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Cedarville University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Cedarville, OH · 4,024 students

The verdict

Cedarville University charges a net price of $24,468/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $97,872. Graduates earn a median $55,443 ten years after entry, $7,083/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 13.8 years — a 20-year net return of $43,788, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Cedarville University's 13.8-year payback ranks #925 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 28% of them, and #40 of 144 in Ohio.

Better ROI than 28% of US colleges#925 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$24,468
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$55,443
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
13.8 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
65%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Cedarville University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$24,468/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$97,872our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$55,443Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$7,083/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$20,937Scorecard, 2026
Payback13.8 yrsour math
20-year net return$43,788our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Cedarville University's own numbers. Net price $24,468 × 4 years = $97,872 total. Median earnings $55,443 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $7,083 a year of premium. $97,872 ÷ $7,083 = 13.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $43,788. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Cedarville University students graduate with?

A median $20,937 in federal loans among completers, or 38% of the $55,443 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Cedarville University students graduate?

73% finish their degree. Spread the $97,872 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $134,071 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Cedarville University expensive compared with other Ohio colleges?

Its $24,468 net price runs $4,686 above the $19,783 median across the 144 Ohio colleges we profile, or $18,742 more across the full degree.

Cedarville University: frequently asked questions

Is Cedarville University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Cedarville University charges $24,468/yr after aid ($97,872 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $55,443 ten years out — $7,083/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 13.8 years and returns $43,788 net over 20 years, a slow but positive payback.
How long does a Cedarville University degree take to pay off?
About 13.8 years. We divide the $97,872 four-year net cost by the $7,083/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Cedarville University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $24,468/yr — about $97,872 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Cedarville University compare to other Ohio colleges?
It ranks #40 of 144 Ohio colleges we track by payback. Its $55,443 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $24,468 net price is above the national median of $16,902.