Walsh University
North Canton, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 70.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 58/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Walsh University in North Canton, OH scores 58 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. Sticker tuition is $35,745, but net price drops to $20,493 through institutional aid. The 58.5% completion rate is average. Registered Nursing (64 graduates) and Marketing are the stronger programs; biology, psychology, and communication produce D-grade or worse outcomes. Walsh is a small Catholic school with 1,390 students in the Canton-Akron metro area, which provides modest but real employer access without the premium of a major metro market.
Walsh University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,745/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,745/yr |
| Average net price | $20,493/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $81,972 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,764 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,390 |
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: $35,745/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,493/year, or roughly $81,972 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 $20,458/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,373/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 ($40,900) and comes to 0.66, 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 | $20,458 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,849 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,642 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,737 |
| $110,001+ | $20,373 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $20,458 net per year at Walsh - a high burden relative to average 6-year earnings of $40,900. The 58.5% completion rate adds risk: students who do not complete accumulate debt without earning. For nursing-bound students with strong preparation, Walsh's Catholic health system connections provide a specific payoff; for other programs, the financial case at this price is weak.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001-$48,000) pay $17,849 per year - the lowest net price band, lower even than the lowest bracket, suggesting an aid inversion at this income range. The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $18,642. At these prices Walsh is moderately priced for a private Catholic institution, and the 9-year payback is manageable for nursing and business graduates.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,000+) pay $20,373 per year - nearly identical to the lowest income bracket, suggesting Walsh's aid structure does not significantly differentiate across income bands. At $20,373 per year over four years ($81,000 total), the return against $40,900 average earnings is slow.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Walsh University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $81,510 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $53,469 | C+ |
| Biology | $66,592 | D |
| Marketing | $68,678 | B |
| Psychology | $51,967 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $75,364 | C |
| Accounting | $71,604 | C+ |
| Sociology | $55,867 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $46,374 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $38,609 | C |
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
Registered Nursing is Walsh's strongest program: 64 graduates, $68,181 first-year earnings, $81,510 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.411 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $28,000 is moderate. The Akron-Cleveland-Canton healthcare corridor provides active nursing employment. Walsh's small campus means nursing cohort sizes are manageable, and clinical placement in the regional hospital network is consistent.
Marketing
Marketing (25 graduates) earns $68,678 at four years (year-one data not available), with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.393 (ROI grade B) and $27,000 median debt. The absence of year-one data makes a complete assessment difficult, but the four-year figure suggests some graduates are accessing regional corporate and healthcare marketing roles in the Akron-Cleveland market. Walsh's Catholic identity creates some employer pipeline through alumni networks in regional Catholic healthcare systems, which is relevant for marketing and communications-adjacent fields.
Accounting
Accounting (19 graduates) earns $57,043 at year one and $71,604 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.484 (ROI grade C+) and $27,600 median debt. The year-one figure is reasonable for entry-level accounting in northeast Ohio, and the four-year trajectory is consistent with early career CPA progression. Against $20,493 net price and $27,600 median debt, the payback is workable but not fast.
Biology
Biology (26 graduates) earns $31,250 at year one and $66,592 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.864 (ROI grade D) and $27,000 median debt. The year-one figure of $31,250 is very low for a biology graduate - this cohort is predominantly in graduate or medical school pipelines. The four-year figure to $66,592 reflects those completing clinical or medical programs. At Walsh's cost, biology is only financially defensible as a pre-medicine or pre-health track with a realistic assessment of graduate school admission prospects.
Psychology
Psychology (23 graduates) earns $27,577 at year one and $51,967 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.979 (ROI grade D) and $27,000 median debt. Year-one earnings are $27,577. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.979 means graduates owe nearly a full year of earnings. Psychology at Walsh is not financially defensible as a terminal bachelor's degree - it is only justifiable with a specific, credible graduate school or clinical certification plan.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Walsh 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 | 70.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,390 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,760 |
Walsh's 70.7% admission rate places it in the accessible-to-moderate selectivity range. SAT mid-range of 510-650 Math and 510-630 Reading describes a wide academic spectrum. ACT 20-27 is consistent with a moderately prepared student body. The school's mission as a Catholic institution means admissions also considers character and values alignment, not purely academic metrics.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walsh University (this school) | 58 | $20,493 | $59,764 |
| Luther College | 60 | $23,097 | $59,850 |
| Viterbo University | 58 | $21,260 | $55,660 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Walsh admits 70.7% of applicants (SAT mid-range 510-650 Math, 510-630 Reading; ACT 20-27) at 1,390 students. The 27.4% Pell grant rate reflects a moderate-income student body. Walsh fits students who want a small Catholic liberal arts environment with nursing as an option and prefer the Canton-Akron area. It is a poor fit for students primarily optimizing for financial return - the debt load and earnings profile make many programs financially inefficient, and several (biology, psychology, communication) produce very poor ROI at Walsh's price point.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Walsh University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $20,493 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $59,764 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9 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: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. 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.
Walsh University: Common Questions
Is Walsh University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Walsh University scores 58/100 on our ROI scale. At $20,493 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $59,764 ten years after entry, so it takes about 9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Walsh 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 $20,493 a year, or roughly $81,972 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 Walsh University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,764 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,964 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 Walsh 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 about 9 years for Walsh University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Walsh University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $40,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. 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 Walsh University?
The six-year graduation rate is 58.5%. 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.