Xavier University
Cincinnati, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 86.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 65/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Xavier University (Cincinnati) scores 65 (Fair Value) on CampusROI. A 9.1-year payback period, $44,800 average 6-year earnings, and a 68.7% completion rate anchor the score. Net price of $32,997 is high relative to the earnings profile, and median debt of $23,250 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.519. Computer Science (25 graduates, $73,546 year-one, $104,908 year-four, ROI grade B) is the top-earnings program. Registered Nursing (341 graduates) is the dominant program by volume with $70,473 year-one and $79,254 year-four (ROI grade B). Finance ($58,513 year-one, $81,532 year-four, C+ grade) and Accounting ($60,200 year-one, $81,855 year-four, B grade) are the business anchors. Several programs - English (F grade), Psychology (D grade), Communication (D grade) - underperform significantly at Xavier's price point.
Xavier University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $50,640/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $50,640/yr |
| Average net price | $32,997/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $131,988 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,873 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,207 |
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: $50,640/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $32,997/year, or roughly $131,988 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 $26,728/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $35,451/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 ($44,800) and comes to 0.52, 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 | $26,728 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $28,201 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,175 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $33,824 |
| $110,001+ | $35,451 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $26,728 per year at Xavier - $106,912 over four years. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $28,201 - slightly higher.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $32,175 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $33,824 - a nearly flat pricing structure across middle income bands. Middle-income families face approximately $129,000-$135,000 in total four-year cost. At $44,800 average 6-year earnings and a 9.1-year payback, this cost structure requires nursing or CS/accounting program performance to produce reasonable financial returns.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $35,451 per year - approximately $142,000 over four years. The price differential between income brackets at Xavier is very compressed ($26,728 to $35,451), indicating limited income-based aid differentiation. High-income families face a similar financial evaluation as middle-income: the institution's earnings profile and nine-year payback make the investment defendable for nursing and business, marginal for arts and humanities.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Xavier University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $79,254 | B |
| Marketing | $73,414 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $60,804 | D |
| International Relations | $63,347 | C |
| Psychology | $54,981 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $69,546 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $81,532 | C+ |
| Biology | $55,577 | C+ |
| Accounting | $81,855 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,263 | 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 Xavier's dominant program at 341 graduates: $70,473 year-one and $79,254 year-four with median debt of $27,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.383 (ROI grade B). Year-one earnings above $70,000 make this program's debt load manageable. Nursing graduates drive a significant share of Xavier's aggregate positive outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science (25 graduates) earns $73,546 year-one and $104,908 year-four with median debt of $27,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.367 (ROI grade B). The four-year trajectory to $104,908 reflects strong career advancement in Cincinnati's growing tech and data analytics sector, as well as national placement from Xavier CS graduates.
Accounting
Accounting (38 graduates) earns $60,200 year-one and $81,855 year-four with median debt of $27,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.449 (ROI grade B). The year-four trajectory to $81,855 reflects CPA-track advancement. The B grade makes accounting one of the more defensible programs at Xavier's net price.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (48 graduates) earns $58,513 year-one and $81,532 year-four with median debt of $27,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.461 (ROI grade C+). Year-one earnings of $58,513 are moderate for a Cincinnati finance graduate. The four-year trajectory to $81,532 is solid. C+ grade reflects adequate but not exceptional debt-to-earnings structure.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Xavier 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 | 86.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 553-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-29 |
| Enrollment | 4,207 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 16.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,257 |
At 86.4% admission, Xavier is broadly accessible. Xavier's Jesuit mission means the campus culture emphasizes ethical formation and service alongside professional development - a consideration that matters to some prospective students and not to others. Given the $32,997 net price, students should enter with a clear program plan.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier University (this school) | 65 | $32,997 | $64,873 |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | 51 | $17,127 | $52,184 |
| Hampton University | 47 | $25,319 | $59,159 |
| Howard University | 41 | $50,539 | $63,066 |
| Bowie State University | 40 | $19,298 | $54,537 |
| Morgan State University | 34 | $14,985 | $50,698 |
Who Thrives Here
Xavier admits 86.4% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 550-650 Math and 553-660 Reading; ACT 22-29. Enrollment is 4,207, giving the institution a medium-university feel with Jesuit formation values. Pell rate of 16.3% is modest. Cincinnati's economy - P&G, Kroger, healthcare and manufacturing employers - provides regional employment depth. Xavier's Catholic Jesuit identity creates a service-oriented campus culture. Students choosing Xavier for nursing, CS, or business programs will find the institution's location and professional network appropriate for Ohio and greater Midwest careers.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Xavier University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $32,997 a year after aid ($131,988 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $64,873 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 68.7% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $44,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Xavier University: Common Questions
Is Xavier University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Xavier University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 65/100 on our ROI scale. At $32,997 a year after aid ($131,988 over four years) against $64,873 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Xavier 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 $32,997 a year, or roughly $131,988 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 Xavier University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $64,873 ten years after enrolling, roughly $23,073 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 Xavier 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 9.1 years for Xavier University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Xavier University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $44,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Xavier University?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.