Youngstown State University
Youngstown, Ohio · Public · 84.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 24/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Youngstown State University is a public institution in Youngstown, OH, serving 7,961 students. Its ROI score is 24 (Below Benchmark). Average six-year earnings sit at $32,200 - barely above entry-level wages - and the payback period stretches to 29.2 years. The completion rate is 50%, meaning half of students leave without a degree. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 means the average graduate owes three-quarters of a year's salary. Youngstown's regional economy - long defined by steel manufacturing decline - constrains earnings for most graduates who stay local. Engineering stands out as the exception: Electrical Engineering grads earn $74,800 at one year; Chemical Engineering $70k; Mechanical Engineering $68k. But these engineering programs serve a small fraction of YSU's population. Most of the 7,961 enrolled students are in liberal arts, education, criminal justice, and social work programs where earnings are much lower and debt-to-earnings ratios regularly exceed 0.8.
How Youngstown State University 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 Score24/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period29.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Youngstown State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,113/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $11,473/yr |
| Average net price | $12,767/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $51,068 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $41,544 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $254 |
| Estimated payback period | 29.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,961 |
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: $11,113/year ($11,473/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 $12,767/year, or roughly $51,068 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 $9,328/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,235/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,000, which works out to about $254 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($32,200) and comes to 0.74, 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 | $9,328 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,421 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,369 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,249 |
| $110,001+ | $18,235 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30k) pay $9,328 per year - about $37,300 over four years. With average six-year earnings of $32,200, payback takes roughly 29 years on the average outcome. This is a real problem. Students in low-income brackets who enroll in engineering or nursing can improve that picture substantially, but most YSU students aren't in those programs. Low-income students should seriously evaluate completion risk and program choice before committing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families see costs rise from $9,421 (30-48k bracket) to $13,369 (48-75k) and $16,249 (75-110k). The slope is steep relative to earnings. At $16,249 per year and $32,200 average earnings, the financial math doesn't work for the typical YSU student. Families in this range should pressure-test whether the specific program of interest has better earnings data before enrolling.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110k pay $18,235 per year - about $73k total. Given the 29.2-year payback period at median earnings, high-income families choosing YSU should only do so if their student is in engineering, nursing, or another program with clearly superior earnings data. The institution-wide median doesn't capture the outlier engineering performance.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Youngstown State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $77,576 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $46,399 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,574 | C |
| Biology | $52,447 | C |
| Teacher Education | $38,535 | D |
| Psychology | $42,690 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,697 | C+ |
| Social Work | $49,361 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $58,297 | D |
| Accounting | $67,992 | 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.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering is YSU's strongest program by ROI. With 38 graduates, one-year median earnings of $74,799, four-year earnings of $90,539, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 (B+ grade), this program delivers outcomes that justify the investment. Northeast Ohio's manufacturing sector - including auto parts suppliers, steel processing, and defense contractors - provides engineering job demand. YSU's engineering programs benefit from strong relationships with regional industry. The $25,000 median debt is low relative to starting salary. Students entering EE at YSU can expect solid early careers in the regional industrial economy, with options to move into higher-wage tech sectors later.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering at YSU produces 53 graduates annually - the largest engineering cohort. One-year earnings of $68,061 and four-year earnings of $80,158 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 (B grade) represent solid outcomes. YSU's proximity to automotive supply chain and manufacturing firms creates direct hiring pipelines. Students willing to relocate to higher-wage metro areas post-graduation could see earnings acceleration.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is YSU's largest single program in terms of program ROI impact, with 155 graduates earning $65,668 at one year and $77,576 at four years. The B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 and $27,000 median debt are reasonable for nursing. Northeast Ohio has several major hospital systems with active RN hiring. YSU's nursing program is a critical regional pipeline - the Mahoning Valley has healthcare worker shortages similar to other post-industrial areas. Students who enter nursing specifically are making a sound investment relative to overall YSU averages.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 57.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 64.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 42.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 50.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Youngstown State 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 | 84.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 500-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-25 |
| Enrollment | 7,961 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,731 |
YSU admits 84% of applicants. SAT middle 50% is 510-620 reading and 500-610 math; ACT is 19-25. The school functions as a regional access institution for northeastern Ohio students. Admission is not selective in practice - the constraint is completion, not entry.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
YSU's ROI is 24.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown State University (this school) | 24 | $12,767 | $41,544 |
| University of Akron Wayne College | 48 | $6,032 | $46,600 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | 38 | $13,946 | $46,600 |
| Colorado Mesa University | 33 | $15,103 | $45,823 |
| Prairie View A & M University | 27 | $13,570 | $45,411 |
| Fayetteville State University | 19 | $7,892 | $40,144 |
Who Thrives Here
YSU serves the Mahoning Valley - a working-class region with high Pell grant rates (34% of students). The ACT middle 50% is 19-25, SAT 510-620. Most students are local, and many work while enrolled, which contributes to the 50% completion rate. Students entering engineering or specific health programs (nursing, dental, allied health) get materially better outcomes than those in the broader curriculum. First-generation students with clear technical or health career goals who want to stay close to home fit best here.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Youngstown State University scores 24/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $12,767 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $41,544 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 29.2 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 50.5% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 64.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $32,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. 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.
Youngstown State University: Common Questions
Is Youngstown State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Youngstown State University scores 24/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $12,767 a year after aid against $41,544 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 29.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Youngstown State 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 $12,767 a year, or roughly $51,068 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 Youngstown State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $41,544 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off Youngstown State 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 29.2 years for Youngstown State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Youngstown State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,000, against average earnings of $32,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. 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 Youngstown State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 50.5%. 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.