University of Mount Union
Alliance, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 78.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 44/100 · Poor Value
University of Mount Union scores 44 on the CampusROI scale, landing just inside the Poor Value tier despite having several genuine strengths. Sticker tuition is $36,600 but net price drops to $23,280, putting four-year cost at about $93,120 - meaningfully cheaper than the typical Ohio private. Completion rate is 58.7% (sub-score 58), which is solid for a small-town private, and the 80.3% three-year repayment rate (sub-score 72) is one of the strongest in the dataset and signals graduates can actually service their debt. Median earnings six years after entry are $36,600 and climb to $53,217 by year ten, yielding a 19.6% earnings premium and a 12.8-year payback period. The pressure point is debt-to-earnings of 0.738 on $27,000 of median debt (sub-score 23): nearly every program in the file shows $27,000 of debt, suggesting that's the Stafford cap rather than a school-specific borrowing problem, but it still presses against early-career earnings. Mount Union's nursing and engineering pipelines are genuinely strong; the broader liberal arts and education paths produce the modest earnings that pull the overall score down.
The data raises concerns about University of Mount Union
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score44/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
University of Mount Union
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $36,600/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,600/yr |
| Average net price | $23,280/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $93,120 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,217 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,995 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at University of Mount Union is $36,600/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $23,280/year, or roughly $93,120 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $16,786/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,495/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $53,217 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.74 - 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 | $16,786 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,428 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,741 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,474 |
| $110,001+ | $26,495 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $16,786 net per year, about $67,144 over four years. That is a real discount from sticker and is achievable with Pell plus institutional aid. The brackets are slightly non-monotonic ($48,001-75,000 at $17,741 is less than $30,001-48,000 at $19,428), which is unusual but small enough to be a sample-size artifact rather than intentional policy.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-110,000) pay $17,741 to $23,474 per year, with the $75,001-110,000 jump (to $23,474) being where aid drops off most meaningfully. Four-year cost in this band runs $71,000-$94,000. Against $36,600 six-year earnings, the math is workable if the student enters a productive program.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $26,495 per year (about $106,000 over four years). Aid scaling is real but modest, and at this price the comparison becomes Ohio State or another flagship public, where outcomes would generally be similar or stronger at a lower price.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Mount Union with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $60,728 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $85,186 | B |
| Teacher Education | $44,001 | D |
| Biology | $61,213 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $80,777 | C+ |
| Marketing | $66,830 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $68,305 | C |
| Psychology | $51,316 | D |
| Accounting | $80,429 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $55,751 | 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 graduates 49 students with $70,141 first-year earnings and $85,186 by year four. Debt is $27,000 and debt-to-earnings is 0.385 for a B grade. Strong Ohio hospital placement and clinical partnerships drive these numbers; this is one of the cleanest ROI cases at Mount Union and a meaningful reason to consider the school over cheaper alternatives.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology is the largest program at 63 graduates and shows the typical problem: $33,631 first-year earnings, $60,728 by year four, $27,000 of debt, and a 0.803 debt-to-earnings ratio for a D grade. Without continuation into PT, OT, or athletic training, kinesiology earnings stall at the school's Ohio market median.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 38 students earning $38,277 in year one and $44,001 by year four - the flattest four-year curve in the file. Debt is $27,000 and debt-to-earnings is 0.705 for a D grade. This reflects Ohio teacher salary scales rather than program quality; the credential works professionally but the financial picture is structurally weak.
Biology
Biology graduates 27 students with $33,433 first-year and $61,213 four-year earnings. Debt-to-earnings of 0.808 yields a D. The strong four-year jump suggests many graduates continue to graduate or professional school; for those who do not, the bachelor's alone produces weak ROI math.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance graduates 26 students with $51,503 in year one and $80,777 by year four. Debt of $27,000 and debt-to-earnings of 0.524 yield a C+ grade. The 57% earnings jump from year one to year four is unusually strong and suggests graduates are landing in commission-driven or career-track corporate finance roles.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 78.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 450-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 460-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-25 |
| Enrollment | 1,995 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,830 |
Mount Union admits 78.2% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 450-620 (math) and 460-620 (reading) and ACT composite mid-range of 18-25. These are open-access numbers, broadly consistent with non-selective regional privates. The 58.7% completion rate is meaningfully higher than other open-access schools in the same band, suggesting the school does retention work better than its admissions screen would predict.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Mount Union's peer set (Allegheny Wesleyan College, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Concordia University Wisconsin, Bob Jones University, Arcadia University) is mixed. Concordia Wisconsin is the closest fit as a small Midwestern Lutheran-tradition private and typically posts comparable enrollment and earnings outcomes. Arcadia is a more selective small private and usually scores higher on completion and earnings premium. Allegheny Wesleyan and Bob Jones are religious specialty schools with different student profiles. Across the set, Mount Union's nursing and engineering tracks are unusually strong relative to similarly priced peers.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mount Union (this school) | 44 | $23,280 | $53,217 |
| Bob Jones University | 47 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| Arcadia University | 46 | $29,466 | $58,336 |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | 43 | $36,201 | $56,075 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment is 1,995 with a 27.8% Pell rate - a moderately middle-class student body for a small Ohio private. The school works best for students entering its credentialed pipelines: RN, mechanical engineering, accounting, finance. It works less well for students pursuing teacher education or kinesiology, where earnings stay flat and debt burdens consume too much of early-career income. The 80% repayment rate suggests graduates who do finish are landing in stable Ohio middle-class jobs.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about University of Mount Union. With a net cost of $23,280 per year and median graduate earnings of only $53,217 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 12.8 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $27,000 against $53,217 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
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.