Walsh University
North Canton, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 70.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 58/100 · Below Average Value
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. Median 6-year earnings of $40,900 and a 9-year payback are mediocre for a Catholic private university. The 58.5% completion rate is average. Median debt of $27,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.660 are the primary drivers of the below-average score -- graduates carry substantial debt relative to their earnings. 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 |
| Median 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 sticker price at Walsh University is $35,745/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $20,493/year, or roughly $81,972 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $20,458/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,373/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 $59,764 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.66 - 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 | $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 median 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. Middle-income families in Ohio should run direct comparisons against Ohio University, Youngstown State, and Kent State before choosing Walsh.
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 median earnings is slow. High-income Ohio families have better-branded private options (Case Western, Denison, Ohio Wesleyan) and better-priced public options (Ohio State) with stronger overall profiles.
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. The B grade reflects solid but not exceptional earnings relative to a debt load that is slightly above the state average for nursing programs.
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. Ohio public university accounting programs (Ohio State, Kent State, Youngstown State) typically offer comparable earnings at lower total cost.
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 of $27,577 in northeast Ohio are below a living wage for independent adults. 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 | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
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.
Walsh University's peer schools include Allegheny Wesleyan College, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Luther College (IA), Viterbo University (WI), and Southern Nazarene University (OK). Walsh's ROI score of 58 is in the middle of this group of small faith-affiliated Midwest private institutions. Luther College, a Lutheran liberal arts school in Iowa, typically produces stronger liberal arts outcomes and a more nationally recognized credential. Viterbo, another small Catholic school, serves a comparable regional market in Wisconsin. Walsh's nursing program is a genuine competitive strength relative to most peers, and the Canton-Akron location provides more metro employer access than Luther or Viterbo's rural settings. The common limitation across this peer group is that institutional size constrains program depth and employer network reach.
| 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. Ohio residents have strong public university alternatives at comparable or lower cost.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Walsh University is mixed. At $20,493 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $59,764 ten years after entry - a payback period of 9 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Areas of concern include high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $27,000 against $59,764 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.