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Ohio University-Main Campus
Athens, OH 18,456 Undergrads 68.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$28,529
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$20,413
After Aid
Median Earnings
$52,581
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$20,413
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$52,581
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate68.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients21.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time85.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
84.8%
SAT Avg
1,212
SAT Reading
25th: 56059575th: 650
SAT Math
25th: 54058575th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 222575th: 28
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
+$458k
+$62k
-$26k
Median Cost$20k/yr
+$385k
-$12k
-$100k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$355k
-$41k
-$129k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$20k/yr
Never
-136%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-126%
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 Return-127%
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 Return-85%
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
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$12,750
Earnings (5yr)
$41,992
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,874
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$36,156
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Management Information Systems and Services
AssocCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$14,625
Earnings (5yr)
$68,247
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$80,032
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$22,067
Earnings (5yr)
$75,280
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$35,981
Lifetime Value Added
-$230k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
$23,750
Earnings (5yr)
$54,897
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$16,169
Lifetime Value Added
-$393k
Botany/Plant Biology
BachCIP: 2603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$35,390
Lifetime Value Added
-$235k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$21,563
Earnings (5yr)
$58,831
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$22,732
Earnings (5yr)
$88,141
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$71,665
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$26,875
Earnings (5yr)
$79,566
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$53,307
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (5yr)
$57,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (5yr)
$54,327
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$21,490
Earnings (5yr)
$93,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$221k
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
BachCIP: 1109
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$76,803
Lifetime Value Added
+$97k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$15,792
Earnings (5yr)
$48,392
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,422
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$21,875
Earnings (5yr)
$35,540
Lifetime Value Added
-$234k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (5yr)
$64,724
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (5yr)
$98,731
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,108
Lifetime Value Added
-$170k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$86,951
Lifetime Value Added
+$172k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (5yr)
$36,864
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
$24,780
Earnings (5yr)
$50,741
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,300
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$191k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$56,070
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$60,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$41,060
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Housing and Human Environments
BachCIP: 1906
Median Debt
$25,683
Earnings (5yr)
$51,755
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$26,147
Earnings (5yr)
$46,446
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$86,815
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
$25,577
Earnings (5yr)
$84,701
Lifetime Value Added
+$156k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,976
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$24,049
Earnings (5yr)
$46,063
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$25,309
Earnings (5yr)
$89,251
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$23,416
Earnings (5yr)
$72,872
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$26,216
Earnings (5yr)
$87,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,549
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$26,750
Earnings (5yr)
$40,932
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,913
Lifetime Value Added
-$32k
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
BachCIP: 2609
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (5yr)
$71,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,377
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$23,258
Earnings (5yr)
$48,047
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$23,654
Earnings (5yr)
$46,521
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$13,672
Earnings (5yr)
$83,524
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$20,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$350k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,309
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,966
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$26,950
Earnings (5yr)
$46,532
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$43,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Zoology/Animal Biology
BachCIP: 2607
Median Debt
$23,356
Earnings (5yr)
$54,995
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Master's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$88,976
Earnings (5yr)
$59,328
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$40,750
Earnings (5yr)
$121,913
Lifetime Value Added
+$589k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$53,958
Lifetime Value Added
-$313
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$42,682
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$40,849
Earnings (2yr)
$64,493
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$39,756
Earnings (5yr)
$59,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Engineering, General
MastCIP: 1401
Median Debt
$25,548
Earnings (5yr)
$135,822
Lifetime Value Added
+$707k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
MastCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$48,420
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$32,104
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$37,230
Earnings (5yr)
$119,861
Lifetime Value Added
+$572k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$38,107
Earnings (5yr)
$63,592
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
International Relations and National Security Studies
MastCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Political Science and Government
MastCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,270
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,199
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
MastCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,649
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$118,775
Lifetime Value Added
+$563k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$60,890
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$30,948
Earnings (5yr)
$52,977
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,875
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$18,690
Earnings (5yr)
$54,075
Lifetime Value Added
+$779
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$82,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Professional Degrees
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
ProfCIP: 5102
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$250,362
Earnings (5yr)
$243,013
Lifetime Value Added
+$1238k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
ProfCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$66,500
Earnings (5yr)
$81,821
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
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.