four-year wage growth is substantial. A reasonable fit for students with specific federal career plans.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 61.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 27.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 60.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Tiffin 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 | 80.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 440-555 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 470-555 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 15-21 |
| Enrollment | 2,051 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,387 |
Tiffin admits 80.1% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 440-555 Math and 470-555 Reading, with ACT 15-21. The 39.9% completion rate is a direct consequence: students arrive academically underprepared and the institution does not consistently bring them to graduation, leaving many with debt and no degree.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiffin University (this school) | 14 | $26,500 | $35,942 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies | 24 | $20,473 | $47,327 |
| Lindsey Wilson College | 23 | $15,070 | $41,129 |
| Baker College | 9 | $13,157 | $35,833 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Tiffin enrolls 2,051 students with a 31.5% Pell rate, indicating a working-class and lower-middle-class student body. The fit profile is a regional Ohio student interested in criminal justice, security, or homeland security tracks, often planning to enter local law enforcement or corrections. The CJ program track is what the school is known for, but the broader package is financially difficult.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Tiffin University scores 14/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $26,500 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $35,942 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at more than 50 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 39.9% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 61.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. 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.
Tiffin University: Common Questions
Is Tiffin University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Tiffin University scores 14/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $26,500 a year after aid against $35,942 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at more than 50 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Tiffin 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 $26,500 a year, or roughly $106,000 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 Tiffin University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $35,942 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 Tiffin 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 more than 50 years for Tiffin University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Tiffin University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $36,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. 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 Tiffin University?
The six-year graduation rate is 39.9%. 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.