University of Akron Main Campus
Akron, Ohio · Public · 59.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 38/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Akron Main Campus is a mid-sized public research university in northeast Ohio scoring 38 on the CampusROI scale - Below Benchmark tier. The cost stack is $13,135 in-state tuition, $20,815 out-of-state, $13,946 average net price, and $55,784 four-year total. The challenge is that overall outcomes lag despite some genuinely excellent programs. 10-year median earnings of $46,600 produce just a 20.8% earnings premium (sub-score 44) and a 16.9-year payback period (sub-score 32). Median debt of $23,250 against those earnings yields a 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 32). Repayment at 70.6% (sub-score 41) is mediocre, and completion at 51.9% (sub-score 43) reflects the school's open-access regional mission. The institutional pattern is bimodal: Akron's engineering programs are excellent (Electrical Engineering at $97,875 four-year, Chemical at $90,279, Mechanical at $87,752 with 122 graduates), but they are diluted in the overall score by large weak-outcome cohorts in psychology, criminal justice, kinesiology, and liberal arts. The honest read: Akron is a school where the major you choose matters more than the school itself.
How University of Akron Main Campus 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 Score38/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period16.9 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
University of Akron Main Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $13,135/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,815/yr |
| Average net price | $13,946/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $55,784 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,600 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 16.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 51.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,052 |
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: $13,135/year ($20,815/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 $13,946/year, or roughly $55,784 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 $10,413/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,226/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,250, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,900) and comes to 0.69, 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 | $10,413 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,131 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,519 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,800 |
| $110,001+ | $20,226 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $10,413 net annually - slightly above the $30,001-$48,000 bracket's $10,131, a mild inversion worth flagging. Over four years that is roughly $42,000 of cost. For Pell-eligible Ohio students this is workable, particularly with state aid (Ohio College Opportunity Grant). The 52% non-completion rate is the dominant financial risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001-$75,000 pay $13,519 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $17,800 - $54,000-$71,000 over four years.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $20,226 net, or about $81,000 over four years. At full or near-full pay, Akron remains defensible for engineering-bound students given the program-level outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Akron Main Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $76,089 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,752 | B |
| Biology | $59,427 | C |
| Psychology | $47,763 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $68,285 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,319 | D |
| Marketing | $65,857 | C+ |
| Special Education and Teaching | $41,782 | D |
| Social Work | $50,823 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $74,840 | 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.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering is Akron's flagship engineering program and one of its largest cohorts at 122 graduates per year. Graduates earn $71,448 at one year and $87,752 at four years against $25,125 of debt - a 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. The four-year earnings figure reflects strong placement into northeast Ohio manufacturing and the broader Midwest engineering corridor.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the single largest cohort at 169 graduates per year. Graduates earn $67,141 at one year and $76,089 at four years against $27,000 of debt - a 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. Northeast Ohio's strong hospital network (Cleveland Clinic, Summa, MetroHealth, University Hospitals) provides reliable RN placement. Excellent ROI track.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering graduates earn $71,873 at one year and $90,279 at four years against $23,168 of debt - a 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. With 50 graduates per year this is one of Akron's signature programs and reflects the school's historic ties to the Akron rubber/polymer industry. Career placement spans chemicals, polymers, oil & gas, and pharmaceuticals.
Psychology
Psychology is one of the largest cohorts at 104 graduates per year, but financially among the weaker tracks. Graduates earn $30,456 at one year and $47,763 at four years against $27,000 of debt - a 0.89 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. As is typical for bachelor's psychology, well-paid clinical paths require master's or doctoral training. Many Akron psychology graduates also progress to MSW or counseling programs.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is a meaningful cohort at 91 graduates per year. Graduates earn $45,211 at one year and $68,285 at four years against $27,750 of debt - a 0.61 ratio and a C grade.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 51.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 57.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Akron 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 | 59.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 440-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 460-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-25 |
| Enrollment | 9,052 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 29.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,255 |
Akron admits 59.7% of applicants. SAT mid-50% ranges of 440-590 math and 460-600 reading, with an ACT mid-range of 17-25, indicate a broadly average academic profile. The 51.9% completion rate is consistent with this open-access posture; the 48% non-completion rate is the single biggest financial risk for incoming students who borrow. Engineering and CS-track students should expect significantly higher completion rates than the institutional average due to self-selection and academic preparation.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Akron Main Campus (this school) | 38 | $13,946 | $46,600 |
| University of Akron Wayne College | 48 | $6,032 | $46,600 |
| Idaho State University | 38 | $12,193 | $45,608 |
| University of South Alabama | 37 | $17,648 | $49,379 |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 32 | $24,022 | $47,896 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras | 32 | $9,175 | $35,723 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Akron Main Campus side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
With 9,052 students, a 29.1% Pell rate, and a regional Ohio public mission, Akron fits northeast Ohio students who can target one of the strong engineering, CS, accounting, finance, or nursing programs. The 169-graduate nursing cohort ($76,089 four-year), 122-graduate mechanical engineering cohort, and 91/87-graduate business/criminal justice cohorts are the largest student concentrations. STEM-bound students get exceptional value here; humanities and social-science students see materially weaker outcomes.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, University of Akron Main Campus scores 38/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $13,946 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $46,600 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 16.9 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 51.9% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 70.6% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. 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.
University of Akron Main Campus: Common Questions
Is University of Akron Main Campus worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. University of Akron Main Campus scores 38/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $13,946 a year after aid against $46,600 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 16.9 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does University of Akron 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 $13,946 a year, or roughly $55,784 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 University of Akron Main Campus graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $46,600 ten years after enrolling, roughly $4,800 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 University of Akron 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 16.9 years for University of Akron Main Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Akron Main Campus graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $33,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. 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 University of Akron Main Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 51.9%. 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.