College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Ohio State University-Marion Campus

Marion, OH 842 Undergrads 17.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$18,369
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,800
After Aid
Median Earnings
$60,409
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,800
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$60,409
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate17.1%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients28.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.5%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$589k
+$200k
+$104k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$567k
+$178k
+$83k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$555k
+$166k
+$71k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
26
Median Cost$12k/yr
30
382%
Full Cost$18k/yr
32
210%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return501%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return73%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Associate's Degrees

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,755
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,156
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$19,748
Earnings (5yr)
$65,016
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Educational Administration and Supervision
BachCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$21,197
Earnings (5yr)
$38,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,720
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,838
Earnings (5yr)
$47,823
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,498
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,668
Earnings (5yr)
$44,646
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$22,017
Earnings (5yr)
$44,875
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.